Sometimes working on location can be challenging enough, even without the animals. However, most of the location managers with whom I've worked over the years know the score. They know what's important from the animal handler's/wrangler's perspective and just as importantly from the animals' perspective. If they don't, it's part of my job or any animal handler to brief them as to what will make the filming experience with the animals on location as sensible and therefore as easy for the director as is possible. So an early conversation between the animal handler, the production office and the location manager to ascertain that everybody is working off the same page can save a lot of hassle for all concerned.
Whether the location is Black Park just down the road from Pinewood Studios, Soho Square London W1 or a forest in the Ukraine, each location will have it own particular considerations with respect to the animal or animals on site. A few years ago I was asked to set up a scene in Ireland with a herd of 30 black & white cattle surrounding the Hollywood A-lister Amy Adams. The production designer in his enthusiasm chose a cliff top location with a 200+ feet sheer drop overlooking the Irish Sea. As it was I who was writing the risk assessment for the studio in LA as to how keep their star safe and sound I ventured to suggest that the location was plainly dangerous and not fit for purpose. The designer subsequently found another excellent location where it was safe and practicable to place an A-lister amongst a herd of cattle. Therefore, a key consideration is that the location be safe, practicable and fit for purpose with respect to the animals to be filmed with and the action to be achieved.
Working with animals on location is a very general concept, so lets narrow it down a little What animal or animals are we talking about specifically, as each will have their own characteristics and requirements? I have worked with many different species on location over the years and certainly a one size fits all approach does not work. From a herd of 30 cattle on a mountainside in Co. Wicklow Ireland for a Hollywood feature to a dog on the Strand in London scavenging through bin liners for an indy film to a squirrel running up a tree in a beautiful forest in Ukraine for a Russian TV commercial. Each has its own scale of production, challenges and logistics on the ground. So maybe it's time for a check list.
Assuming the animal provider/handler/wrangler (whatever they’re called) takes expert care of all of the travelling arrangements and normal on site accommodation the following has to be paramount in the production's mind with respect to the animals.
- Good sensible, safe access to the location and set is essential for the animals.
- The vehicles in which the animals travel and perhaps are accommodated during down-time should be considered as technical vehicles, the same as camera cars, generators, etc
- Such vehicles will in many cases be safely parked directly adjacent to the location set.
- All animal transportation regulations have to be adhered to in addition to all Defra (Ministry of Agriculture) regulations. This will be equally important if working on location overseas.
These are the fundamentals. In the case of one dog we are talking possibly an estate car or people carrier. In the case of 30 cattle on location we are talking possibly three large cattle lorry transporters. Best therefore to have the conversation about vehicle access, number and sizes early on so as to avoid an annoying cul-de-sac down the road, so to speak!
Sometimes, particularly in the context of a remote location, which is utilized over a number of days, accommodation for the animal(s) will be an issue to be discussed in detail during the preproduction process. Animal welfare and health & safety considerations will dictate very specific accommodation needs and these must be planned and arranged in advance. The animal handler/provider will advise on specific accommodation needs.
I believe that I am the only person to have provided and supervised 50 head of cattle on A Stage at Shepperton studios. In order to achieve such a feat we had to bring in the cattle a couple of days in advance of the shoot and settle them in, in a field adjacent to the studios. Then on the shoot day we walked them in as a herd very gently through the car park and safety into a custom made corralling system on the stage. Although a studio based shoot, because of the particular logistics involved I treated the project as a location based shoot.
As with almost everything in production, working with animals on location is about sound and comprehensive pre-production, the earlier that process begins the better it will be for all concerned.
Happy camping!
