Animal Casting

Could Your Furry, Feathered, or Scaly Friend Be a Star?

By Julie Senger

Many of us have admired the clever animals weve seen in our favorite shows and movies, and with the booming film and television industry we now have in Georgia, you may be wondering how your pet can get in on the action. Heres some basic information for you to chew on when deciding if youd like your pet to try and fetch a part in front of the camera.

Training

According to an animal trainer career profile, Movie animal trainers use their knowledge of animal behavior to train and care for a variety of species. Trainers use operant conditioning to train animals to perform specific behaviors that are desired for roles in television and movies, (TheBalanceCareers.com).

Using operant conditioning, a theory created by psychologist B.F. Skinner, trainers teach animals to connect a behavior with a cue (or signal), and then reward the animal for correct behavior. Whenever the animal behaves in the desired way or even close to the desired way the trainer offers positive reinforcement (usually in the form of food). The idea is that positive reinforcement of a seemingly random behavior increases the likelihood of it happening again, (Entertainment.HowStuffWorks.com).

Visit FilmGeorgia.com to find a qualified animal trainer/training company in Georgia.

Have Your People Call My People

Some training companies also offer promotion and representation for animals. While most of these companies promote and represent animals that are trained in their facilities, some allow you to submit your animal for consideration. You will likely be asked to send a quality photo of your animal along with information about training received, special skills/talents, certifications, professional experience/resume credits they may already have, etc.

Nobody Puts Baby in a Corner

According to their website, American Humane monitors over 1,000 productions per year, helping ensure the safety and humane treatment of animal actors. They work in association with the American film and TV industry to help ensure the well-being of animal actors and promote the human-animal bond. They are on the set to protect animal actors.
American Humane has additional Humane Hollywood Initiatives that seek to protect and serve animals in the film and television industry:

No Animals Were Harmed is an end-credit certification awarded to productions that meet American Humanes rigorous standard of care for animal actors. American Humane works with production personnel and trainers in the pre-production planning stage, monitors the animals on set during production, and enforces American Humanes Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media. It also investigates allegations of mistreatment and cruelty and sanctions productions that do not meet its standards of humane animal treatment.

Celebrity Supporters help take American Humanes message to a larger audience to champion the causes of the voiceless. Celebrities include Whoopi Goldberg, Betty White, Robert DeNiro, Kristin Chenoweth, Terry Bradshaw, Ice-T, Hugh Jackman, and many others.

Show Me the Money!

What animals earn varies widely based on project budget, length, talent, special skills required, and many other factors. But here are a few examples from TheRichest of what some of the highest paid, well-known animal stars have made in the past:

Rinty, who starred as Rin Tin Tin, earned $6,000 per week back in the 1930s, which would equate to around $78,000 per week today.

Keiko the killer whale of Free Willy movie franchise fame earned a total of $36 million.


Bart the Alaskan brown bear from the movies The Edge, The Great Outdoors, and Legends of the Fall earned $6 million for his movie roles.

Pal, the collie that originated the role of Lassie in the 1950s, made $4,000 per week, which would equate to $51,000 per week today.

Moose, the Jack Russell terrier that starred as Eddie on the TV show, Frasier, earned $10,000 per episode.

Crystal the Capuchin monkey earned $12,000 per episode for the television show Animal Practice. Crystal also starred in the movies Night at the Museum and The Hangover Part II.