Learn lines
Learning lines isn't just about repetition. It's about recall, rhythm, and feeling connected to the scene. With ActOnCue, you can customise how much of your text is visible to progressively build memorisation.
Line visibility modes
The core of line learning is controlling how much of your dialogue you can see on screen. Open the Settings icon in the control panel at the bottom of the screen and turn on Line Learning to access these options.
Word-level hiding
Hide most of each line, showing only a set number of words as a prompt. You can configure how many words are visible, for example:
- 3 words - gives you a solid nudge without revealing the full line
- 2 words - a tighter prompt that pushes your recall further
- 1 word - just the first word, for when you're nearly off-book
The fewer words you show, the harder you have to work to remember the rest. Adjust the number of visible words to match where you are in the memorisation process.
Letter-level hiding
Instead of showing full words, show only the first few letters of each word. This gives you a subtle visual cue, enough to trigger your memory without giving the line away.
- 3 letters - a gentle hint for each word
- 2 letters - more challenging, just the opening of each word
- 1 letter - the toughest mode, only initials
This technique is especially useful when you almost know the lines but need a safety net.
Visible count goes down to 1 word or 1 letter, the toughest built-in setting. For a true off-book test, pair this with Listen mode's "Leave a gap" pattern for your own lines, so you get no audio prompt on top of the minimal text prompt.
Tips for effective memorisation
- Start with full visibility and work your way down to 1 word or 1 letter over multiple runs
- Use word-level prompts first, then move to letter-level prompts as you gain confidence
- Reduce the count gradually - go from 3 words to 2, then to 1, before switching to letter mode
- Run the scene multiple times with different settings. Each round reinforces timing, delivery, and recall
- Stay present in the scene rather than just memorising words. Knowing when to speak and how to respond is just as important as the lines themselves
Troubleshooting: speech recognition