how do actors learn all those lines?

Question

do they have tricks. do they have to learn all the lines or rely on que cards. What is the deal

Answer 1

We simply read them over and over and over. Some people are better at memorization than others. Jackie Gleason could famously read a script once and recite it perfectly even when he was drunk or hungover (which was most of the time).

Most of us, however, treat it just like studying for a test. You read it until it sticks in your head. 100 times usually does the trick for me.

Answer 2

I learn lines versus memorizing them. If you learn lines they will stick with you. If you memorize you will quickly forget.

The difference is which side of the brain you use. Learning lines uses your right side of the brain, and is the same technique you use when you learn a song, or leaned the alphabet.
Memorizing lines uses the left side, and usually consists of reading the same thing over and over again. It only lodges in your temporary memory.

One way to learn lines, versus memorize, is to figure out some plausible reason why the character would say something and use the words they say, versus something else. This also serves to build the character you're portraying.

An example of the above is try to picture yourself learning the words behind "The Star Spangled Banner", the U.S. National Anthem, without understanding what the song is about. Once you know the story behind the song, the lines become much easier to learn. Also, you undoubtedly learned the alphabet by singing a song.

I learned this technique from a director who had studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Prior to working with the Director, I had a had time learning lines. If I had to dial an unfamiliar phone number I had to have the phone number in sight to dial it. After I learned this technique I dialed a friend while looking at the phone number and picturing the
friends face; hoping to remember the phone number at a later date. Six months later I needed to dial the friend again, pictured her face, and the phone number popped in my head.

If you learn lines they will stick with you. If you memorize you will quickly forget.

Answer 3

It actually depends on whether you are talking about a play
or a movie.

If you are talking about plays all the above answer are good.
If on the other hand if you are talking about movie acting, it's
a little different.

In a movie the actor is give what are called sides. These are
pieces are the script that are going to shot on that particular
day and they memorize the lines between takes.

Hope this helps

MERRY CHRISTMAS and have a nice day.

Thank you very much, while you're up

Answer 4

multiple situations the trick to memorizing is to think of of what's occurring in the play or what movements are occurring. An actor can circulate over the script lots or have some one quiz them on their lines. (Recording cues on tape and leaving time to assert lines is quite efficient.) After the actor has long gone over and has the easy lines down, dealing with the tutor and questioning approximately what precisely is going on can help the actor stay concentrated and remember lines

Answer 5

Rereading the script. You can also make audio recordings of the lines and listen to them in your car. Running the scene a few times at rehearsal helps a lot as well.

Answer 6

People who are relatively unfamiliar with the acting process tend to think that memorization is brutally difficult.

The truth of the matter is that the memorization process amounts to about 0.1% of what an actor has to do between the time he/she is cast in a role and the time he/she opens the show.

Answer 7

That is their job. They have a time limit and they practise over and over again. Usually the finally cut isn't word for word . People give their own little twist.

Answer 8

I asked the same question few days ago, and got some pretty good answers.
Check my asked questions

Answer 9

same as singers learn their words. They associate themselves in the song or script and become it, trust me it makes sense. xxx

Answer 10

well we get our lines. we read through them once and then practice them to the mirrior or a friend. then we do that over and over again until they are bore into our minds.