EGG&CHIPS

A young daughter tries to bring home the bacon by stealing a chicken, while her mother is in denial about their impending eviction.

Writer and Director: Helen Iley

Producer: Martina Russo, Emily Eyre

EP: Sheila Nortley,

Steven Demmler

Steve Gaub

Lauren Hissrich

In Collaboration with:

FINALIST SCRIPT RAINDANCE FILM FESTIVAL 2021

Award-winning Script and a successful Kickstarter campaign!

A bus pulls up to a large housing estate, with a set of high rise flats that tower over the communal park and red-bricked corner shop below. FLO (10) with bouncy pig tails, makes her way off the bus with a CHICKEN in hand. Their neighbour SHARON amusingly watches the young girl ushering the chicken into her flat, now half-empty and boxed up as eviction looms. At the same time TRISS (27) on the other side of the city, makes her way out on a night out, avoiding her problems at hand to socialise before (later on) making a rather tipsy, staggered walk home to the inner city council estate in which they currently reside. Pressured by phone calls from the perky yet persistent CHRISTINE from a local social housing organisation, TRISS is attempting to balance finding work with looking after her young daughter, Flo, and seeking emergency help with housing.

After a late-night shower with an unwanted feathery friend in the bathroom, Triss confronts Flo about her ridiculous scheme of bringing a chicken home to help them out. She demands it to be returned from wherever it came from. Meanwhile, Flo’s relentless attempts to continue as she gets teased by classmates for moving school, being labelled ‘smelly’ and embarrassingly trying to dig up veg in the school gardens to take home for food. As Flo then attempts to grow herbs in her tiny bedroom, Triss is scared that her daughter is losing an opportunity of a normal childhood, spending her time concerned about looking after her Mum. As Triss begins to break down in front of Flo, along with the bailiff's regular visits, the pair feel equally helpless. Yet, with the support of their friends and the strength they have as a pair, Triss knows she needs to make sure that they will survive this difficult chapter in their life and that there is hope for their next one - whether that involves a chicken or not.

WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT FOOD ACCESS FOR FAMILIES IN THE UK. HELP US GET THIS ISSUE ON SCREEN.

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Cast

Triss Megan Parkinson (Game of Thrones)

Flo Megan Griffiths

Susan Louise Atkins

Crew

Kathleen Kitsall Animal Wrangler - Stunt Dogs & Animals Ltd

Sherina Purnomo Production Designer

Samantha Howman Art Department Trainee

Sarah Wigham Art Department Trainee

Paul Woodrow Art Department Trainee

Ruby Parker-Harbord1st Assistant Director

Tee Hogan 2nd Assistant Director

Jorge Closa Benitez Set PA / Trainee

Benjamin LeggettDirector of Photography

Jonny Stillwell 1st Assistant Camera

Julia Rudd 2nd Assistant Camera

Timothy Fairhurst Camera Trainee

Dan Gadd Steadicam Operator

CATERING (Leon)

Alex & James LEON Leeds

Steven Rawnsley Chaperone - Articulate

Ingo Lyle-Goodwin Script Supervisor

Leah-Mary Stone Script Trainee

Georgina Cooper Costume Designer

John Reynell Costume Trainee

Dorothy Iskrzynska Gaffer

Irene Cantero Spark

Hilda Quick Electrical Trainee

Armani Din Hair & Makeup Designer

Dominic Snowden Hair & Makeup Trainee

Emily Mitchell Production Assistant

Matt Harmon H&S Advisor

Devon George Production Sound Recordist

Christina Worrall Sound Trainee - Sat 19th

Stills From the Film

Director's Statement

"Egg & Chips is both a harsh insight into British poverty but also a celebration of the community within these areas of modern society. Adapted from a piece of spoken word that the director, Helen Iley, developed when she was younger, it depicts a mother and daughter having Egg & Chips, ‘Food of the Gods’ against the backdrop of their inner city pressures.

With around 4.2 million children in poverty in the UK, including single parents having 42% percent of children in poverty (thebigissue.co.uk), which has since been escalated due to the pandemic and school meals campaign over this past year, Helen was prompted to revisit Egg & Chips again and developed it into a narrative that envelops this modern day crisis with the absurdity of a chicken that keeps them, strangely, sane and brings them closer together as a family.

Not only do we want to place emphasis on the daily struggles for people experiencing poverty but also make a comment on the quality of food that is accessible and affordable for low income families in the UK today."

We have received an incredible support! Hundreds of people among volunteers, donars and fan of E&C have helped to make this film happen. In October 2022 we completed a successful Kickstarter campaign and raised 50% of our prep and production costs, with generous support from donors at Netflix & Working Title Films.

This, along with additional private funding, allowed us to shoot the film in November 2022 with an outstanding cast & crew.

Update

Themes

1.8 million single parents

They make up nearly a quarter of families with dependent children

Around 90% of single parents are women

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