Learning lines?
Mon, 18 May 2009, 01:12 pmLee Sheppard26 posts in thread
Learning lines?
Mon, 18 May 2009, 01:12 pmSo - I find myself in the current situation of having to learn a large number of lines for an upcoming production, something I haven't had to do for a few years now.
I suppose I'm doing it the usual way (for me, at least) - reading and re-reading, starting at the beginning and learning a few pages at a time, going back and constantly testing myself, sitting at home or on the train with the script and a bookmark to cover up my lines etc. Seems to be working so far.
Just wondering how you other thespians go about learning your lines? Do you learn key scenes first? Use voice recorders? Have them tattooed on your body? Maybe there's a technique out there we can all benefit from...
Cheers
Lee Sheppard
- Keeping it strictly amateur -
Not Stanivslasky
Mon, 18 May 2009, 02:59 pmOr however you spell it. No Mike, I am not refering to that style of character development.
Mr Guskin uses a technique he calles "Taking-it-off-the-page" where you read a line or portion of one, in your head, look up, and taking the firsting thought, feeling or reaction you have to the line, speak the line to space or to your lines partner. As such, you get a "feel" for the line or phrase. Then you look down and read your next line/phrase and completely unbias by the previous line, repeat the process. If you are using a partner, they are to make eye contact with you (and you with them) for each line spoken.
As this progresses, the basic emotional semblance of a character begins to take shape, one who live's in the moment, and moment to moment changes, rather than coming from a developed background.
Guskin's approach is like nothing else I personally have encountered and I do it no justice in the small snippet I have outlined here.
Absit invidia (and DFT :nono:)
Jeff Watkins