Arri LoCaster Lights

These are beauts! A wide range of light temperatures all in one body. And the LEDs do not get hot like halogens...a huge plus when working in summer humidity and in tight cramped sets.

Mad City Chickens to Screen at Chatham Real Food Market Co-Op

July, 29th Chatham, NY - Public Screening sponsored by Chatham Real Food Market Co-Op - 7:00 pm at the Food Co-Op, 15 Church Street (Route 203).

"Do Not Sell Laying Hens"

Another vintage advertisement put out by the US government to promote the raising of backyard chickens...

Uncle Sam Wants You...To Raise Chickens

This government ad was published in numerous poultry magazines in 1917-18. Funny how things come back around...only this time, the people are doing it for themselves, often in direct opposition to the barriers set up by local municipalities and their governmental ineptness.

[CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE]

"Chickens" to Show in Chillicothe, IL

On the 21st of July, Mad City Chickens will screen in Chillicothe, Illinois which is about 16 miles from Peoria and 140 from Chicago. The documentary is playing at and being sponsored by the Chillicothe Public Library - 6:30 pm, 430 N. Bradley Ave.

Mad City Chickens to Screen in Richmond

July, 17th Richmond, Virginia - Public Screening presented by ChiknEGG Productions LLC - 2:00 pm Byrd Theatre, 2908 West Cary Street.

The Duchess and her Chickens

Having produced a documentary on backyard poultry, we've had the opportunity to meet a lot of chicken folks. As a result, we often get little chicken-related things sent to us. Here's a postcard we received showing the Duchess of Devonshire feeding her chickens in Chatsworth, England.

[CLICK ON POSTCARD TO ENLARGE]

Turning on the Lights

Upgrades to our production equipment must include lights. We've begged, borrowed, and cobbled together lighting set-ups on our shoots for years. This ends in 2011. We're looking to build a professional, multi-functional, and if possible, affordable kit. "Affordable" is of course a relative term here.

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A couple aspects that we're really interested in is...

1. Lights that do not throw off a lot of heat or use an excessive amount of power. This means LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes).

2. Lights that contain a full spectrum of color temperatures within the same housing, thus making the unit multi-functional depending upon the setting. Again LEDs do this well.

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The LED technology is still relatively new, so the cost is not cheap. You do get what you pay for, however, so as we do our research, we'll be looking for units that can work for us for years to come.

Here's a peek at a LitePanels LED Fresnel. Not exactly what we're looking for, but still really nice...