Chicken is an example of micro budget film making and raises issues around the role and future of national cinema as well as the viability of media products produced outside of the
mainstream for niche audiences.
Key Questions and Issues
• Identification of how Chicken is characteristic of an independent film release, with consideration of budget, distribution, circulation. An independent film, is a feature film or short film that is produced outside the major film studio system, in addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies (B Good Pictures).
• Micro budget rather than low budget film (approximately £110,000) – entirely independent financing. A low-budget film is a motion picture shot with little to no funding from a major film studio or private investor. Many independent films are made on low budgets, but films made on the mainstream circuit with inexperienced or unknown filmmakers can also have low budgets
• Distribution techniques – reliance on new technology; VOD, streaming, audience ‘programming’ (open screen etc.)
• Continued use of traditional marketing and distribution; trailers, posters, film festivals etc. Chicken used a traditional method of marketing their product by making a trailer and also used posters to advertise.
• The concept of “risk-taking” in terms of narrative choice available to independent studios
• Regulation of the industry through BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).
• Regulation including Livingstone and Lunt