Lights, Camera, Action – Dogs in Cinema
by Bonnie Buchanan
Have you ever wondered how dogs get to be stars in movies, TV series, commercials, print ads for magazines, billboards and even greeting cards?
Cash, a Norfolk Terrier, would like to share his first experience as a dog model in personal terms.
Even though I’m fairly new to the modeling world I’d like to give you some advice. First, and most importantly you need the right look, a cute personality, proper grooming and you must be able to work under various circumstances. One of my earliest experiences was modeling for an ad campaign for Burt’s Bees® products. No problem, piece of cake, or so I thought. Just sit for a minute, get my picture taken, and then off to the world of sniffing and playing. Boy was I WRONG!!!!
I arrived on set and watched the crew set up for the scene. The make-up artist escorted me into a trailer and fitted me with a really neat costume. It was kind of bulky but very cute. I had to remain very still for the fitting and hooking of all the straps and buttons. We were shooting outdoors and it was very hot, especially in the costume. The director provided me an air-conditioned trailer to wait in so I would be comfortable – which was very nice. Soon I was called to the set and the fun began. I had to sit very still and look up, down, right and left for various pictures. We worked for about an hour and then I was given a break while the crew reset for the next shot. There were lots of cameras, monitors, and special equipment used for lighting and at least 10 crew members assisted with this process. Several more hours passed and then I heard the director say, “That’s a wrap! Great job!” My first job had been a great success thanks to all the preparations and training provided by my handler. Okay, I am going to find me some treats, and let my handler tell you about some of the skills needed to make any dog into a star.
Cash, the Norfolk, is pictured in his ad for Burt’s Bees® products
“SO YOU WANT YOUR DOG TO BE IN THE MOVIES”
Exactly what is a “Canine Actor”? Does your dog have what it takes? So your dog is cute, very photogenic and does a variety of tricks. Not to be discouraging, but those are not the only qualifications needed for the big screen. Here are a few skills every acting dog needs to know. One of the most important canine skills is patience and the willingness to perform the same job over and over. It is unbelievable how many times a scene may be repeated before the blessed words, “That’s a wrap.”
A second important canine skill is the ” Stay” command. In the dog world, “stay” means your dog will stop or halt, and remain in that position until released. Recently, several of my dogs worked on an ad campaign for Thunder Shirts. My Border Collie, Rap, was filmed sitting, standing, and laying down with his head down and eyes shut, This was repeated on various surfaces such as a couch and bean bag chair as well as the floor. He also had to walk forward and then stop and stay in a standing position.
Canine actors should not be sound sensitive, as they will be exposed to all types of sounds and noises. I would suggest taking your dog to as many different places as possible to get them used to various noises. Several years ago, my Golden Retriever filmed a scene for a series of commercials produced by a company in Los Angeles. The company is Nascar World and her job was to ride in a race car with her head out the window enjoying the breeze. You can imagine the noise a race car makes. Of course, none of my dogs are ever allowed to sit in the front seat with their head out the window, but remember this is acting! Did you know that race cars do not have front seats or even doors? One of my assistants climbed into the car and hid on the floor giving the dog support, while I directed her from the outside. I have to tell you it is pretty tough trying to out run a race car!
Rap, on location filming a commercial for Central Carolina Bank
Another valuable skill for a canine actor to have is the “Take it, Hold and Give” commands. Dogs need to understand each of these tasks separately. A good example is when my Border Collie, Rap, was filming a commercial for Sun Trust Banks. His job was to unveil their new logo, which was a huge sign. He had to walk up to the sign which was covered by a white tarp, take the corner of the tarp and pull it off the sign. Immediately, once the sign was revealed, he had to drop the tarp and go stand in front of the sign as if he was reading it.
A fifth skill for an acting dog is to be able to perform before a live audience. This is probably one of the hardest tasks because, unlike movies and commercials, you do not have a second or third take. Liberty, a Terrier mix, was cast as Sandy in the play “Annie.” On opening night, I was so proud of her and she was doing really well. During the curtain call, much to the surprise of the actress playing Annie, my dog decided that all the clapping must be for her, so off she went into the audience to visit. The actress calmly went down the steps, singing her song, and dog and actress had a great visit with the audience.
Your dog must also be willing to work with an actor or actress. To accomplish this, I teach the command “Go Visit.” This is a very important skill to teach an acting dog. The dog will go to another person on my command and stay with that person until the scene is over. The actor may be walking, singing, dancing or just hanging out, but the dog’s job is to stay with him until released.
An often-asked question is “How do I get my first job?” The best way to begin your dog’s acting career is to work with an animal trainer called a Wrangler. Wranglers are people who provide the animal talent for films, commercials, and stills and have all the necessary contracts in place. My dogs work under the name “Bon-Clyde Canine Professionals” and you can get more information and a talent form to list your animal from my website www.bon-clyde.com. There are also animal talent agencies which you can find listed in most major cities. A listing can be found by searching the internet for agencies or animal wranglers in your area. You would need to contact them and see what they require to represent your animal.
Rap the Border Collie on Hollywood Blvd.
Working on a movie set is not an easy job and requires lots of hours, time and preparation before the actual filming. Two Bon-Clyde Canines, Rap and Kaos, both Border Collies, recently filmed a movie called “Sleeping Around”. This is a comedy directed by Leslie Greif from Los Angeles and most of the filming took place in North Carolina and the Hamptons, in New York. The filming was so much fun and the actors and crew were great to work with. However, due to the extent of the action required of Rap, I had to also train another Border Collie, Kaos, as his double. I spent weeks preparing them for their scenes, and filming was required during the day and at night. This will be a movie you will not want to miss.
Training a dog for the world of film involves a lot of work. My training philosophy is to expose your dog to as much of the world as you can. Let the dog become a part of your family and learn how to communicate with your dog in a positive and motivational way. Listen to what your dog’s body language is telling you and learn how to read your dog. No animal can work in Obedience, Agility, Conformation or Acting if they are afraid to make a mistake or try. While on the set for the Central Carolina Bank commercials, I received the most impressive compliment ever. One of the actors, while watching the filming on a monitor, noticed that when Rap, my Border Collie, had moved from his position. I quietly walked into the scene, petted him and helped him return to his mark. This person was so impressed that positive motivational methods worked with dogs. Imagine the stress on actors if every time they forgot a line or missed their mark someone reprimanded them!
This picture was taken on the set of the movie “Sleeping Around”
Training a dog for the world of film is a lot of fun and extremely rewarding. Whether you land that big job or just improve your relationship with your dog it is a win-win situation.
That’s a Wrap,
Bonnie Buchanan
Short URL: http://caninechronicle.com/?p=13987
Posted by subschron
on Jan 17 2013. Filed under Art & Entertainment, Current Articles, Health & Training.
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