How do actors remember their lines?

Answer 1

Not every actor will use the same method. It often depends on what the actor was taught by his or her acting teacher.

Answer 2

For me, I try to memorize my lines first thing, because after you have your lines memorized, your character will really start to come out, and you will feel more free. That being said, as an actor, I use a couple different methods.

1) memorize sentence by sentence. I will read the first sentence and memorize, and then go on to the second sentence. And then I will put the first sentence and second sentence together, and so on and so on.

2) I will record the other characters parts so I can get my cues memorized, and I will leave enough dead space on the tape to get my line in.

The sooner you memorize, the better the result, and you will be able to do more things with your character!

This is a time consuming process but I think you will love the result.

Answer 3

It's really something that is different for each performer.

Some people simply learn by reading their lines over and over again, drilling it into their heads through repetition.

Others learn through hearing the lines, and may use tape recorders to...record...their lines. By playing back the dialogue they are able to commit it to memory.

Sometimes simply going through it with the other performers in the piece, again over and over, helps with memorization.

Whatever the technique, repetition is quite key.

There are also some freaks out there, who can just go over something a few times, and are able to store it firmly in mind. I'm one of them. I think it's a photographic memory type thing. From what I hear it's less common, but I'm not sure.

Answer 4

There are a variety of ways. I've always envied those who could do it by just reading it a few times. Some people break the lines up into chunks, so if they mess up they can move on to another "chunk" easier, some people memorize every blessed word over and over.

The only thing that's consistent about those who memorize faster than others is that they say them aloud, rather than silently. Other than that, it's personal preference!

Answer 5

By going over them again and again. Different things work for different people. Some actors run lines with a partner, some write them out, some say them aloud and others memorize them quietly. But trust me, that's the easy part. The hard part is the work.

Answer 6

Agreed with all the above answers - "Practice," "Each method is individual to the performer," etc. - but really, my friend, do you think memorization is at the heart of acting?

Taking into account there are multiple theories as to what is the best acting method - to be quite frank, memorization is the last of all things to be worried about. It's the easiest part of acting.

Becoming the character... regardless of what route you take to do so, now that is the most challenging part of acting. Memorizing lines is child's play in comparasion.

Answer 7

Different people learn their lines in different ways.

I personally learn best in rehearsals. I know most of my lines by the time we have to be off-book, and the scenes I don't know completely I saying them silently over and over.

I was once in a musical where my uncle and sister were playing father and daughter, and most of their scenes were together, so it helped them to run the lines together. When my sister wasn't their I would run through lines with him. Some people learn easier that way.

My sister learns her lines by saying them out loud over and over. It's actually pretty funny when I'm laying in my room and can hear her in the next room. It's often like hearing one end of a dramatic conversation.

Answer 8

You can't forget something that's burned into your mind with a spotlight. lol.

Okay, that sounded lame.

But, what I mean was, when you're practicing everyday with the pressure of knowing you'll preform, you don't forget.

Answer 9

i practice my line one line at a time and then them all together

Answer 10

Well, that question can be answered with another. How does one get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, my friend, practice.