CHICKEN, 14min., Canada
Directed by Lucy McNulty, Emma Pollard
When Sam splits up with her partner, she is forced to move back into her childhood home with her mother and neurodivergent brother. When depression sinks in, her brother Emmett gets in her face trying to cheer her up and in doing so makes everything worse. But when Emmett is confronted with a situation at a baseball game where he is called a chicken, Sam rises to the challenge to come to his aid and is reminded of what is truly important.

http://chickenfilm.ca/
https://instagram.com/chickentheshortfilm

Get to know the filmmaker:

1. What motivated you to make this film?

This film was inspired by a childhood friend of mine whose life experience includes Down syndrome. I had never seen a character like him on screen before. Wanting to tell a story that encapsulated some of his complexities: his humour, intelligence, depth and compassion, I started looking at stories that have a character with a disability. I found some, not many. More now than ever, but still, limited. I didn't want the relationship to be precious, but something real, honest, sometimes painfully so. The beautiful thing about Sam and Emmett's relationship is that we join it 30 years in, when they've worked through the expectations that the world has of them, and that they have put on themselves. Siblings see each other more honestly than anyone else does, and it's through that lens that we explore their failures and strengths of navigating adulthood. The goal was to tell a story about a sibling relationship, romantic disappointment, all the while telling a universal, human story, normalizing disability.

2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you
to make this film?

3 years. I worked on the script during the pandemic in 2020 and we got to film in 2021. By the time we finished editing it was 2022.

3. How would you describe your film in two words!?

Complicated Siblings.

4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?

We had a covid scare during production and lost a day. That was tough. But we were able to schedule a pickup day about a month later and everything worked out.

5. What were your initial reactions when watching the audience talking
about your film in the feedback video?

I loved hearing all the different interpretations and the way the film affected people. I loved it.

6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?

After theatre school, while I was expanding my theatrical practice, specifically in disability art, I was simultaneously getting excited about filmmaking. I had helped out on a few short films my friends had been making, and everyone had been telling me I had to start making my own work. I thought that meant writing my own work. I didn't even really know what a producer did. I thought the challenge was to get it on paper, thinking the rest would be easy.

When the pandemic hit, I started writing. And in the fall of 2021 I wrote, produced and directed my first short film, Chicken. Making that film has completely changed the direction of my life. I feel it is my responsibility as an artist to create opportunities for those who may not have traditionally had them.

7. What film have you seen the most in your life?

8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other
festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking
career?

This was my first experience with your festival and it has been an extremely positive one. Thank you! You have really thought of everything.

9. What is next for you? A new film?

Yes. Lots of projects in the works :)