A Clear Mind + 11 Tips for Memorization

It's been quite a summer. So many changes haven taken place in the sphere of Hellbent for Hollywood. There's also much I'm excited to share but you'll have to wait. Our editors are working feverishly to finish sorting the incredible footage shot over the past few months.

Just as active cultures contribute to smooth intestinal fortitude during that do or die moment in front of the lens, there's no room for the nervous inept meanderings actors deliver when they're lost in the heat of battle. Only excellence entrenched in an unshakable spirit and a clear mind will carry you through the blood bath that transpires during the toughest auditions.

One area that most actors, seem to have a weakness in, especially prevalent in a high pressure situation is remembering lines exactly as written. I've put together a list of 11 techniques often used to assist with memorization of lines. Try them all and find the methods that work best for you. There is no silver bullet and whatever method works best for you you'll still need to put in plenty of hard work.

Best of luck
On Fire

Memorization;
1) Cue Cards (one for each scene which also can be used to keep track of blocking)
2) Tape recording (make a tape of only the other character's lines then use it to rehearse. This is great if you do a lot of driving).
3) Rehearse with a friend of relative
4) Read the line above yours, covering your next line with a sheet of paper. Say the line, lower the paper to check for accuracy. Repeat as you work your way through the scene.
5) Cover the script with another sheet of paper except the line you are saying. Glance down at that line and pick up as much as the eye allows you. Look up and say the line aloud slowly. Repeat this pattern through the entire page.
6) Use a computer to retype the scenes you are in, putting them in larger print
and using colored ink for the major words or perhaps for the major stumbling block words or phrases.
7) Write out your lines on a sheet of paper writing down only the first letter of each word. You can then either write out the other persons lines in their entirety between your lines or you can just write a snippet of them to job your memory.
8) Visualize scenes and and give physicality to to words you're having trouble memorizing by associating a visual with each of those words or phrases.
9) Memorize your lines with emotion behind them. The emotion will reinforce learning the lines.
10) Get to know your character and attempt to understand why your character speaks as he or she does and why they would say the dialogue that is written.
11) Try memorizing backward, from end to start. This separates the emotion from the words.