Inside PBS Blog

Mark, at wildlife film festivals, your work is frequently criticized as being staged, sensational, or simply misleading to audiences. Yet you seem quite candid with bending genres and breaking conventions in your work. How have you developed your own set of ethics toward being a truthful documentary filmmaker?

I was invited to post some questions for Mark Lewis. Here are a few:

Although there is mocking tone through much of the film, it is clear that you have a genuine appreciation of chickens that seems to come from personal experience. What kind of chickens did you grow up with, and what kind of relationship did you have with them?

What is the best way to protect young chickens from cane toads?

Here's a real natural history question: what is the best explanation you have heard about how the green-egg-laying chickens got to South America in the first place?

Speaking of "natural history," what did you mean by natural history in the title of your film?

Ever hear that brown eggs come from chickens with brown feathers and white eggs come from chickens with white feathers? It is all over the web, in pamphlets produced by egg boards, and even on posters created by 4-Hers, who may raise brown Leghorns themselves. How does that misinformation keep alive, when it so obviously false?

Hi Mark,

I really enjoyed "The Natural History of the Chicken" when it aired on PBS in the past. I've been amused and interested in chickens since I was a kid, maybe because my grandparents' house was adorned with those little chicken statues that are the symbol of Portugal. Do you have a similar childhood association with chickens?

Karen

Was watching this show tonight and enjoying it enormously until you had the pastor on and that staged business with the hawk. One assumes that if the pastor saw the hawk he would have gone out and protected that chicken. What
poor behaviour and that pompous pontificating....It ruined the show for me

If you know anything about hawks or other birds of prey, I'm sure there wasn't much time on his part to react. It sounds like the chicken spun on it's heels, but to realize what is happening and run from the house is another manner. I'm sure if he cared enough about Liza (Lyla?) to build her own coop he would have been out there protecting her and her brood had he had time.....

Hi Mark,

I absolutely loved "The Natural History of the Chicken”! As a beginning graduate student studying documentary, I find that I am often drawn to subjects that don't fit neatly into existing genres. I'm also drawn to filmmaking styles that are somewhat convention-bending. So here are two questions:

1) Can you offer any advice on getting financing and distribution for films that stretch conventions and push genre boundaries?

2) It seems like an important step in getting films made is knowing who your audience is and knowing how to reach them. How to you define your audience and how do you let them know your film exists?

Thanks so much for taking the time to share your thoughts!

Matt Gordon

P.S. I have Cane Toads up next on my Netflix Queue!

Just wanted to say that I very much enjoyed your pieces about chickens and ferrets. I look forward to seeing more of your work. All the best to you and your crew!

Hello, I hate to be writing about the struggles of my own work--but I am! I have been trying to get a work I sacrificed several years of my life and 15,000 thousand dollars to make on the 1957 performance of Waiting for Godot at the San Quentin Prison. I thought PBS would be a natural fit--but they're about like Disney. I was always inspired by low budget moviemakers--and they continually use excuses like your program is not up to technical standards etc. It's a fantastic, insightful piece of work on a production that's used in college drama and english courses. I just write to anyone I can to try to get this thing out there. Best, Jake

Dear Mark,
I have just watched you read the most simple, beautiful, and powerful story about Liza the Chicken. Having recently receiving the gift of Grace to meet with and share hope and healing with the man who murdered my father thirty one years ago, I listened to you read your depth-filled story, and was moved to tears and to joy.
Thank you for that.
Sincerely,
Margot Van Sluytman
www.margotvansluytman.com
www.Sawbonna.com

I love your little chicken movie..I love chickens they are so great to be around and to watch.
Jennifer animal lover?

That's really a very nice story, the sweet old lady and her frozen chicken :)

good find!

It didn't really changed my mind about chickens, but I enjoyed the little documentary for sure, thanks.

bye,

Michiel

I absolutely loved "The Natural History of the Chicken”! As a beginning graduate student studying documentary, I find that I am often drawn to subjects that don't fit neatly into existing genres. Having recently receiving the gift of Grace to meet with and share hope and healing with the man who murdered my father thirty one years ago, I listened to you read your depth-filled story, and was moved to tears and to joy.

Thank you for this post,
Atesh
DizipoL

Considering I love eating chicken im not sure I want to learn much more about them. However, that was an impressive film clearly shot my a skilled film maker. Anyone who can make a documentary about chickens interesting can pretty much make anything interesting. I wonder if he could make me a “in the life of a dining table” documentary?!

Michael Henson

I really like this guy's idea. I also know very little about chickens, so it's refreshing to see someone talk a bit about them. There was a similar thing in the UK which aimed to show that chickens are actually quite clever creatures, and the horrors of battery hen farming. All i know is that i'll respect the chicken before i eat it with sunday lunch!

Interesting documentary on chickens. I enjoyed looking at the 1st video. As a Realtor I can appreciate the gorgeous property in Maine where these animals were raised. It seems like the chickens have taken on the new "mans best friend" mantra! Amazing how she defrosted the chicken.

Bill Gassett

I absolutely loved "The Natural History of the Chicken”! As a beginning graduate student studying documentary, I find that I am often drawn to subjects that don't fit neatly into existing genres. Having recently receiving the gift of Grace to meet with and share hope and healing with the man who murdered my father thirty one years ago, I listened to you read your depth-filled story, and was moved to tears and to joy.

Thank you for this post,

Here's a real natural history question: what is the best explanation you have heard about how the green-egg-laying chickens got to South America in the first place?

Im waiting for the next Film from Mark Lewis, this is the first one i see but in found it very interesting, he has a great way to transmit the feeling, and with this special thematics.

Just wanted to say that I very much enjoyed your pieces about chickens and ferrets. I look forward to seeing more of your work. All the best to you and your crew!