Navigating Unpredictable Performers
An animal day is any day on a production schedule where a significant portion of the filming involves animal actors. This can range from a simple scene with a household pet to a complex sequence involving horses, exotic creatures, or a large number of animals. These days are notoriously challenging and are approached with a great deal of planning and patience. The classic industry adage, often attributed to W.C. Fields, is “Never work with children or animals,” a testament to the inherent unpredictability they bring to a tightly scheduled film set.
The Crucial Role of the Animal Handler
The most important person on set during an animal day is the professional animal handler or trainer. The director does not communicate directly with the animal; instead, they explain the desired action to the handler, who then uses their established training methods and rapport with the animal to elicit the performance. The entire crew must create a calm, controlled environment, minimizing noise and sudden movements that could distract or frighten the animal. The handler has the ultimate authority to determine if an animal is stressed or unable to perform, and their judgment on matters of the animal’s well-being is final.
Ensuring Welfare: The ‘No Animals Were Harmed’ Mandate
The safety and ethical treatment of animals in film is paramount and strictly regulated. In the United States, most productions that use animals work with the American Humane Association (AHA). An AHA Certified Animal Safety Representative is often present on set to monitor the conditions and the action.
- Monitoring: The representative ensures the animals are not put in dangerous situations, have adequate food, water, and shelter, and are given sufficient rest between takes.
- Approval: They review the script and must approve any scripted action involving animals to ensure it can be achieved safely, often through training, camera tricks, or digital effects rather than actual risk.
- Certification: The famous end-credit disclaimer, “No Animals Were Harmed in the making of this film,” is not a generic statement but a registered trademark of the AHA. It certifies that the production has met their rigorous standards of care and that an official representative monitored the animal action.
Because an animal’s focus and energy are limited, 1st Assistant Directors must schedule animal days carefully, often planning for them to take much longer than a comparable scene with only human actors.