Acting advice need!?

Question

I am doing a duet serious skit with my friend for a really big compettion for my school. at one of the beginner compettions, I forgot my lines and skipped a bunched and caused my partner to mess up. how do i remember ALL my lines and movements so we can win first place?

Answer 1

O God!
The world of acting!

This is the time for all your emotions to come out to play!
Don't worry if you laugh or make mistakes, that the whole point of acting.

You learn from your mistakes, Also make sure you both are serious about doing the skit.

Don't try to let out your lines all at once, make facial expressions, gestures, or anything that goes with a certain line! This will go perfect and be more fun and easy to memorize a certain line.

Answer 2

Step 1) You practice, then practice some more. After that, practice a little bit after that. When the competition comes you will know your lines backward and forward.

Step 2) (not necessarily in chronological order) Learn what the play, scene, skit, whatever is about. What are you trying to convey? What do the lines mean? The lines are there for a reason, and if you know the reason, it will make them easier to remember. This will not only help your character development, but even if you forget the line, with some quick thinking and a little luck you can make up something that means the same thing.

Step 3) You've put in the work, be confident in what you've done. Sure, you'll be nervous, that's normal, but you've worked hard and prepared something good that you want everyone to see and like. Maybe you will win, maybe not, but the more experience you get with acting, the better you will be.

Answer 3

WAY before the competition, you need to have everything memorized 100% and completely, because then, and only then can the true acting begin. Then, by the time the competition roles along, you will be so wrapped up in the scene thqat you will KNOW what comes next.

Make a list of different chunks in the scene, where you change yor tacitcs, when and if your objectives change and what not. Memorize them, in order, so you know how the scene goes and what happens. Next, work on memorizing your lines. I can't tell you what will work, because what works for me will probably not work for you.
To repeat myself, I would have your lines 100% at least a week before the competition. Then you can begin playing with objectives and tactics with your partner, and really get into it.

Answer 4

I often use what is called a "cue bash" to help me remember lines. I start at the beginning of the scene and begin to repeat the lines, rather mechanically, really, and if I make an error I go right back to the beginning and start again. I find that this allows me to drum the words into my head and when I begin to work with my scene partners, I can rely on the lines to be there.

Answer 5

It sounds to me like your asking how to remember your lines for your upcoming scene, here are a few things that help me:

Write all your lines down, BY HAND.. Do it every day, (At least twice a day), From the moment you get the script in your hand until it's commited to memory.

Highlight all your lines one color, (Say, yellow or pink, whatever), and your cues another.

Make an audio recording of your cues to listen and respond to while you drive, run, waiting in line at the DMV, etc. (With your highlighted script, start recording and read aloud your cues, then whisper your lines at a normal speed, and back and forth.) And don't worry about looking stupid and crazy while rehearsing with it, your an actor, right? heh

Rehearsal is important, but it is NOT the place to learn your lines. Professional directors expect their actors to learn their lines in their off-time. Learn your lines at home and during down-time. It takes work. I agree with someone above who suggested doing a speed through before your performance, just don't let that affect the normal speed of the scene when in front of your audience.

To remember your blocking, write it down in the script. Start relating the dialogue to your physical actions. Run through it at home, or in your back yard.. Somewhere where you have a little space to walk around if needed.

Good luck!

Answer 6

Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse.

This helps me: do a speed through. That means you and your partner just say the lines as fast as you can. It puts it into a different part of your memory, so you don't have to "think" of the lines, they just come. It's like what happens when you memorize a musical piece.

In performance, nerves are going to make you talk faster. Concentrate on slowing down and listening to/focusing on your scene partner.

Break a leg!

Answer 7

Practice, practice, practice!

You BOTH need to come up with scenarios of what happens if you DO mess up.

The judge doesn't know if you mess up. You and your partner know, that's it. Unless you SHOW that you messed up, no one in the room will know.

As for movements, practice AND do what comes naturally. In HS forensics you CAN move, but in college you can't. So in HS don't just stand there and recite, move but don't overact. Be natural.

Also KNOW your character. You and your partner should also act as your characters once you know the script. You know how it goes. Now become that character, and if you mess up you still know where you're going.

Answer 8

Immerse yourself in your role. Most of your waking hours, and some of your sleeping hours should be spent practicing, rehearsing,memorizing and thinking about your character. Become this character every day,Then you will feel very comfortable during the skit.