Film & TV Unit

Explanation of Post-Production Procedures:

Eligibility for the “No Animals Were Harmed”® Disclaimer

Once principal photography on a production is completed, American Humane’s Film & TV Unit must screen the finished product prior to its release in order for it to qualify for our end-credit disclaimer/sign-off letter and/or our rating. This screening step is necessary to substantiate the animal action depicted in the final cut as that which was monitored by our Certified Animal Safety Representatives™ during production. By substantiating the action -- and how it was accomplished -- we can award and stand behind our “No Animals Were Harmed”® end credit or sign-off and, if necessary, defend a production from erroneous criticism.

Feature Films

If American Humane has been on set to monitor the animal action in a film production and, if after screening the film, we determine that the production is eligible for our end-credit disclaimer, we will issue an official disclaimer. Productions may then include the exact language of the disclaimer and the official logo in their credit crawl. For every monitored film* production, American Humane posts a “review” on our website explaining how the animal action was accomplished, to inform the public. This enables our staff to respond to public inquiry throughout the entire life of a project.

Commercials/Music Videos

If American Humane monitors the animal action on a SAG and/or AFTRA domestic production and if, after screening the spot, it is determined that the production is eligible for our sign-off letter, we issue an official letter.

If American Humane is unable to monitor any SAG and/or AFTRA domestic production -- through no fault of the production -- that production may** be eligible for a “Not Monitored: Production Compliant” letter and/or rating, as long as the production has remained compliant throughout the entire process, from registering to submitting a screening. If a production is non-union or international, then a different set of rules applies, since the monitoring process involves a contract and a fee for our services.

Please contact our Film & TV Unit’s Post-Production Department as soon as your project is ready for American Humane to screen the locked picture. You may arrange a screening at your facilities, or submit a confidential DVD or online preview.

The American Humane logo and registered disclaimer language is tracked via a unique code and cannot be transferred to any other production. Also, productions must refrain from using any wording that addresses the treatment of the animals if American Humane did not monitor the production, as this could be considered in violation of the Federal Trademark Dilution Act of 1996, as well as other applicable U.S. trademark laws.

*Student films and short films will be listed, but not reviewed, on our website.

**Each production is unique; therefore, our Post-Production Department makes all decisions on a case-by-case basis.