Have you ever wondered how people get animals to do the things you see in the movies? For example, how did the actors get so close to a terrifying, roaring bear? How did they get that dog to act so perfectly in the situation or so naughty for that matter? How did they get that horse to nuzzle a little child? Some would say that is just the magic of the movies. Realists know, however, that those animals were professionally trained for film. Many novice trainers will say that they can train their animal to do things, but professional movie animals have a few extra skills. These include but are not limited to:

The Look

Many would say that the look of an animal is the most important indicator of whether or not they will become a star. This is not always true since everyone loves a character. The look or style of an animal can add a lot to their role as an actor. For example, if your cooperative cat always looks like they have a bad attitude, directors may be able to work with that since cats are often portrayed as being moody. If your animal turns heads when they are seen, you may have a chance of going professional. 

On-Command Actions

Potentially the biggest factor of trained animals is that they are able to accomplish actions on command almost 100% of the time. It does not really matter if your animal can perform some incredible feat if they only do it once. In order to show off your animal's skills, directors and movie producers must be able to rely on the fact that the animal will be able to do the things they need the animal to do. 

Undistracted Focus

A movie set is a very busy place. Hence, a crucial characteristic of an animal trained for film is the ability to focus on the task at hand. If they are going to be distracted by the microphones, moving people, or the other actors in the scene, getting the right shot will be very challenging. As a pet owner, you may want to practice training your animal in places where they could be distracted. 

In conclusion, there are a ton of awesome animals out there, but it takes a little something special to be an animal trained for film. If you are a pet owner who thinks your animal may have what it takes to become a professional, talk to a professional animal trainer or a company like Animals For Film by Teresa Ann Miller to get the process started.

Share