4 Ways to Memorize Your Lines Like a Pro

5m · Nine9, The UnAgency Blog Podcast · 30 Dec 18:00

Memorizing lines can be challenging for many actors. And yet, there are a few tricks to the trade that can help you memorize more quickly if you’ve landed a gig and are given a script. The process may seem daunting at first, but practice makes perfect!

Here is the first way to memorize your lines like a pro.
First and foremost, you need to take care of yourself. Make sure you are getting enough rest. Research has shown losing half a night’s sleep for just one night can limit your ability to focus and lead to memory loss (not over time, but immediately). If you get an adequate amount of sleep every night, you’ll be able to maintain your cognitive skills for longer period of time, which will help greatly as you memorize your lines.

Here is the second way to memorize your lines like a pro.
Once you’ve given the script, ensure you are in a quiet space and limit distractions so you can start to soak in every piece of it. You’ll need to be in a place that is free from distractions. Turn off your phone, or place it on silent, and sit somewhere comfortable. Limiting stimulus and discomfort is critical to ensure you’re able to focus on the task at hand and memorize the pages in front of you.

Here is the third way to memorize your lines like a pro.
Do a simple read-through first to memorize, taking a look at what is on the page without overthinking nonverbals. Then, return to it, adding in your character expressions, body language, etc., as you read. Visualize the scene and situation as if it were a real-world event you’re experiencing. This will help you internalize it a way that natural to the way our brains remember things. In no time, you will have the lines down and can shift your focus to making the role pop from the page. It’s important to know what your character is supposed to say before understanding mannerisms, idiosyncrasies and quirks, body language and the like. These things are all key must-knows, but you need to understand what the character is going to say first in order to know what movements should accompany the dialogue.

Here is the fourth way to memorize your lines like a pro.
A tried-and-true method for memorizing dialogue is to write down the lines on a blank piece of paper as you begin to commit them to memory to see how many lines you’ve actually mastered. This way, you’ll have a solid understanding what you have down pat and what you need to continue to work on. Research has also shown that completing an action while you are reading is a powerful way to commit the words to memory. Of course, this won’t work for everyone. However, if you tend to be someone who is easily distracted, try keeping your hands or legs busy while you’re peering down at the paper in front of you. Having the whole body engaged could help you to memorize your lines more quickly.

These are just some of the tricks you can consider when you’re trying to learn your lines. Chances are, you’ll find a way that works best for you and once you have this down, it will be easy to memorize pages and come to the set fully prepared.

To learn more tips and tricks for actors and models, feel free to sign up for our next FREE Online Workshop. On this free Online Workshop, you will learn about the recent changes in the modeling and acting industries that is opening the doors for more job opportunities. You will also learn cutting-edge ways to have good paying modeling and acting jobs in your local area, flood into your email inbox on a regular basis. You will learn what to do to land these jobs from the comfort of your own home. Click here to register now!

The episode 4 Ways to Memorize Your Lines Like a Pro from the podcast Nine9, The UnAgency Blog Podcast has a duration of 5:04. It was first published 30 Dec 18:00. The cover art and the content belong to their respective owners.

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3 Tips For Beauty Solutions Based on Facial Features

The Best Beauty Solutions Based on Your Facial features: 3 Tips

If you are hoping to look your best, choosing the right skin products and hair options can have a big impact. First determine what your skin and hair type is, then pick out which products will work. You can take a look at a magazine if you need help. Here are some beauty solutions based on your facial features.

Here is the first tip for selecting the best beauty solution based on your facial features.

When choosing foundation, the goal is to find the right amount of coverage while maintaining your natural beauty. If you have dry skin, opt for a more hydrating foundation and one with adequate coverage. This will help you cover up any dry spots. If your skin is on the oily side, choose one with more of a matte finish to remove some of the excess moisture. Either way, you can finish things off with a bronzer and some shimmer to accent your cheekbones and give your face some more structure. You want to make sure you find the right match for your skin tone, too, so you don’t have any orange streaks!

Here is the second tip for selecting the best beauty solution based on your facial features.

As far as selecting an eyeshadow, go with one that compliments your eye color. Green eyes look best with a brown, neutral tint or with gold or bronze on top. You can add depth by applying both. For a night out, try purple and green with a dark brown eyeliner and black mascara. Blue eyes look best with brown, taupe, and purple while brown or hazel eyes can look great with just about any color. You can opt for a darker shade for a night or green, gold, bronze, blue or purple. Finish the look with a black mascara and liner to bring out your natural beauty. You might even opt for false lashes that are easy to apply and remove. You’ll want to find the right ones, so they’ll stay put all night.

Here is the third tip for selecting the best beauty solution based on your facial features.

As far as choosing the right haircut, rectangle shapes look best with layered cuts, waves or curls. An oval face shape looks great with bobs, long waves or curls, and a square shape looks great with a side part or with bangs. The goal, again, is to compliment your face structure. Experiment to find the right hair style. You can take a look at photos online to figure out the most flattering looks for your shape or reach out to your hairdresser to help you decide what would be best if you are still stuck.

These are just a few tips to picking your best beauty solutions. You can also take a look online at makeup palettes and moisturizers that will work as well as outfits and accessories that would flatter your facial features. Or ask a friend you trust to help you out. When it all comes together, you will have the perfect look!

3 Tips for Making Sure You’re Compensated Fully as an Actor

If you’ve booked an acting role, you may be wondering what all you can be compensated for in addition to your hourly pay that your signed up for when you took the booking. You’ll want to make sure you save receipts and/or keep a running list of expenses in a spreadsheet, especially if you’re told that you will be able to claim additional expenses. Here are a a few tips to make sure you’re getting everything you can from your gig.

Here is the first tip for making sure you’re compensated as an actor.

If the gig is far from home (and sometimes even if it isn’t) you may be able to receive a travel stipend or add the mileage traveled to your paycheck in order to be reimbursed. You can also ask for travel expenses if you work out of the country. You may have to collect receipts, so to be fully prepared, make sure you keep a record of your time on the road. If the casting director gives you a threshold of allowable expenses up front, you’ll want to keep track and count every penny spent so you can submit it after the gig has completed.

Here is the second tip for making sure you’re compensated as an actor.

If you have to stay at a hotel until your gig is completed, or with a friend or relative, this is something you may also be compensated for. Again, you’ll want to keep track of your receipts showing the length of your stay or make sure you have information about how much you can potentially get from the casting director ahead of time. If you have to stay somewhere other than home and haven’t been given this information up front, don’t be afraid to ask! The information isn’t always readily available.

Here is the third tip for making sure you’re compensated as an actor.

You may also be able to write off any expenses you have to prepare ahead of time, such as marketing expenses (i.e., your headshot photo session or a professional resume writer, etc.), acquiring a business manager or signing a contract with an agent. You can usually write off any non-reimbursable expenses if you have a certain allowable amount offered to you. Although, this is more for your end-of-year taxes, this can also be something to bring up to a casting director. You can give the receipts to a tax professional to see what you’re allowed to request. You can also write off your union dues each year. So if you have to pay them, ask your accountant to see if you’re able to be compensated.

These are just a few of the lesser-known ways to be reimbursed in addition to your hourly pay. If you work any overtime, make sure to track that, too. You will want to have documentation of anything over and beyond eight hours so you can be properly compensated. At the end of the day, you’re a working actor and your time is valuable!

4 Tips for Landing a Spot on the Runway

There are a few things you’ll need to know in advance if you want to make it as a runway model. This is a highly exclusive form of modeling even though it’s what many models think of when they dream of making it in the industry. Runway models possess very specific physical characteristics and must have the talent to make it. Here are some tips for getting started.

Here is the first tip for landing a spot on the runway.

First and foremost, runway models need to have certain attributes in order to even be considered. This type of modeling is the most rigid when it comes to a model’s physical appearance. As a general rule of thumb, female models are at least 5’8” and males are 6’0” at a minimum. Moreover, models are commonly between the ages of 15 and 21 and have naturally slender frames that allow them to fit into the garments created by the designers who contract them. There are always exceptions but they’re very few and far between. Models should secure agency representation before trying to book a show.

Here is the second tip for landing a spot on the runway.

You will also need to have the runway strut down pat. There is a very specific way in which models carry themselves when all eyes are on them as well as techniques to pivot and turn at the end of the catwalk. View videos online and practice at home until you nail it. You’ll also want to learn a few variations so you add some pizzazz that will help you get booked often.

Here is the third tip for landing a spot on the runway.

Strutting your stuff on a runway takes confidence. This is uber-important for making the job look easy when you get out there in front of onlookers. Those attending fashion shows want to notice the clothes you’re wearing and not cringe because they’re sensing your anxiety wearing them. To build up your confidence, sign up for workshops, classes or other knowledge-sharing events that will allow you to practice until you feel comfortable. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become.

Here is the fourth tip for landing a spot on the runway.

If you have the physical presence to be on the runway, you’ll also be able to make it in other areas of high-end modeling, including designer editorials. So, if you haven’t booked your first runway gig yet, you can try pursuing these print campaigns until you do. Of course, your agent should be helping you land a few gigs. Once you have an “in” with a designer, you’re more apt to be on their list for the next big show. Plus, booking a few shoots before you transition to runway can help build the confidence needed to shine.

If you feel you have what it takes to be a high fashion model, research agencies you feel would be the best fit. Then, book a session with a photographer and submit your portfolio so you can make it onto the runway!

3 Ways to Disconnect Between Acting Gigs

It’s no secret – the entertainment industry never sleeps. And, if you’re in the prime of your career, you may be feeling overwhelmed with work. While this is a great problem to have, burning yourself out is never a good thing. To ensure you find some balance, you should make a conscious effort to disconnect between acting gigs long enough to refuel. Here are some ways to do just that.

Here is the first way to disconnect between acting gigs.

One of the best ways to disconnect is to schedule a staycation, which is typically when you choose to take a mini vacation right at home. Make sure to set aside time in advance to allow yourself to unwind. This should be a very intentional break that you can plan before it starts and stick to after a project wraps. While you may not always want to take time off, if you’ve recently booked several acting gigs in a row and are feeling exhausted, this is the perfect time to opt for some at-home time off. And although you might be tempted to use this time off to schedule in a vacation full of travel and sight-seeing, sometimes it’s best to not add more to your plate so you can actually feel like you’ve actually been able to get some R&R. The last thing you want is to have to take a vacation from your vacation because you kept yourself super busy.

Here is the second way to disconnect between acting gigs.

You might also consider unplugging during your break in order to disconnect. If you can’t get away from your phone and computer entirely, at least give yourself some time each day to turn off the electronics and allow your mind to re-center. This day and age, it can be especially difficult to do so, but you’re likely to find that even a few minutes every day can make a huge difference. The mind can get so used to reaching for a device in order to unwind, only by refusing to do so can you adjust this thought process. To help ease urges to check in, have a designated electronics-free space in your home that you can retreat to whenever you need to realign.

Here is the third way to disconnect between acting gigs.

To really disconnect, you’ll want to either give the next acting gig search a rest temporarily or book your next project a few days or weeks out from the wrap-up date of the first. As a general rule of thumb, you shouldn’t be booking anything that begins right after your current project is set to wrap-up, anyway, in case you have to go a few days over. Of course, you’ll also need to determine how long of a break you can afford to give yourself. Factor these things into the equation and come up with the perfect formula for when you want to start something new.

Once you have a solid understanding of how much time off is just right and when you should begin your break, during the in between, allow yourself to fully disconnect and have some much-deserved down time!

3 Types of Television Acting to Consider

You’ve decided you really want to make it big in television acting and you have an idea of which direction you’d like to head, but you may not know about all of the opportunities that are available to you. Like what are some of the longevity opportunities that might surface if you don’t decide you want to star in a sitcom and stick with it for many seasons. This is why it’s a good idea to understand the different types of television opportunities that are out there and get the full picture before you proceed. While you may have an idea upfront of what’s available and where to start, being aware of lesser-known gigs will up your chances of having a satisfying career. Here are three types of television roles to keep an eye out for.

Here is the first type of television acting to consider.

The first, and perhaps most well-known, type of television acting that you could have already considered pursuing is that of a series regular. This, of course, is an actor who is one of the main characters in a recurring series. Series typically start out with a pilot episode and a network will opt to pick up the show or not. So, if you go this route, while exciting, don’t be discouraged if the few shows you book don’t make it past the pilot. Put the spots on your resume and try and try again, as they say.

Here is the second type of television acting to consider.

Another type of television acting to check out is the role of the guest star. This is where you star in just a few episodes, call it quits and can move onto the next project. If your role ends up being a big hit, though, you may be called back to do more episodes. So, this is something to keep an eye out for before you begin to pile more gigs onto your plate. While you can’t sit back and anticipate that his will happen, it’s always a possibility. It’s flattering to be called back to take more episodes on, but it can get stressful if you’re already knee deep in a new project and aren’t sure how to fulfill both roles.

Here is the third type of television acting to consider.

The third type of television acting is taking on cameos. This is where you’re involved in one episode and that concludes your role. Cameo acting allows you to move between projects fairly quickly, so if you don’t want to necessarily be stuck in one role for a long period of time and would like to dabble in many different types of productions at once to see where you’d be the best fit, this may be the best option for you. Cameo acting is more flexible than the position of a series regular or that of a guest star.

These are just three types of television acting to take a look at. There are many different opportunities available, including commercial work, background roles and others that may suit you even better. Having the entire picture of what’s out there in the television world before you begin will help you take your career in the best direction for you.

To learn more tips and tricks for actors and models, feel free to sign up for our next FREE Online Workshop. On this free Online Workshop, you will learn about the recent changes in the modeling and acting industries that is opening the doors for more job opportunities. You will also learn cutting-edge ways to have good paying modeling and acting jobs in your local area, flood into your email inbox on a regular basis. You will learn what to do to land these jobs from the comfort of your own home. Click here to register now!

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