Group Discussion 20/02/18 - Refining what I need from Literature studies

Within my feedback I learnt that there is a high importance of linking literature to my practice. It is vital to gain clarification of themes already validated in literature.
Today in the Skype discussion with Helen, she referred to the literature reviews as a map to the field of research within our topics. Once we have read over a spectrum of various literature sources, it then gives us the opportunity to outline and refine our questions surrounding our topic. These questions I develop make my inquiry unique to me.
It is also important to recognise a body of voices and link different opinions within literature. During my literature studies I have been focusing on biographies of established actors (e.g. Joan Crawford, Vivien Leigh and Ingrid Bergman). This gives my research an opinion-based, personal approach. To compliment this direction I have also drawn from modern articles from industry professionals aligned with specific acts from actors' unions to add a theorised basis to my work. This gives a 3 dimensional quality to our work.
- I plan to sift through the literature I have studied over the last 2 modules, as well as scanning through old notes I have made on literature in my reflective journal, in order to make sense of the themes, questions and theories in my inquiry topic.

Before the storm...

January kick-started with a whole host of exciting and practical plans regarding improving myself as an actor. I booked to start a Meisner Stage 1: Emotional Connection course with the Salon Collective at the beginning of January. This week marked my third class on the course. For fear of sounding terribly pretentious - this week I had a 'break-through' moment in regards to my exploration and study of the Meisner technique. The Meisner teacher advises:
- to act on an impulse
- to retain simplicity, detail and honesty
- to repeat a line before you accept or reject it
- whatever your partner states - you must accept it's their truth
- to bring the tension you may feel onto your partner
- to use less work, less effort and take less responsibility
- to do nothing - explore more
- not to deny anything
The pure human connection which takes only two people repeating realisations / observations is utterly exhilarating. I want to take these techniques with me whilst filming self-tapes.
As well as the Meisner course, I have started to attend Shakespeare Practice Group every second Sunday. The first workshop style class last week opened my eyes to a stripped back, effective set of principles when working with Shakespeare script. The main focus being on the text and delivering that coherently and effectively. I know I have a lot more to learn and apply with this technique and I am happy to be able to attend these sessions over the next few months. I feel as if they will be incredibly helpful to me as an actor.
Last Monday night I attended the premiere of an episode of a comedy series called 'The Expert' that I was in at The Constellation Creatives CoLab, The Hospital Club Covent Garden. This was a lovely experience as other film and series work were screened. After the showings, we got a chance to talk to various film makers, actors and script writers. I think these types of nights are highly beneficial for actors.
Today I began workshops on the play 'Eris at the Wedding' by John King with director Robbie Taylor Hunt. Workshops are a fantastic 'safe space' to try out new things and collaborate with actor and director alike. They also keep me practising my craft which is always a win.


Entering into February and the beginning of Module 3 - I can only hope to keep up this proactive lifestyle alongside solidifying a worthwhile and interesting inquiry.

Book Worm; Book Club

Yesterday eve myself and a few friends had a long overdue debut book club meeting. We had been planning it for a while - but due to busy timetables etc it was difficult to find a date that suited us all. The first book we had simultaneously read and studied was 'Surfacing' by the incredible Margaret Atwood. Atwood infamously uses feminist undertones in her writing. We all felt this rang true with this book. The protagonist, whose name we, weirdly, don't know, is hard to empathise with. Collectively we felt confused by her actions. It is generally easier to relate to a protagonist we can empathise with. Therefore, said protagonist was hard to read even though we had first hand insight into her brain. From a previous Meisner class, my teacher claimed 'There is nothing humans crave more than affection'. I was understandably flummoxed when this character didn't seem to attain basic human qualities. My friends agreed that we wanted to relate to her - through the course of the book she goes through some horrific moments, and we know she is not inherently bad - but her 'other-worldliness' made it hard to connect with her.
Last night re-established the joy you can get from discussing a book in detail - including view points, feelings and opinions. Not only that, but going to bed looking forward to winding down by reading a few pages of your latest book is a truly lovely feeling. Also, substituting iPhone scrolling with book reading on your commute can work wonders for your general wellbeing - especially lifting your mood for the day ahead or relaxing you en route home.
I have been reading the biography of actress Vivien Leigh over the past few months and it has had a big impact on me. I can identify with her mind-set and I have started to make parallels with descriptions of certain moods that I have experienced. In turn, this has helped me cope better with some scenarios because I have found someone I can identify with and empathise with her life and art form.
The next book on the book club reading list is: 'My Brilliant Friend' by Elena Ferrante. I have just ordered that, but in the meantime I am currently reading 'How To Stop Time' by Matt Haig, which is proving to be an engrossing fiction novel.

Skype Session 30/11/2017

Our final Skype session as a group of Module Twos came to an end today. I gathered from the Skype discussion the importance of using the words 'unbiased' and 'truth' carefully within our essays. An alternative view is that we can attempt to be reflective during our research and whilst carrying out our inquiries. To become too neutral is not realistic - evidently, as human beings, we have individual perspectives. Naturally, I don't always see the things I don't value or which don't relate to my professional practice. That is ok. My job as an academic is to attempt to be reflective about the opinions, developments and discoveries which crop up within my inquiry process.

Campus Session 07/11/17 - Inquiry Plan Analysis (6c)

Yesterday I attended the campus session at Middlesex Uni. It was a very small group which it made it an accessible session in terms of understanding certain aspects of the up and coming inquiry.
The main thing I took away from this campus session was right now for module 2 - the focus is on planning and analysis.
Any interviews or tools of inquiry we plan to proceed with - we need to have a clear idea on what we will do with the results. For fear of being biased with the results - it is generally recommended to base your analysis on a professional's work with a similar topic. That way you can outline your series of analysis and almost use a formula to make clear and unbiased observations on the results accumulated from the interviews.
It is acceptable to obtain a narrative form of data (where your analysis includes parallels between you and other people's analysis). However, for my interview process I think it will be wise and effective for me to analyse my results using literature and comparisons.
After the campus session, everything was entirely fresh in my mind and I went directly to the campus library in order to tie up a few strings which I had left loose prior to the session. I had a rough plan started - as well as a start on my critical reflection for module 2 - however I now had the tools to complete a first draft in order to gain feedback over the next few weeks. I know my first draft is not perfect - but I know the areas in which I need to concentrate on particularly.
It is an exciting notion to think I will be getting something from my study. The inquiry is so interrelated with my practice that it would be impossible for me to ignore the results and observations I make from it.
I have written in my inquiry plan what I want to get out of the process...

"Professionally, I plan to utilise the outcomes to potentially help the development of my acting career, by using any results to relate to my practice. I hope to use the discoveries within the inquiry to apply to my audition technique and emphasis I place on personal appearance in future experiences in order to achieve greater success in the acting industry. I plan to use the information from the possible outcomes to study my professional practice from an outsider's point of view. I also plan to question whether the outcomes fall in line with what I deem as morally acceptable."

6A - Planning Interviews

I have interviewed various actor friends of mine during the development of my module 2 studies. This was as much to further the clarification of my inquiry topic as anything. I found talking face to face really useful and airing my thoughts as well as hearing others' views on certain things opened a new element to my studies. These casual interviews were held in coffee shops and had a very personable atmosphere.
Thinking forward for my actual inquiry, I think perhaps I should opt for a different interview approach. This was not because the coffee shop interviews did not produce interesting ideas - but more so to create a style of interview that will bode well with my inquiry.
I plan to construct self-tape style interviews.

What is my relationship with the participant? I will use fellow actors, casting directors I have worked with as well as hopefully some other industry professionals.
How will I refer to them? I am toying with numbering the self-tapes in an audition style. i.e. Participant 1.
Type of interview I will hold? I plan to send out the questions via email the day before the interview, that way participants have a chance to read and prepare what they wish to share. The following day, they will send the self-tape to me via WeTransfer, or another appropriate file sharing forum.

A self-tape style interview may be beneficial and practical. Viewing the interview in the same seat as a casting director would view a self tape may give me insight into how focused an individual is on the appearance of the participant.
The questions will be the same for each participant, sent to them prior to the interview. The questions will be worded carefully so as not to sway the participant.
Organising a self tape style interview may prove more practical for people’s time schedules.
I should write up contracts for potential interviewees as well as an ETHIC RELEASE FORM

In this I will have to include a clause stating if the participant does not want their video being used within in the study, then can send an mp4 instead.

Likewise, I will state clearly that their image in the video will only be used for my inquiry only, it will not go public and it will be deleted off any devices once the study is complete.

Skype 31/10/2017 - Finding out what YOU want from it

The Skype last Tuesday with BAPP students from various modules and Adesola was a stepping stone on my journey towards constructing my submissions for module 2.
We discussed the importance of finding something out when it comes to the inquiry. It was stressed that the process was important, rather than the question. This opened my eyes up to what exactly it is I want to achieve - my objectives.
Prior to the Skype session I had begun a rough Inquiry Plan. Following the session, I was able to fill in more of the gaps - i.e. stronger objectives of what I want to find out and how I am going to go about finding them out.

Starting to plan my Inquiry - one step at a time!

I guess in 12 weeks I want to find out how other people have experienced the focus or lack of focus on personal appearance within the acting industry. Including how their headshots have affected the course of their career i.e. getting seen for certain auditions or new headshots affecting their path. The reason why I want to find this out (what I can gain from the inquiry):

• An insight into how much casting directors take appearance into consideration
• Potential functional use of my inquiry results which I can apply to my professional practice in order to promote myself in an appropriate manner which may lead to more auditions / success
• Tips from certain studies (i.e. pilot observations) which I can apply to my own promotion