Kayla Arend is the writer-director of CHICKEN BOY, which premiered at the New York No Limits Art of the Short Film event, March 14th, 2019. We had the privilege of talking to Kayla about her film; her attraction to the story, working with the actors and other interesting elements of the film.
Kayla is a filmmaker who will go far with her perceptive visual eye and knack for poignancy.
About CHICKEN BOY, After being bullied at school and neglected at home, this “Chicken Boy” approaches a gun.
More on Kayla, KaylaArend.com, Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/kayladlx/
What made you want to make this film?
When I conceived the idea for this film, school shootings and mass shootings seemed to be happening every other day within the United States. That fact - coupled with a reoccurring dream that I was having is what made me want to make this film. In the dream, a child in a bright red, orange or pink coat would throw eggs at a tree in the dead of winter. Every time I had the dream, and the kid threw the egg - something different would happen. The moment the egg broke against the tree, the different sound, the chicken fetus - that was the one (of many similar dreams) that stood out to me. The lone child throwing eggs felt like a metaphor that would blend well with the idea of child development and school shootings. So not only did this story speak to my subconscious on some sort of level, but it is also about a child going through hard times and not having adequate support around them, something that I think is happening within this country on huge level, especially within the realm of mass shootings and improper regulations on guns.
Where did you shoot the film?
At the time of making this film, my mother was very sick. I based this story in Minnesota so I could spend more time around my family between my studies at NYU Tisch graduate film program and producing this short film. We specifically filmed in Salem Corners in rural southeastern Minnesota, very close to my hometown.
How did you find this actor?
During preproduction, I was flying in to Minneapolis Minnesota on certain weekends where I would hold auditions at different public libraries around the Twin Cities area. From there I would drive to Salem Corners to produce the rest of it, locations, school bus, chickens, raccoon. Charlie and his father heard of the auditions through my posting on MNPlayList. They came in late, as we were packing up but Charlie read and auditioned - he took direction remarkably well for someone his age. His pure passion for performance was also a key element that I noticed and drew me to him.
What do you want the audience to come away with in the end?
In the end I want the audience to question the relationship between mental health, neglect and the idea of masculinity. I want people to understand that there usually is an under current of circumstances that effect a persons behavioral development. Where do mass shooters come from? This film is a creative exploration of toxic masculinity, the lack of gun control and mental health support within the United States. An entire generation is growing up to be gun law activists - because they have to be.
