"Ask Aaron" - December 2008 Answer
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From Donna, NM
I've recently completed a basic acting class and we had to play memory games and exercises. I was not good with the memory exercises. At the end of the term we had to memorize lines. I find that I get really nervous and can't remember the most basic lines. My brain goes completely blank and the harder I try to remember my lines, the more I forget my lines. I am concerned this will be a problem for me at auditions and jobs. Any recommendations?
Dear Donna:
There are a lot of things you can do to help you memorize lines. Trying to memorize them on the spot during an acting class is really tough. I always plan out how many lines I need to memorize each day so that I have completed all of the memorization with at least two days before the shoot. Everyday I start at the beginning of the script and memorize until I reach my line count for the day.
Some people find it very helpful to write down their lines. Some people will record the actor’s previous lines and then their lines into a tape recorder. This allows them to hear the dialogue.
I would start off trying to memorize some easy material first. Find a script that has very conversational lines, and maybe try memorizing 4-5 lines a day. See how that goes. Once you get the feel of it, you can try longer sections.
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