REDEFINING MEMORIZATION

When we first work on a scene, we dig into the script. We mine it for clues, analyze the text - and look to gather as much information we can to uncover the world of the scene, our characters, and relationships. And while I personally love me some script analysis - I think we often misunderstand the memorization process. We treat memorization as actor homework - something necessary - but burdening to accomplish. Many actors see the memorization process as simply technical. A task that has nothing to do with the creative process of building our scene. But I would like to offer, that memorization doesn't need to be a task we intentionally do. Memorization can come from different forms of exploration. We can learn our scene through exploration - and without intentionally seek it out - find ourselves off book. I think this comes down to our relationship to the script. Often, I think we forget that the story of our scene expands beyond the words on the page.

THE SCRIPT IS A MAP

The script is not the scene. The script is actually a map of the scene. Our script provides a wealth of information about our scene. It 
defines our given circumstances, provides the dialogue, and describes the action within the scene. And the truth is, that is not the scene, the script is actually a map of the scene - but the scene is the large journey our characters go on. The words on the page map out the story of the scene. The sequence of events.

THE SCENE IS THE JOURNEY

But the scene lives beyond the page. The scene is the journey our characters experience. It begins well before the first line of dialogue & unfolds in the impulses. It lives in every event that might happen between the lines. When we explore the script again & again, the scene will unravel differently each time. We will notice something new each time. Uncover new pathways to our destination. While the text remains the same - the scene will take us along a different journey every time we explore it.


So when it comes to memorization the question is:


Would you rather memorize the map or learn the journey through exploration?

Given the choice , I would rather explore the journey. Because if you hike the trail over and over, eventually -you won’t need the map. When we lead through exploration - the body begins to internalize the journey (and if you lose your way- you can always pull out your map). 


When it comes to stepping into the shoes of our character, we need to remember that our characters aren’t remembering words on a page. Their words come from spontaneous thought, impulses, and desires and responses. Characters are traveling through the journey of the story in pursuit of their destination -  and they don’t have a map. When we shift our relationship to the script and use it as a map- we discover that memorizing is not a task to accomplish - some actor homework we need to do - but actually - it is a byproduct of a thoroughly explored scene. And our experience of the scene expands beyond the words on the page. The story becomes embodied.

FINAL THOUGHTS:

In the fast pace of an audition scenario, we often have to rush our exploration. In the urgency of the self-tape deadline, we miss the opportunity to explore hidden moments buried between the lines. We are forced to focus on the product-  “a fully off book scene”-  because that’s what the self-tape demands. But we must never forget: The script is not the scene. It just happens to be the vehicle by which the screenwriter is able to communicate what the audience will see and hear. The world, the history, the lived experience of the character -  extends far beyond the edges of the page. And our unique exploration of the scene, is what builds a compelling and believable story. When we focus on understanding the journey - when we use the script as a map - we can ground our memorization of the text to actions and the experience of doing the scene. Memorization may be perfect - or not. But it is our understanding if the journey, our ability to be present and affected, and clarity on our destination that matters most.

you have memorized the map.

#ActingTechnique #Memorization #ScriptAnalysis