US PREMIERE: Murza & The Chicken

Murza & The Chicken from Skateistan on Vimeo.

Question: What do you get when you take a chicken, Murza, and a crew of Skateistan students around the skatepark?  Answer: A hilarious film written, directed, and edited by our amazing students, that's what!  This semester, the Wednesday AM Film class produced this hilarious short called MURZA AND THE CHICKEN and we're so excited to share it! During a jam-packed twelve weeks, the class worked as a team, learning tons, and accomplishing their goal.   We gave the students the tools, let them loose around the skatepark and told them they could tell any story they wanted. Murza and the Chicken is the result of their excitement and hard work, and we're very proud of them.

Students spent the semester learning how to create characters, design scenes, and work with the camera. In each session, students played games designed to encourage confidence, teamwork, and their creative genius.  In addition, they were shown a wide variety of different films and styles as an example.  A major highlight of the semester was their invitation to Ariana Studios in Kabul to receive a private tour of the campus.  Hosted by one of the young stars of the network, students were allowed to see how their creative talents could possibly one day lead to a career.   After weeks of learning, they then came up with an amazing idea for a film of their own.  Starring Murza and his infamous chicken, the students had a blast creating the story, gathering the props, and figuring out the best angles to shoot the film. 

This particular class was exceptional because the students had full access to the expertise of the Skateistan international volunteers.  The class was led by American Niki Williams, who has worked in the entertainment industry for over 13 years.  In addition, Canadian Rhianon Bader brought a wealth of  storytelling and photography knowlege to the class.  Filmmaker Jacob Simkin, an Australian, ran a one-on one camera workshop to further enhance the student's comfort working with the camera.  In addition, Afghan Abdul Quddos, who studied acting at his university, brought a dynamic level of fun to the class.  He involved students in games and warm-ups that got them to learn techniques for the perfect performance. 

We hope you enjoy the World Premiere of Murza and the Chicken!