Contribution short abstract:

This paper discusses methodological experiments with a hybrid docfiction format and co-scripted scenes in the context of Kenyan migrants’ futuremaking practices in the Rift Valley.

Contribution long abstract:

This paper discusses methodological experiments with a hybrid docfiction format and co-scripted scenes in the context of Kenyan migrants’ futuremaking practices in the Rift Valley.

The Kenyan Rift Valley is a popular destination for workers in search of wage labour not only for the work opportunities at large agroindustrial farms, but also because it offers a range of other activities to flexibly change to in a fluctuating sector. The threat of such fluctuations poses challenges to the workers in their attempt to cater for a better future for their families. Depending on a stable income, they constantly envision and practice “lateral” work scenarios and subsequent coping strategies.

In the attempt of accessing such future visions and strategies methodologically, I collaborated with the research participants, a script consultant and a cameraman on an audiovisual experiment with fictional scenes. Drawing on the envisioned, dreamed of or feared scenarios, we scripted scenes with the participants that were then played by themselves in interchanged roles.

In this paper I want to discuss this methodology of a hybrid docfiction production in the context of futuremaking and the commoning of future visions through audiovisual projects.