When Gordon is not working on a specific project, she volunteers at
Silver Screen or other animal facilities. "I help take care of the animals.
I've got some wild animals I brought down from my old company
[Anne's Animal Actors] and I do the cleaning, feeding, and care. I do
some basic training with animals that need to be brought up to a higher
level so they will be more marketable when a job does come around."
Advice for Someone Seeking This Job
"The best way to learn this job is by doing it," says Gordon. "Every
single animal training company that I know of takes volunteers and wel-
comes volunteer help. That's the way you get started. When I'm not on
the payroll, I still go out and
volunteer my time at Silver
Screen Animals. The more time
you volunteer, the more likely
you're going to be the one who
goes out the door when there
is a paying job." To obtain
names and telephone numbers
for film animal trainers in your
area, contact your state film
office or commission.
Professional Profile:
Anne Gordon, Film
Animal Trainer
"I knew from a very, very
young age that I wanted to
work with animals," says Anne
Gordon. "I just didn't know
how that would manifest
itself." The Washington state
native attended Western
Washington University, where
she earned a bachelor's degree
in biology with a minor in
animal behavior.
While still in school, Gordon volunteered at the Seattle Zoo, where
she was hired on after graduation and worked her way up to being a
zookeeper. Three years later, she wanted a job with more animal interac-
tion, so she spent eight months working for free with a trainer in
Riverside, California, who taught people how to train wild animals.
What do you like
least about your job?
"Ofttimes the animal
will be put on the back
burner, if it's not a major
starring role." At the end
of the day, after the actors
are released, the animal is brought in and
expected to quickly do its scene with no
rehearsal. "Sometimes, there is not a lot of
respect given to animals. They expect them
to be a little robot and come out and work
instantly, even though they've been made to
sit around for 16 hours. That can be very
frustrating."--Anne Gordon
What do you love most
about your job?
"It's very, very satisfying when you take a
dog or animal that knows almost nothing,
bring it to the point where it can be a lead
role in a feature film, and they pull it off."
--Anne Gordon
VOICES OF
EXPERIENCE
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