Having a reoccurring dream of lights and a blue curtain. It was when I auditioned for Uta, that the dream came to life.

I was accepted into her class at age 17. Because I was so young, it was all intuitive. Shifting into learning from her on how to bring things down & do it 8 times a week. That’s where the hard work began. 

Would the American way of acting work with Shakespeare? Any way of working will lead you there. 

Just before our interview, Victor’s friend asked him. What was the biggest thing you walked away with? It was the work ethic. For 3 mins of life on stage is a minimum of 2 hours of rehearsal. Learning the score was learning the text, like a musician.

Uta pushed for discovery instead of anything written. It’s the only way to get to the great stuff until something breaks open. 

At the end of the class, Uta would ask her students, how did you feel? She later changed it to, what can you tell me?

I am so lucky. She was my first acting teacher. She gave me the foundation. Once you have a foundation, it’s so much easier to work with people. 

The first time I studied with Uta for a few years, it didn’t end well. I was in my early 20”s. I hit a wall. Uta was REALLY REALLY hard on me. I wouldn’t see Uta for a few years. 

In my 30’s, I wanted to go back to study with Uta. After writing Uta a letter, I received a phone call, please come back to class. I did a scene, chosen by Uta. I did the scene with a “thank you very much.” As I walked back to my seat, Uta turned with cigarette in hand & said, “you know you’re doing serious work now.”

HB Studio is your (the students)  school, do the work. Bring food for the Hagen Wagon, bring your work. Do the work. Respect it. 

Shortly after that, I would often be a guest in at her Montauk home. I saw a very different side of Uta. 

What do you miss the most? At a very early age, I was lucky enough to have Uta see me & say you are a part of my tribe. 

Victor reflects back to a conversation he had with Uta, “Do you know why I was so hard on you? I thought you knew what you were doing & you were fucking around.” That would be the closest I would get to an apology from Uta. 

Today I was up at 4 am. It was because of her. She would be up at 5, with her legal pad. 

She prepared me for how difficult & horrible the business is. Get to the point where you’re given the opportunity to do what you love. 

These are his memories.