Chicken Case Study Research

Funding

1) What was the budget for Chicken?


£110,000

2) How did Joe Stephenson end up raising the money to make the film?

Raised entirely through investment by individuals (rich friends/ contacts)

3) How does the Chicken budget compare to a Hollywood-funded British blockbuster such
as Spectre or Paddington 2?

Chicken is a micro- budget funded film- that is a movie made on extremely low budget, something as little as a few thousand pounds. However, Hollywood funded British Blockbusters such as Spectre or Paddington 2 are made on very high budget around about $350 million and are also funded by lots of Hollywood money

 4) Joe Stephenson tried to secure funding from organisations that help low-budget filmmakers. What is the BFI Film Fund and how does it contribute to the British film industry?

This helps up and coming film producers to fund their projects that are unable to find sufficient funds for their film.

5) Why do you think Chicken failed to secure funding from the BFI Film Fund?

As it was an arthouse film and raised questions about arts vs. commerce

Production

1) What difficulties did the film run into during production?

Was filmed in almost all external locations so victim to rain, issues with lighting etc.

2) How many days did the film take to shoot? 

19 days

3) What scenes were particularly difficult for Joe Stephenson to film?

Outside scenes in external locations due to issues with the weather and lighting

Distribution

1) Why did the film fail to secure a distribution deal when first made in 2014?

No distribution deal secured in 2014 as the board just didn't think it was going to be successful. Also small producer and artistic value overthrew financial value

 2) What film festivals did Chicken feature at between 2014-2016?

New Hampshire, Edinburgh and Giffoni

3) Why are film festivals an effective way for a low-budget film to secure a distribution deal?

Lots of critics see the film and so are they are more likely to develop or pass on the film to distributors so that it becomes more well known

4) When was Chicken released in cinemas in the UK?

May 2016

5) Why do you think film subscription service MUBI chose the film to feature on the service?
As Chicken is an arthouse film i.e. valuing the artistic features of the film over the profit that is made and so it fitted perfectly in MUBI as this service featured arthouse films very prominently.

6) Why was Film4 a good choice to give the film its UK television premiere?

Film 4 features many arthouse films and is an alternative broadcaster and not like sky or ITV, who take a lot of money and give very little back.

7) When will the film be released on iTunes and other video-on-demand services in the USA and Canada?


Promotion

1) What does the trailer suggest regarding genre and the potential audience pleasures of Chicken?

The audience seem to be people who appreciate the arthouse genre as well as being mature

2) What synergy can you find between the trailer and other traditional marketing methods such as the film poster?


The film was a micro budget film and the marketing strategy was not heavily funded so they needed to get a film festival circuit to make sure they had critical acclaim - this simple and cheap market approach enforces the view that this is meant for an art-house audience.

3) Why are reviews from industry figures such as Mark Kermode so important to a film's success?

It ensures audiences that this is a film that is highly revered. This encompasses the use of star power to market the film.
4) How does the Chicken Twitter account create and maintain interest in the film?

5) Who does the Twitter account re-tweet? How does this help to promote the film?

6) How does the Chicken Facebook page use images and video content to promote the film?

7) What pages are liked by the Chicken Facebook page? What does this tell you about the film and potential target audience?

Chicken caters towards a niche audience who like to talk about issues facing families and individuals who come from deprived backgrounds in London

8) Go to the website of the B Good Picture Company. What does the homepage say and what other films have they produced or are in production currently?

It says: 'we make films that get people talking, that make people think, that make people care. Welcome to b good'. Also made films such as: In love with, Random Acts: The Castle and Mckellen.

9) Now go to the B Good Picture Company's website page for Chicken. How does this page promote Chicken specifically?

It promotes Chicken specifically by starting with a quote from one of the main characters in the film. As you go further down the page, you can see what people have said and also get to see the trailer and some pictures as well as the film poster.10) Go to the B Good Picture Company YouTube channel. What videos feature on the channel? How do they help to promote Chicken?

Interviews with the actors and interviews with stars such as Ian Mckellen.


Final reading: Media Magazine (MM45 PG 24) - the appeal of arthouse cinema

1) Summarise the article in 50 words.

Arthouse films are artistic rather than commercial. Thus, they are films that are purposely difficult to understand or 'read'. Those who think of cinema purely for entertainment, which is easier to read, are rarely likely to watch arthouse films. Arthouse films touch upon issues in society that people may not normally talk about as they could lose the relatability concept (arthouse films have a bit more representation) and they some arthouse films such as chicken can be very complex and hard hitting, people may not be open and comfortable about such issues. 

2) What are some of the suggested audience pleasures for arthouse film?


3) Why do some audiences struggle with arthouse film? Refer to some media theory here (there are some important media theories discussed in the article itself).
Some people see arthouse films as unrelatable as these sort of films have a bit more representation. Furthermore, these films are only catered towards niche audiences who are educated enough to understand and converse about extremely complex issues facing society. Blumer and Katz uses and gratifications theory suggests that audiences are active and able to make conscious choices about the way they consume media. Personal identity and personal relationships link to these films as it is hard to relate to them. 

 4) To what extent is arthouse film only for the middle classes and older audiences? Why might this be the case?
Arthouse film may only be for the middle classes and older audiences because due to the high level of complexity of the issues dealt with, some audiences may not be comfortable for fitted towards watching such subject matter. 

5) What type of audience would be interested in Chicken?

An older niche audience would be interested in Chicken