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We are producing a Stephen King adaption that stars a cat and a dog? Any advice on where to go to get good feline and canine actors?

9 years, 2 months ago - Brian McGleenon

Stpehen King adaption of L.T.'s Theory of Pets:

check our trailer link: https://vimeo.com/161284663

We need one cat and one dog that'll sit in one place while a crew moves around them.


Thanks for anyone that has advice.

All the best,

Brian

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9 years, 2 months ago - Mandy Bainbridge

Hi Brian - whereabouts is filming?? We run a Performing Animals Company, we are fully licenced and insured - www.animalcrew.info Drop me an e.mail if you want to take it any further. Thanks, Mandy

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Mandy Bainbridge SHOW

9 years, 2 months ago - Marlom Tander

Sit in one place and do what? NOT move their heads even?

Dogs are relatively easy. Show a well tempered dog a bit of a treat and tell them Sit Wait and they will be laserlike focussed on that treat. For a minute or so. Repeat until full, (hint, labradors are NEVER full). Note, even with dogs food treats can be second place to "exciting new friends" so you might need them to get used to the crew and kit first.

Cats however... well the phrase "like herding cats" is well founded. They do exactly what they want. Not sure that you'll get very far unless you can afford a trainer.

Maybe rewrite - could it be two dogs ? (I'm not familiar with the story).

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Marlom Tander SHOW

9 years, 2 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy

I needed a cat recently, and I got away with using a fake one. It only cost £15 on ebay. They come in black and ginger).. Here's the ginger one: http://tinyurl.com/jsfexj4

Downside - they are curled up asleep. But if you could get away with that in your story, then it may be the solution to trying to get a cat to sit still in a strange room full of strange people.

Another downside: I didn't know it before I bought, but they owe their lovely coat to real rabbits. Hope no rabbit had a shit life just to make a fake cat.

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy SHOW

9 years, 2 months ago - Richard Anthony Dunford

I used a canine actor in a previous short film called 'Mr Snuggles'. The animal trainers name is Lorraine Gardner. Here's the website link http://www.animal-hire.co.uk/index.html

Hope that helps

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Richard Anthony Dunford SHOW

9 years, 2 months ago - Brian McGleenon

Thank you everyone and I'm sorry for late reply to thank you all for the helpful advice, my old man was over and I had to show him about his old haunts.
Mandy: Thanks for the info, am filming in London, so it may be too far to come down from Durham, but I will keep your contact details.
Marlom: Ha ha... 'herding cats', I think the cat is going to be a problem in this film. For the L.T. story, has to be a cat and a dog, but I'm thinking of getting round problems with POV shots from the animals.
Alwyne: Thanks for the info on this, I think I'll check this out for stationary shots of the cat and dog, maybe there is a synthetic version...
Richard: Thanks for this link, I'm going to contact t Lorraine from the animal-hire company.

Thanks,

Brian

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Brian McGleenon SHOW

9 years, 2 months ago - Nathalie Hickson

Hi Brian, Just seen this & think my cat be great. I have a sedentary cat if you wish to message me.
Thanks Nathalie

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Nathalie Hickson SHOW

9 years, 2 months ago - Nathalie Hickson

Hi Brian, Thks 4 msge. I just realised my cat is very sedentary at home & may be worth me seeing how he is elsewhere first. Where will the shooting be & can you pay expenses etc? Thks

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Nathalie Hickson SHOW

9 years, 2 months ago - Brian McGleenon

Hi Nathalie we are shooting in London, yes all expenses plus a fee for using your cat. Prob will take a day to shoot the animal scenes. Movements like walking to and from a pet food bowl. And allowing the main actor (comedian Patrick Monohan) to hold the cat and so it can sit on his lap. I hope this helps, thanks a million for your interest.

Response from 9 years, 2 months ago - Brian McGleenon SHOW

9 years, 1 month ago - Mandy Bainbridge

No worries Brian, thanks for the reply. We hold a Performing Animals Licence and are fully licenced and insured, so just give me a shout if we can ever be of help :-)

Response from 9 years, 1 month ago - Mandy Bainbridge SHOW

9 years ago - Daz Kaye

Another one for you is classed as one of the Largest Suppliers of Trained Animals for the Film and TV Industry, based in the Midlands, http://www.a1animals.co.uk/ They say never work with animals, but I certainly would, they're adorable great actors!

Response from 9 years ago - Daz Kaye SHOW

9 years ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Something no one else has mentioned is a CGI Cat and Dog. They'll do exactly what you want, on mark, on time and only ever need one take.

But the obvious - cost and time to build/animate.

But you get the perfect performance!

My 2c worth.

Wozy

Response from 9 years ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW

9 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin

I'm with Wozy - animals are hard work, pixels and puppets are a lot easier if you pick your actions carefully...

Response from 9 years ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW

9 years ago - Brian McGleenon

Hi Wozy and Paddy, I approached an animator I know to get the animals inserted via a 'Who Framed Rodger Rabbit' style. He's very interested, it would allow the animals to be more an extension of the subconscious feelings that the couple have for each-other in the story. He said it would take a year to animate and I have to go over the costs. But it is something I'm considering. Just to pronote the project here... : ) is a link to it:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1209281921/lts-theory-of-pets?ref=category_recommended

Response from 9 years ago - Brian McGleenon SHOW

9 years ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren

Hey Brian - a year!!! I guess it depends upon the budget available and if the costs are a high and you need to spread it over a longer period. However, depending upon the actual shots you need, duration and other fine details that need considering, it could certainly be completed in a lot less time. Maybe I could help source you someone who could do it a lot faster if it was needed faster via my VFX company?

Response from 9 years ago - Lee 'Wozy' Warren SHOW