A better way for actors to learn lines?

Stop telling yourself you don't know them

Robert David Duncan at a table reading

Over the past year I have been mulling over the roadblocks that prevent actors from having an easier time learning lines. What got me thinking about this was realizing that we can often remember entire song lyrics from ages ago without ever having set out to memorize them. So why does learning lines present such a challenge to many actors? I have come to the conclusion that the greatest roadblock comes from the tendency to tell ourselves we don’t know the lines. We do this both consciously and subconsciously, at the beginning of the learning task, throughout the learning process, and before we step out on stage or in front of the camera.

Our instructors at the Stella Adler Studio in New York used to tell us that if we’ve done the work, then we need to trust that the lines will be there when we need them. For most of us, that would be like falling backwards and hoping the universe will catch us. Um, I don’t think so. I’d rather some more certainty than that. So most of us will study, fret, use all kinds of gimmicks, apps and techniques to keep cramming the lines into our heads, bodies and wherever else we think they might fit.

And then it hit me. The thing that is common to all of these activities is that we believe we don’t know the lines. When a script lands on our desk, our first thought is often along the lines of “Oh, crap. I don’t know this stuff, and I need to.” Not knowing the material becomes the dominant narrative of how we approach the task. Every time we make a mistake, we chide ourselves with “Crap, I don’t know this!” This makes us more nervous, more self-doubting and more likely to make mistakes.

I decided to experiment with doing the opposite. Rather than decide I didn’t know the material, I decided to assume that the material was going in just fine, was finding a home inside me, and would be there when I needed it. When a complicated new script arrived, I audio recorded it as I usually do, and just lived with the material for a while. I had it playing in the background as I was falling asleep, as I surfed Facebook, as I went about doing other things. The script that had seemed so complicated eventually became familiar, and even predictable.

What I didn’t do was do a ton of detailed line learning, cursing every time I got something wrong or telling myself I didn’t know the material. I chose to believe I knew it. Though it was terrifying, I went to the first rehearsal and left my script in my bag, going totally crutch-free. To my surprise and amazement, the lines actually were there! I mean to a 75% or 80% level, without having caused myself undue stress and self-doubt in the learning process. I found it a lot easier from that point onward to focus my attention on the softer parts, tightening up the ones that needed tightening.

So my experiment was a success, and will form the basis for how I approach learning lines in the future. If you are looking for some different ideas around learning your lines here are some ideas to experiment with:

1. Never tell yourself that you don’t know the lines. Choose to believe that you will know them, and that they will be there for you when you need them.
2. Audio record the whole script and listen to it, sometimes with full attention, other times half paying attention while doing other things. Listen to it until you can predict what’s coming next. Live with it.
3. Notice when you start to recognize the overall topography and landscape of the material, the sequencing of the passages, specific words and phrases. At that point, a lot of the learning is done.
4. Go bareback without your script at the earliest opportunity in readings and rehearsals. It’s nerve wracking but also very confidence building. If you walk out of a first attempt having got even half of the material right, you are on your way.
5. Don’t revert back to having your script at-hand or nearby. That’s your inner voice telling you that you don’t know the material. Silence it without reaching for the crutch of the script. Tighten your learning later.
   
6. Don't socialize and play around on set or before a performance. Create a bubble around you and focus on your own relaxation work. Don't try to cram lines or rehearse right before you go on. Be friendly but let others know that you need your space, and respect their space also. Save the fun until everyone's work is done for the day.
   
7. If you mess up on stage or on camera, don’t panic, don’t apologize and don’t make a spectacle of yourself. The show is not about only you and you risk upsetting other actors and crew. Just pause, stay in the moment, back up and retrace your steps. The director and other actors may be loving everything else about the scene, so be cool and don’t ever provoke a “cut” by being egotistical. It's okay, we all mess up from time to time!
   

So there are some thoughts on learning lines. I hope you enjoy experimenting with these methods and that they work for you!

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