I had several commitments that I wanted to adhere to in choosing a research methodology. First, in keeping with the principles of Action Research, I wanted to run a workshop for students that not only provided me with the kinds of data I was seeking, but that would be of value to the participants a a professionalization activity in and of itself. Relatedly, I wanted to draw upon the skills and creative talents of the participants as acting students. To those ends, rather than simply interview the students about their thoughts about “industry,” I created a three-part workshop whose central activity was a script-writing and performative exercise.
The first part of the workshop (“Industry Baby”) placed them in small groups to create a mind map around the word “industry” (as it relates to acting and performance as a career). Each individual student was given five post it notes to write words or phrases they connected with the concept “industry.” Then they were placed in small groups and had to place and connect their five words and add additional words prompted by their conversation. (See “Industry Mind Map” blog entry). This exercise was designed to get a general sense of the psychological and emotional terrain of the students in discussing the field of enquiry.
The second and primary activity of the workshop (“Future Nostalgia”) asked each student to write a script envisioning themselves five or ten years in the future being interview by a magazine (or newspaper or journal or blog) of their choice about their successful new project. The students were all given the same five interview questions and had to supply the dialogue for their future self. (See “ARP: Future Self Scripts”) After everyone wrote their script, we reassembled as a group and verbally shared what they had envisioned. We then had a couple of volunteers “perform” their script with another student playing the role of the interviewer and the student playing their future (successful) self.
The final activity returned to group brainstorming. I asked the students to make a list of specific skills, techniques, or experience they would need to have in order to achieve the vision outlined in their scripts. I then asked each group to circle the three things they would love to see included in their remaining time at UAL. (See “ARP: Needed Skills Brainstorm”)