International Filming

American Humane Association is the only organization authorized to monitor and award the “No Animals Were Harmed"® End Credit Disclaimer regardless of where a production is filmed. American Humane Association's International Program is designed for foreign productions, as well as U.S. productions filmed overseas. The Film & TV Unit works early in the process with productions to act as a credible witness to the humane treatment of animal actors.

Coverage of International Productions

Monitoring of productions outside the United States is selective due to manpower, financial, and resourcing constraints. Based on circumstances and location, foreign productions are covered by an American Humane Association Certified Animal Safety Representative™ or by an American Humane Association-approved Partner Field Representative Safety Representative.

Service Fees

Current funding restrictions necessitate that, when filming outside the United States, productions pay a fee for monitoring services as well as other travel-related expenses for American Humane Association Certified Animal Safety Representatives™. Fees are generally based on a per-hour fee structure; however, when a production has intense animal action over an extensive period of time, a per-production cost structure may be applied.

If a contract or partner American Humane Association Certified Animal Safety Representative™ is not available in a local area, American Humane Association will consider training a specified individual. The production may be requested to cooperate with the training arrangement. American Humane Association may ask the production to help fund the start-up phase of training in the interest of expanding American Humane Association's International Film Monitoring Services, which would result in a reduction of costs over the duration of a lengthy filming schedule.

Currently, American Humane Association has Certified Animal Safety Representatives™ in the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada.

The Film Monitoring Process

Once American Humane Association determines the animals and action that need monitoring, the process of sending an Animal Safety Representative to a foreign location is as follows:

• The production information/registration form is completed by the production and faxed to American Humane Association at (818) 501-8725.
• The production reviews American Humane Association's Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media 
• American Humane Association sends a written confirmation of coverage of the production by American Humane Association's Film & TV Unit that defines the general working relationship.
• Production provides a script that will be reviewed for intense animal action that requires monitoring and that could make the project eligible for the "No Animals Were Harmed"® End Credit Disclaimer.
• In some cases, American Humane Association will require two sets of documents (e.g, scripts, schedule, daily call sheets) from production.
• American Humane Association contacts the trainer and/or the production to determine how animal action is to be achieved. Calls are made based on availability of resources and lead-time prior to filming.
• On-set monitoring of animal action takes place throughout production.
• American Humane Association completes its files on the monitored segments when photography wraps. All field reports, receipts, and other documentation go on file.
• American Humane Association sends a wrap letter to the production that explains the End Credit Disclaimer process and requests a screening.
• American Humane Association screens the film to ensure that all animal action covered on set is represented in the film. Added scenes, done post-monitoring or by a Second Unit, may jeopardize receipt of the End Credit Disclaimer if not monitored by American Humane Association. If the film meets all the Guidelines, including adequate documentation, American Humane Association issues an alpha-numerically coded authorization number and disclaimer for the project. This code and disclaimer cannot be applied to any other projects.
• After the production receives its rating, a review of the film is written and distributed to the public and the media and is posted on American Humane Association's website.
• American Humane Association handles public and media inquiries about the film as they relate to animal action for the life of the production, including DVD/VHS release and television airings.