The environmental impact of my feeble brain

So begins the process of memorizing lines for two plays and a film. My brain works better, retains, when I connect it with movement, so for some reason the most effective way for me to learn lines is to write them. And not just once, but over and over and over again in delicate cursive. Don't judge me, I'm sure you have your things too. 

I once made the comment here that it has something to do with how my mom used to punish me. I had to copy passages of the bible over and over and over again. She wouldn't really line them up with a lesson or any real relevance either, so I am now stuck having bible passages memorized that don't really pertain to much of anything. There was something about hills melting like wax when the lord showed up I think.

Anyway, for some reason I believe that this makes it impossible for me to retain information without writing it in cursive over and over again. Whenever I memorize a play I purchase an entire notepad and just scribble lines in it, over and over for days, piecemeal, one scene or less at a time, and then I go back and do everything I know until I can handwrite all of my lines in an entire play. Sometimes at work, I'll scribble on that little pad that you write orders down on, but my bosses get mad when I do that because I can go through an entire pad in a shift. 

I realize now that since I have decided to pursue a career in the theatre, my dreams are going to take a pretty awful toll on the environment. I have tried typing, it doesn't do the trick. So really, the only way I can be successful is to needlessly kill trees.

I think I will begin a new tradition. For every project I do, I will plant a tree. Since I live in a city and cant really just plant trees wherever I want, I will donate to Plant a Billion. They have a goal of planting a billion trees in the Atlantic Brazilian Rainforest. The rainforest is now just 7 percent of its original size and the O2 produced there helps stabilize the climate everywhere. Giveth and ye shall receive, right?Just one way my career can give back (while taking). So I guess this is one way my career can find a healthy middle ground. 

--Sharina Martin

Comments

[Lary Crews]

Writing my lines worked for me throughout my theatrical and - later - TV and film career. I agree with you.