Job Overview
Maintain, train, and provide animals of all types for movies, television
programs, commercials, and still photography.
Special Skills
Basic dog obedience skills are an asset. Although schooling is not nec-
essary, any study of animal care and behavior are also assets.
Expanded Job Description:
Film animal trainers have three typical days: prep days, days on the
set, and days when there is no current job. On a typical prep day, the
trainer is on payroll to work certain animals for a specific trick or project.
"Right now I'm prepping for the new Benji movie," says trainer Anne
Gordon. "There are two Benji dogs and two of us trainers. We start about
9:00 in the morning and train all day long. We take turns with the dogs
and work different behaviors and actions. We try to anticipate what we're
going to need. We give them lots of breaks during the day, walks, and
naptime. We work many, many short little sessions."
On days when the animal will be acting, the trainer receives a call time,
which can vary anywhere from 6:00 in the morning to 3:00 in the afternoon.
"You check in with the first AD and let them know you're there and find
out what time you're going to be needed. Ideally, you like some time on the
exact set where the animal is going to work. If the animal is not going to
work for a couple of hours and they aren't shooting on the set you're going
to use, you go in with the animal and run him through what the action is
going to be so the animal is prepared. There is also a lot of down time, just
sitting around waiting and keeping the animal happy, comfortable, and
exercised. When the animal is called to work, you work with the director
and the first AD to set up what you need. If you're working with a tiger,
then everybody that doesn't need to be there clears the set. If you're
working a house pet, you tell everybody when they say `cut' that the grips
need to wait until we get the cat or dog out and safe before they start
moving equipment." Once all the logistics are worked out, the animal per-
forms its role however many times are necessary to get the shot. The animal
is then either released or waits for an additional scene. Although there are
no time limits on hours an animal can work, the Humane Society governs
the welfare of actor animals to ensure they are not abused.
JOB TITLE: ANIMAL TRAINER
OR FILM ANIMAL TRAINER
User Comments Add a comment…