HOW TO LEARN LINES
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- Опубликовано: 13 май 2012
- New York Acting-Coach John Windsor-Cunningham gives tips on learning
lines. Other films on his channel explore tips of auditions, how to do
a British accent, and explore plays in details from Shakespeare to
Oscar Wilde. 
Развлечения
A technique that works for me is to rehearse the lines with different accents and then try saying the lines with different emotions. Sad, happy, excited, angry, bored, etc. Even singing that line. The key is to trigger an emotion for each line or word so it has meaning. Also trying different emotions and accents helps you explore different emotional connections with each word and each line which burns them into your emotional memory bank. That is why it is much easier to memorize a song without trying, even if you haven't heard it over 20 years. Because of this emotional connection to the words of a song.
I’m going to try this. Anymore tips. We need to have a discussion?
You’re trying to get someone or make them do something. You shouldn’t focus on the emotion or it will make you fake the emotions instead of experiencing them. Emotion comes from the magic if or emotional memory/recall of something relating to the objective/ action or circumstances .
I'm going to try that Logan. Thank you!
Break the scene into beats. Title each beat. Decide what your objective is in each beat and your action in the beat. Learn the piece beat by beat. Know your intentions in each beat. Then even if you forget a word or two in a tight situation you can improvise.
Don't forget the beats hahahahaha
If you do the homework I am suggesting on a piece you will never forget those beats! You will inhabit that character and achieve a compelling performance istead of running thru your agenda of blocking and line readings.
The fact that you make light of this technique shows you know nothing about the true craft of acting and acting history. Go ahead. Argue with me! What will be your rebuttal?
200 method actor academy award winners are not wrong!
Daniel Day-Lewis the greatest British actor uses these methods. Go ahead. Tell me he can't do Hamlet!
Very kind. Just saw your kind note about my video. Hopefully better ones added soon. All good wishes, John
John Windsor-Cunningham Just found your videos John. From Newcastle UK. Amazing they are helping a lot.
John Windsor-Cunningham you are AMAZING 🤩Thank you for this video 🙏🏼
John, very kindly thank you for these gold nuggets 🙏
Thank you sir!
As an airline pilot, learning a new airplane with numerous check lists, call outs and procedures, learning lines is not unlike memorizing lines for a play. Your quiet authority and you-tube lesson has brought me ENORMOUS relief.
Thank You!
Marty.
Am I the only one blown away by top #1? I am so guilty of being lazy of learning lines, but I have never really acknowledged it myself.
Learning your lines is an art. Every actor does this in different ways.
The problem with TRYING to learn lines is that one can then have the fear they'll forget them and in my experience it's that VERY fear which causes one to forget them. Another acting coach who has posted videos(and who shall remain nameless) has what I consider to be the really superior method of doing this. It's based on coming from a space of not knowing and over time one eventually absorbs the lines but it's identical to what you say by coming to understand what they mean.
Memorizing the script line by line works the fastest for me. After memorizing the first line, I move on to the second line, and so and so on.
Thank you for your videos, I've found them very helpful. After doing short films and the occasional background player part in feature films I returned to the stage last month. I was terrified, because on stage the director can't yell, "Cut" - we've got to do the entire show in one go - like a one-shot film take.
I'm delighted to say I used technique of memorising my lines. When the play was on, I was in character on stage, if I thought of the lines they were illusive, however if I simply trusted myself and my character - listening to the other actors I automatically knew what to say and when. It was almost as if I was 'pre-set'. Quite an 'other worldly' experience.
Now I'm working behind the scenes of a local theatre in the lighting and sound booth. My love of performing has been enriched by observing something different - within me. Thank you.
Stop worrying about the lines and focus only on the story and the script, dig deep into details about everything and ask why like a detective . Once you know who you are as the character and understand the story and use your imagination and visualization you will understand why your saying what your saying in the script .
Yes, I agree. Script analysis is #1 most important by far. But taking what you said even a step further, a couple years ago I learned a new technique, and now I don't even try to learn lines until I'm with another actor. I listen to what they say to me, then I look down to what my response is supposed to be, and then I look up and communicate that back to them. Then I listen, and repeat... I don't look at the script and anticipate anything until it's my time to respond. And the simple reason is that it allows an actor to be in a state in which their own line is the INEVITABLE consequence of what the other actor just gave you. It can ONLY be that, because that's the way this technique connects it in your head. There is no extraneous mentaI gyration involved. With this technique, I can have a scene down in one or two read-throughs. But I still won't know what my lines are. If you were to ask me, I wouldn't know. It takes trust, and it requires one to be present--actually more than present. It is being hyper attuned to the other actor. The result is amazing. I wish someone had shown me this a long time ago. You can imagine that it absolutely builds connection and true life between actors. It's also a trip to be able to do an entire scene or script verbatim and not even know what your lines are! You'll probably only be able to recall fragments here and there if you try to remember separate from actually doing it. But when the time comes and you're present and listening, whatever you hear will illicit exactly what you're supposed to say in the script. I've seen a master actor learn an entire play (he played the lead in "Talk Radio") in just two reads! If you don't know that particular play, it's full-length, and he's on stage and talking damn near 100% of the time! It's a huge part to learn. He proved this method to all of us, seeing him do it first-hand. Otherwise I'd have probably scoffed at the idea as impossible. And script analysis is separate from this in that you can completely focus on that and flesh out the character, and it does not affect this methodology of line learning at all.
Thank you 😊
Thank you this was very helpful for me being new to acting I will be looking for more of your videos thank you again💛
You probably have the best acting advice on this entire platform. I enjoy your advice very much thank you
I did `rep` theatre in Nottingham for awhile-a new play a week.One can learn an entire monologue simply through the use of "blocking".With every line add an action or movement , and the entire monologue can be learnt in short time. In Tv, I used to learn my lines by simply reciting in the bath over and over-after the muscle memory, comes the meaning. Shakespeare monologues work in a quiet sauna-fighting the environment forces one into an uncomfortable position where the meaning is fought for-many more interpretations become apparent. alternatively , push against a wall whilst reciting the lines-the resistance creates a psychological resistance that enables one to access deeper resonance.Having these interpretations allow you to "refresh" the meaning in each performance.
30 years later I still have the odd dream where I am on stage and have forgotten my lines. Or alternatively i am thrust into a position where i have to replace the lead actor on incredibly short notice-phew.
I respect this man so much, I wish so badly I could learn from him in person
As an actor, I will say, everything you say resonates. Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts on learning lines.
Uhh. That's a great tip but in the way i learn lines is when I hear nothing but my self reading than after i red the script for about 10 times than i put in music put the script down and I re write the scripted word by word. And this is not just my line i got with every line not just mine i know every ones line.
What works for me is knowing your units and objectives
Thank you! It's a pleasure to listen to you.
Very helpful tips 👌
So basic but so brilliant.
Fantastic to listen to you. I'm not an actor but I was after a way of learning a page of text for work and I was finding it difficult. You have helped me realise the issue. Many thanks.
I've got a Shakespeare play coming up soon I'm playing Olivia in 12th night and this video has really relaxed me on the fact of learning lines and then performing on stage thank you.
I used to do this when i was studying in my final exams, it's very helpful
U come to your conclusion the amazing timing of the climax of the story..
This is great knowledge! !
I have been watching your videos. They are so so helpful. Thank you.
Tip 2. Excellent. Great video
Great wisdom. Thank you.
Fantastic! Thank you for sharing.
Wowww very helpful very charismatic a defintion of a teacher who can easily deliver 😍😍😍learned alot and hopefully 1 day meet you and learn more
I use cue cards to help me remember lines. It is usually just a couple words I need to remember in order to remember what I need to say. It takes a lot of repetition, though, so it takes a lot of hard work.
I’ve found cue cards helpful too 😊 There’s a handy rehearsal app called Dialogmaster Pro that I use, and it’s helped a lot because it will play the other characters’ lines to cue my lines. I can listen to my lines or I can silence them in playback to say them myself. It’s has lots of helpful playback options. It’s worth checking out 💯
Thank you! You are brilliant!
Love this...was so helpful to me.
Excellent, thanks!!!
You have a really relaxing voice
Thanks John. Appreciated your video very much.
Thank you some great tips there!
I love this man
Thank you. That was very helpful.
Thank you very much on these tips. I am not an actor but interested in acting still. Very interesting to learn about this. Thanks :)
Thank you very much.
Great tips. Thank you
Thanks for recommending this video, I enjoyed talking to you about memory today :-)
Really great tips thanks :D
Thank-you Sir!! You have done someone a favor!
thanks for the tips .I am quite new to speaking parts here in the UK but as i was a singer for 20 years in bands and stuff i know i can apply the method of remembering lyrics in the same way as remembering lines in a play or film. More tips though Johnny Boy
Wonderful!
Nice video. Great teacher.
Thank you 🙌🏻
Thank you so much!🙏
Fantastic and valuable.
This guy is a legend
I Turn my lines into a song and I sing them over and over in the order I need to say em I can’t remember a script but I can remember an album with ease
@tipsforactors
Thank you for all the helpful videos, Mr. Windsor-Cunningham!
You mentioned in this video that you thought Michael Caine's performance isn't always totally compelling, after referencing how he learns his lines incredibly well. So, does that mean it's possible to go over the script/your lines too many times, to the point where it interferes with the actor's connection to the material?
great advice and notes on learning those lines, the sole exception being the role "Lucky" in Waiting For Godot. It's a horse of a different color.
Good Job John We never try to learn the dialogue sounds strange I know We have with our analysis a diverse method but you covered a couple of key points I stress.
Thank you a ton sir for this
nice tips.
Search peter otoole interview excerpt on learning lines.
Thank you Sir.. I being highly influenced by Method acting want to know the difference between presentation acting and a real method acting. there is a small part about this in An Actor prepares.. just your opinion on this.. ☺
Thank you :)
Very interesting.
Thanks
GREAT! Got such a sense of encouragement and acknowledgement of the fear but also that you can stretch yourself. Looking fwd to trying this.
Thanks for the advice, as an Actor you do need to be advised on how to remember your script... I am filming in my biggest film ever so my script is going to be huge, so great tips are very most welcome
congratulations .
Sean Johnson howd it go? Which movie was it?
Sean Johnson which movie?
This is what RUclips should be for!
Thank you
For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them. For example, men become builders by building
-Aristotle
Fantastic. Great help
You are very influential and forever young
Beats and pauses its all in the timing..Subtexts saying one thing, but meaning another..What's going on in What's hidden deep inside thoughts, inside soul guilt, secrets, untold stories of the past, what the audience analyzing and dissecting the layers of the untold truth..
I can just give u a thank you for now... but success in feature
My tip: Record yourself reading the lines and listen to them several times before you try to memorize them. It should make it easier as your process becomes more memorization intensive.
I'm surprised that you don't refer to the memory techniques of Giordano Bruno, Thomas Aquinas, the Romans and Greeks, the memory palace and so on. I wonder also if there is anything in historical records about how actors memorized lines in Shakespeare's day.
❤❤❤
Thats exactly were I would fail learning lines. Absolutely biggest stumbling block yes I suffer from dyslexia.
Great advice (by the way the accent sounds a little like @bertiebertg . I don't normally watch the videos but the ones I have seen, this accents sounds like his accent. Maybe you're from the same part of England or something.)
I want to become an actor, but learning lines is my biggest fear
If that’s your biggest fear then you should go for it. It’s actually not difficult if you work at it. Put the work in and the results will be there.
content matters more then quality of the video :-)
0:01 - 0:07 He should've learned his lines.
I find it so scary to be handed a chunky monologue and then told I have a set amount of time.... I get so nervous to the point where I can’t process things, I know the problem but I can not for the life of me relax because I know nerves are gonna work me up and criticise myself.
Didn't you give a demo within a Houston emergency shelter in 2015 or 16?❤🎉😂
I'm in a scene study class in NY....that has a non-traditional way of approaching your script.
You're supposed to "not be a slave to the script" and at least gather the story well enough to have realistic actions and be more concerned with listening to your fellow cast, rather than being almost distracted by the script and not paying attention to what is being said to you.
So...I guess my question is, how do you make a balance between being prepared, but be creatively free?
cleverchaleigh i think if you got the just of the script you can probably make it your own once youve got the just of it that is then its all play with your fellow actor from there
Thank you! You make it sound so simple...I wish my brain would!
Barry humphries lied about his bro....now we know the genius origin of the good bro!!
If and only, if you have had, you still didn't get it
I'm taking my pet elephant with me.
Who is this man?
Skype Perry2090 im on it im trying to master acting
Who is this guy? Is this a skit? Have I been had? 🤪
Typical English actor. He doesn't really have a METHOD for what he does.
And?
What's with the cynicism?
There is a long time conflict between British acting and American method acting. Evidently you don't know that. Or representational acting (British) and presentational acting. I made the comment because I am a trained professional American actor. The fact is that this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. That's because UK training is diction, elocution and fencing. That is the tradition in UK. As far as emotion you just have to act; fake it. His comment reflects that: he doesn't have a method! So he isn't saying anything useful! The US method gives you and actual method to present real emotion on stage. This is an old battle since 1930s. Unfortunately for British style actors method work is de rigeur in films. You can't get away with fakery in films. All the great British actors such as Daniel-Day Lewis use the American method. In 1962 RAD in UK hired an American method teacher from Actors Studio in NY to teach the method. In the past 30 years 200 out of all Academy Awards have been method actors!
Any links to your page so we can hear from your vast experience?
There is no American or British acting for fuck sake! it's ACTING... you guys sounds like there is no acting exist anywhere else 😁😁😀
Typical American trying to prove his superior methods to the world when in fact he's dumb as shit
Hmmm, so John Windsor-Cunningham, an actor whom nobody has ever heard of, thinks Michael Caine does some "not so good acting". Possibly true, but what an egotistical, pompous arse to say so.
I have seen John work in London. Just to let you know, he is a fine honest actor.