Is there some special method to remembering an entire play or movie without having to refer to your lines? I can barely remember one paragraph of lines to the tee, let alone hundreds of pages of lines. Thanks!
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It is much easier to remember things that require vocal inflections and emotions, than it is something monotone. There’s a reason that you easily remember your favorite song but not pages out of your favorite book.
As a guitar player people ask me how do I know songs by heart, and I think it’s because of the nature of music itself, not the volume or lack thereof of the music. Plus as lots of people said, there’s tricks of the trade. If I know something is in E, I can fake my way through it with something close. Like if an actor knows the subject matter they’re talking about, they can get close.
I love memory systems, mnemonics and techniques and have applied many methods of learning lines.
I record the first cast read-through of the script so I can listen back to parts or all of the show whilst driving or working alone.
Once I know the storyline, I’ll record my scenes minus my lines leaving time to speak my lines while listening.
Visual association becomes important when blocking has been done so I know where on stage the line is delivered, and how.
I like to identify key words in my script and highlight them so if I glance at them when I’m nearly “Off Book” I know where I am without reading the entire line or phrase.
I print out a scene sequence so when I come off stage, I immediately know what my next scene is, where to be and what props if any are required for the next scene.
I watch and listen carefully to the other actors to know my cues. If I blank on stage, I know it’s my line, because I know what their preceding line (or action) is.
Repetition helps big time, particularly for those lines that somehow just don’t seem to stick. I find that visualisation techniques help with this too.
There are few things more frightening than standing in the spotlight with a blank mind, and I have the utmost respect for actors with the ability to ad-lib prompt someone who is in this state!
Owning the role, and truly believing you are who it is you’re playing goes a long way towards nailing your lines and characterisation.
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