Things I have Learned as a Studio Trainer Part V: Not Every Pet is Going to be a Star

 

Some pets have the look but cannot act. I’ve worked with some great animal actors but they just didn’t have the look the director wanted. I also worked with some great lookers but getting them to perform was a whole another story. Unfortunately not all pets are going to become great animal actors.

“Petal”, fortunately enough, has a very unique look. But she has been turned down by several directors because it isn’t the right look. She is too small for any full shots of the actors that include her. You can’t see her in a full screen shot. She is also to “scrappy” looking for some directors. She will never play the pampered well groomed pooch.

It is important that in most instances that the director be able to see the eyes of your pet clearly and that they emote. This sounds ridiculous but it’s true. Black faced dogs are rarely seen on camera. Newfoundlands seem to be an exception to the rule. It is difficult to see the eyes on black faced dogs and also difficult for black dogs to make a nice visual appearance. Dogs with hair in their eyes are rarely chosen unless the scene specifically calls for that. So most hairy dogs have their face trimmed around the eyes or have the hair up in a ponytail or hair clip to pull it off the face. The eyes have to draw the audience in. Some of the animal actors just don’t have what it takes when it comes to their eyes.

If you have a unique looking dog or at least a dog not already over used it can be of some benefit. No director wants to use a collie and have the audience think “Lassie” instead of the character it is portraying or the product being promoted.  Yet some directors want a recognizable look. After “Legally Blonde” & “Beverly Hills Chihuahua”, the call for blonde Chihuahuas went through the roof. And for a while French and English Bulldogs were all the rage in photo shoots.

The disadvantage to a single looking uniqueness is that the dog must be a great performer as well as a great actor. As in a previous blog, there were practically 101 Dalmatians used to film that movie. And a lot of makeups to make them all look like the same dog. Not many other dogs look like little “Petal”.

Most animal actors must also be athletic. They must be able to climb and jump. I highly recommend agility training for any animal actor. It helps them become brave and strong, even the tiniest dog. They don’t have to be fast and fabulous, just willing to do it. Going through tunnels and shoots, jumping jumps, walking on ledges and platforms are common in animal scenes. There are some great animal actors out there but if the director has to shut down production for the day because the pet is tired, scared, or just not willing to work; you probably won’t be getting calls again.

My Jack Russell Terrier was in very high demand because he was friendly and could be on set with other dogs. But he hated it. He would wine and pout in between takes and drive other studio trainers crazy.  He didn’t like to work off leash but was beautiful on leash. He did several jobs and was well paid for each one. I would promise him it was the last, but then the call would come and the money was good I would try to prep him better for the wait and hope he would eventually like it. You’ve probably seen him. He is finally retired.

I also rescued a rat terrier that was a fabulous actress. She was very athletic and willing to do all kinds of stunts and tricks. She was personable but when you looked at her stills or video, she just didn’t draw you in. Nobody would hire her. She was even turned down for several free jobs.

Some breeds of dogs are just stereo typed and you won’t get the parts you want. Most directors won’t hire pit bulls or Dobermans unless they are filming a violence scene. It is just a fact. Others are in great demand because there aren’t many well trained ones available. If you can train a red Dachshund or a Dalmatian you will be flooded with calls. But they are difficult to train.

You take pictures and home video of your dog and everyone things they are stunning. When you walk your pet people stop you to ask about it. You have a dog or cat that people want to pet or a lizard that is stunning when it sits on a rock, or a bird on a perch that entertains your family and friends. Then you just may have an animal actor. But will they do it away from home and with a million distractions?

 

Part VI: Working with Distractions