Beanie the Piano Playing Chicken is doing just fine

Good news! Beanie the piano playing chicken is alive and doing well in her southern California home.

Nearly a year had elapsed since we’d last heard from James, Beanie’s trainer. The same amount of time had passed since Beanie’s Blog was last updated–May of 2008. So naturally, we began to wonder. Could something have happened? Did Beanie finally pluck her last note?
But all is well in Beanie’s world. James sent an email letting us know that Beanie (along with James) recently moved to a new home with plans for a great new coop called “Beanie’s Palace.” In fact, Beanie has several new poultry friends that are also interested in learning how to play the piano, Einy, Miney and Mo. (Meany was a rooster, who was voted off the property because he didn’t play well with others.)



You can catch both Beanie and James on the Mad City Chickens DVD as they both make an appearance in the film. And keep a watch for updates once Beanie begins posting on her blog again.
It’s good to know you’re doing fine Beanie!

Milwaukee Audience packs house to see Mad City Chickens!

Last night over 300 people filled the Lakefront Brewery’s Palm Gardens to see the Milwaukee premiere of Mad City Chickens. It’s still illegal to keep poultry within city limits, but Milwaukee residents are ready for change, and they were ready for this film. As filmmakers, there’s nothing more rewarding than to experience a room full of people “getting” your film. And the Milwaukee crowd got it! They laughed, they cheered, and they want their chickens. For us, the adrenaline still hasn’t worn off.

Read the Milwaukee Journal coverage by reporter Karen Herzog.

Milwaukee Premiere of Mad City Chickens Tonight!

It’s Earth Day and Mad City Chickens makes it’s Milwaukee premiere tonight at the Outpost Natural Foods Spring Film Festival.



Milwaukee chicken supporters are eager to join the growing number of cities across the US and Canada that are going pro-chicken. In an effort to raise awareness about backyard poultry and its benefits, Outpost Natural Foods Cooperative is sponsoring a free public screening of Mad City Chickens at the Lakefront Brewery Palm Gardens, 1872 Commerce Street. Show starts at 7:30pm. The filmmakers will be on hand for a Q&A afterward.


Read the ExpressMilwaukee.com and OnMilwaukee.com writeups.

Castlegar, British Columbia to screen Mad City Chickens

The city of Castlegar, British Columbia has a potential vote coming up on the keeping of backyard chickens with a public meeting on the 4th of May. So to help raise awareness, chicken supporters in Castlegar will be sponsoring a public screening of Mad City Chickens in early May.

Watch for more details to follow here on the Tarazod Films Blog as well as the Castlegar-based UrbanWorkbench.com.

Review: Mad City Chickens (Garden Girl Forum)

Read the latest review of the Mad City Chickens documentary on the Garden Girl TV forum, written by Super Moderator, Frederick J. Dunn of Fred’s Fine Fowl and author of Regarding Chickens. Thanks Fred, we’re so glad you liked the film.

Mad City Chickens to screen in Milwaukee on Earth Day

Mad City Chickens will make its Milwaukee premiere on Earth Day 2009 as part of the third annual Outpost Natural Foods Film Fest. The screening is free and open to the public, April 22nd, 7:30 p.m. at the Lakefront Brewery Palm Gardens, 1872 Commerce Street. If you’re in the Milwaukee area, come see the film and meet the filmmakers.


Word is getting out in the press:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Best of American Beer & Food
Bay View Compass

MCC screens for Monona Planning Commission

Last evening, the Monona, Wisconsin Plan Commission considered the ordinance to allow the keeping of chickens within the city. The meeting started with a showing of the Mad City Chickens documentary. For details, see the Monona Doug blog.

Chickens: Live Interview on W.O.R.T. Radio

The Mad City Chickens DVD is now out! This evening we appeared on In Our Backyard, a daily local news program on W.O.R.T.--Madison’s Grassroots Community Sponsored Radio Station. The show was produced by Molly Stentz and hosted by Brian Standing, Eva Schulte, and Robin Barrenson.

Listen to the mp3 of the interview.

Show Your Support for the Return of the Backyard Chicken

Hold your comb high while displaying your support for backyard chickens. Check out our new chick buttons and bumper stickers at our tarazod.com shop

Sad News--Star Hen from Mad City Chickens film passes away

We just learned today that Ricka (formerly know as T2) passed away yesterday. She died from acute liver failure due to an infection. She was one of the star hens (the Giant Chicken) in our Mad City Chickens documentary.



Ricka lived with us in our backyard for 6 months during the production of the film. She answered to the name T2 back then and was always such a gentle and friendly bird. Near the end of filming, she went with her sister, Red (now known as Flicka) to live with a loving family who were new to backyard chickens in Madison.



T2 was a Red Star, a breed which is known for its friendly nature as well as its large brown eggs. Not only did T2 become the poster child for our film–people don’t forget a giant chicken running through the city–but she also made it onto public television when she and her sister did an appearance with us on the show Director’s Cut.

We will always have such fond memories of Ricka. She touched so many people’s lives (and will continue to do so through the film). She will be missed.

Mad City Chickens to Screen at Movie Mondays in Victoria

Mad City Chickens will screen April 13th in Victoria, British Columbia at Movie Mondays, a 16 year old weekly film series. Hosted by programmer Bruce Saunders.



Screening: Mad City Chickens
Date: April 13th, 2009
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: Eric Martin Pavilion, Victoria, BC Canada

To learn more about the venue and Bruce, go to the Movie Mondays website at: http://www.moviemonday.ca