Member Since: 11/4/2010
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Life of Pi tiger nearly drowned, claims report
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The famous disclaimer 'no animals were harmed' has become something of a catchphrase. But a damning new report, published in the Hollywood Reporter, is alleging that 'troubling cases' of animals being mistreated and even killed during movie productions are going unreported.
It's also claimed that some films in which animals were injured on set were still awarded the 'no animals were harmed' credit.
The magazine obtained a series of memos and emails from the American Human Association - the non-profit organisation which oversees animal welfare on film sets and provides the trademark disclaimer - which indicate various instances of the poor treatment of animals.
One such email, from one of the AHA's monitors, detailed a near-fatal incident on the set of Ang Lee's Oscar-winning movie 'The Life of Pi'.
A real Bengal tiger called King was used in the film, but it emerges that he nearly drowned during a take, and had to be dragged from a water tank by his trainer.
The email, from AHA rep Gina Johnson, read: “This one take with him just went really bad and he got lost trying to swim to the side. Damn near drowned.”
“I think this goes without saying but DON’T MENTION IT TO ANYONE, ESPECIALLY THE OFFICE! I have downplayed the f**k out of it.”
It's suggested that the AHA may have too close a relationship with Hollywood filmmakers, leading to incidents of mistreatment of animals going unreported, or even covered up.
Despite the alleged incident on set, 'Life of Pi' was awarded the 'no animals were harmed' endorsement.
It was revealed last year that as many as 27 animals, including sheep and goats, died during the making of 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', though it was claimed that because the deaths took place during a break in filming, the AHA had no authority in the matter.
Yet the film was still credited, noting that it had 'monitored all of the significant animal action. No animals were harmed during such action'.
Though the scandalous case of four horses dying on the set of HBO series 'Luck' last year was reported – the series was later axed – it appears that many other incidents remained under the media radar.
One former AHA production head, who is suing the body for wrongful dismissal, even alleges that the AHA covered up the death of a horse on the set of Steven Spielberg's 'War Horse' to protect the director's reputation.
The AHA responded: “We absolutely and categorically deny the sensationalist, inflammatory, misleading and untrue allegations. We look forward to vigorously defending ourselves through the proper legal channels.”
Several other cases have been brought to the fore by the THR report, which has published a number of AHA reports noting incidents on various film sets.
These included a husky dog being punched repeatedly on the set of Disney movie 'Eight Below' by a trainer trying to break up a dog fight, a chipmunk being squashed and killed on the set of Matthew McConaughey rom-com 'Failure To Launch' and fish and squid washing up on shore dead after an explosion was filmed for 'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'.
Several horses also died on the set of 'There Will Be Blood', after which the film was given the modified credit 'American Humane Association monitored the animal action'.
“It’s fascinating and ironic: From being the protectors of animals they’ve become complicit to animal cruelty,” said Bob Ferber, a former L.A. City Attorney’s office prosecutor who founded and supervised its Animal Protection Unit.
But the national director – and vet – in charge of the AHA's 'no animals were harmed' program, Dr S. Kwane Stewart, has defended the body's relationship with Hollywood.
“This whole idea that we’re cozy with the industry - it’s simply not the case,” he said. “We first and foremost want to keep the animals safe.”
Of working with horses, he added: “These are huge animals, with blazing speed, on stilts. If you want to avoid incidents, keep them in the stables entirely.” (source)
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This is depressing and disgusting.
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