To all the actors out there...?

Question

When it comes to memorizing pages upon pages of lines, what tips can you offer to a novice to help facilitate the process?

Answer 1

definately have a friend you can bounce your lines off of.
Read, read, read
visualize the whole scene to recall lines, or create mental cues to elicit a memory
practice is key, and make it fun. If you approach it like a school exam (i find for myself) i have a harder time remembering them. You can always perfect your acting after you have your lines memorized.

Answer 2

Now i have had to do this many times and this method has worked for me everytime!SO READ ON....!
Read the first line OUT LOUD over and over until you begin to feel a familiarity with the line, then read the second line a couple of times on its own, and then read the first line again and add the second line. Then read them together over again until memorised and then add the third line and so on..... Repeat this method continually and it becomes easier. Remember to always recite the lines from the beginning once you feel familiar with the new line so that the text begins to make sense, by always reciting the already memorised lines, they then become second nature when reading them. If its a long text then you can start reciting the memorised lines halfway through to make it easier when adding the new line. But always remember to read the whole full text again and again using the same method as you did learning each new line. Dont worry about the amount of pages just the lines, learning a longer text is a lot easier then small speeches where you have to focus more on the cues. When reciting the lines OUT LOUD act the scene with them to give depth and meaning to the text that you are saying, so that you are concentrating on the acting and not the lines. People think that its so hard, its impatience and worry that makes its difficult. TRUST this method it will work, have faith in yourself and most importantly Patience.

Answer 3

Reread one scene like 5 times. When you finally memorize it go on to the next scene.

Answer 4

try singing the lines in the tune of your fave song..

thats what i did with my lady macbeth script...

or try remembering the first words of your lines...familiarize your lines...

Answer 5

if you read my profile and write to me at my aol address I will send you mucho info on this topic