For a stage actor this means learning an entire performance. For the television or movie actor you only have to learn sufficient to get you through the day’s filming, with cue cards at hand for those with short memories.

It’s a skill that needs to be learned and comes naturally over the course of time. The skill to learn by rote was probably formed at around the age of 4 when you first tried to recollect the alphabet.

The question often posed is whether lines are easier to remember if they are written by a brilliant screenplay writer or are short and poorly broken sentences better?

If you are rooted to the spot on stage halfway through a two-hour performance you may have to rely on colleagues to gently nudge you in the right direction. Fortunately, you can change a few of the words and only your fellow actors will know that the writer’s script has been altered for just one performance.

For the movie actor, you only need memorise the lines to get you through until the director calls ‘cut’ and go for a second or fifteenth take if any of your chosen words have disappeared.

Actors do gain a reputation based upon their memories and the ability to produce the right lines time after time. Unfortunately, an adverse reputation may be forthcoming to an actor who regularly stumbles over short paragraphs.

There are many different methods actors choose to learn their lines. What works best for you?

Well, Forbes Magazine has just published their annual Ultimate Star Payback League and the results are just in:

Earnings are per dollar (paid to the star and return gained) and are based on the star’s last three movies before 1st January 2008.

Those at the top of this year’s list include:
1. Vince Vaughn – $14.73
2. Tobey Maguire – $13.44
3. Julia Roberts – $13.19
4. Brad Pitt – $12.73
5. Naomi Watts – $12.16
6. Matt Damon – $12.16
7. George Clooney – $11.56
8. Jennifer Aniston – $10.48
9. Hugh Jackman – $9.90
10. Ben Stiller – $9.50

Those at the other end of the list:
1. Nicole Kidman – $1.01
2. Jennifer Garner – $3.62
3. Tom Cruise – $3.99
4. Cameron Diaz – $4.03
5. Jennifer Lopez – $4.10
6. Jim Carrey – $4.11
7. Nicolas Cage – $4.16
8. Drew Barrymore – $4.38
9. Will Ferrell – $4.67
10. Cate Blanchett – $4.97

This just goes to show you that figures can be played around with and any result you want can be found. A lower paid actor staring in a big movie success will appear as a much higher rate of return than those top earning actors who have to sell millions of theatre seats to get their payback.

We’d all be sure to want to have Nicole Kidman as the star in our movie, even if it only brings us another one cent over each dollar we pay out. In fact, if truth be told, we’d accept any of the actors mentioned in the entire list; just think of the publicity.

You’ll need to find a new actor about to break in to the big time and find that great ingredient that follows all skills, preparation, planning, production and marketing: luck.

Stars do sometimes appear in film flops. The trick is to make sure it isn’t your movie.

We talked about the various film and movie making courses that were running locally. In particular, there’s a group who meet most Sunday afternoons (they’re not full time professionals yet and this is their free time) who are joining together to make a film.

Together they’ve devised the film plan and jointly they’ve now decided upon the foundation of the script. When it’s all ready they’ll sort out who will be in the crew and who will be in the cast. They’ll all be involved throughout all of the film. This is film school on a Sunday afternoon basis, as opposed to a year (or two) at a film school or a weekend with a film school expert, like Dov S S Simons or Elliot Grove.

It is great that people want to learn the ropes and see what the whole movie making process is about. With the purpose of techniques they may well see their way forward as producer, director, crew member, script writer or as an actor.

The world famous actress (oh why do we always call them actors these days to be politically correct?) told me she just wanted to go to auditions, get parts and then rehearse and finally, perform: be it on television, stage play or film making.

It was refreshing to hear that people like to be skilled in their own area of expertise and not spend most of their time crossing the barriers when they don’t need to. Some actors like to offer their advice on the lighting, the sound and the type of camera being used. Some crew always know how to act out a scene better than the actor!

Having the options are fine. It’s how you use them that counts.

No, I’m not going to utter the actress’s name as I might want to offer her a part one day and I wouldn’t want to compromise our conversations, past and future. I don’t need the $250 so bad I need call the local newspaper to tell them my story for today. Principals do count, you know. If we all had a few more then maybe those poor stories none of us are interested in (ha, ha) wouldn’t appear in newspapers, magazines and on the internet, but they do so often make good films, don’t they?

I want to employ the services of a female actor for a short ten minute low budget film. She will be the only actor in the film about a former music superstar talking about her career and the events of her life as they’ve unfolded since she stopped being the focus of media attention.

She’ll need to be from aged 32-42 in the role, attractive and any race or colour. Specifically she’ll need to speak good clear English or American to be easily understandable for those film markets. The shoot will take two days and won’t involve any nudity (or bikini wear), but there will be a couple of swear/curse words involved.

Previous experience may be an advantage, but a first time actor may also be successful, so lack of experience or lots of it, should not put you off from applying.

The location will be Barbados. Both beach and coffee/rum bar shots will be involved. There isn’t a set date yet, but it is expected to be during the rainy season in 2008.

If this could be right for you, please use our ‘contact us’ form found above to make initial contact. All applications will be by email only. Please use the opportunity to tell us a little about yourself. You won’t, initially, need to provide a photograph. Casting will be held in two stages. For those invited to the first casting you’ll be sent a small part of the script (or similar) to prepare. A small select group will be invited back for a second read through of a different part of the script before a final decision will be taken.

A full contract and deal rates will be provided before the actor needs to commit to the project.

You don’t need a bright yellow face and long black hair to apply!