Certified Animal Action Overview

No Animals Were Harmed™ monitored every moment of animal action in this film, making sure that every feathered, hoofed, and four-legged performer was treated with exceptional care. From the hawk’s majestic flights to the calm presence of sheep, horses, dogs and even a tiny kitten, each scene unfolded after trainers guided the animals to set and made sure they were comfortable. Handlers stayed just out of frame, crouched nearby, ready to support the animals while they behaved naturally amid the story’s unfolding drama. Whether scattering grain for wandering chickens or rehearsing with the actors and a trained hawk, the team always prioritized safety, patience, and kindness. Thanks to this careful oversight, the animals were calm, well-prepared and free to perform in ways that felt effortless and authentic on screen.

Detailed Animal Action Report

In the scene where the actress stands in the field and her falcon flies over and lands on her outstretched arm, prior to filming the trainer brought the hawk (portraying the falcon) to the set. The trainer attached a GPS tracker on his leg. The actress wore a prosthetic arm which had meat on it to attract the falcon. On action, the trainer released the bird which flew across the field and landed on the actress’ prosthetic arm.

When the actor looks out the window and sees his wife approaching with the falcon and he rushes out the door, where there’s also sheep and a horse in the background, prior to filming sheep handlers brought the sheep and horse to their marks. Just before action, the hawk trainer handed it to the actress who was trained on how to hold him.

In the scene where the actress ties the falcon to the perch, and her husband approaches and touches the falcon, and we see chickens grazing in the background, prior to shooting the animals were led to set by their handlers. The chickens were carried inside cages while the goat and horse were brought by slip leads. The chickens were placed on their marks to graze at liberty. The hawk was tied to the post (perch) with handlers crouched off camera holding his leg traces. On action, the animals performed naturally.

In the scene where the actor walks towards a theater in town and passes a man holding a cow, geese in cages, dogs in the street and a horse hitched to a cart, prior to shooting the animals were walked to the set by their handlers, except for the geese which were carried on a trolly inside a large cage. They were then placed on their start marks. On action, the animals behaved naturally.

In the scene where a sheep farmer stands with a dog and waves to the actress who’s walking by and we see sheep in the field, prior to filming the sheep were brought to set by their trainer and the dog was positioned next to the actor. On action, the actor was crouched down making a fuss of the dog and then on action the trainer verbally cued the dog who ran to its mark off-camera.

In the scene where the actress talks to her husband in the garden and we see chickens grazing in the background, prior to shooting the chickens arrived inside cages. The trainers also placed feed in the garden. On action, the actors delivered their lines while the chickens grazed and ate in the background.

In the scene where we see the actors sitting in their house and we see a dog on the floor, prior to shooting the trainer brought the dog to set and placed him in front of the fireplace. The trainer then stood off-camera as they filmed the scene.

In the scene where the actor sits near the river and throws a piece of food to a dog nearby, and he walks off with the dog following him, the dog was led to the beach by his trainer. On action, the trainer removed the lead off the dog and the dog stood with the actor. When the actor got up and walked, the dog followed him naturally.

In the scene where the actor walks through a street in London and passes merchants with horses, one attached to a cart, another held in place by a man holding his rope, prior to filming the horses were walked by the grooms to the set. One horse was attached to a wagon by the grooms, while the other was held in front of the other horse. After filming, the horse was disconnected from the wagon and both horses were walked back to their holding area.

In the scene where the actor rides a horse, and stops to swap his horse out for another, trainers brought the horses to the set, fed, watered and rehearsed for the action. On action, the actor rode the horse to his mark and talked to another actor. Both actors were acquainted with the horses and how to ride them.

In the scene where the actor walks into the courtyard where people are gathered to watch a rehearsal scene and we see a dog scavenging for food in the background, prior to shooting a trainer in costume brought the dog to set and placed him on his mark. The handler then removed the dog’s lead and stood a few feet from him. They placed a few pieces of food on the ground to keep the dog in place. On action, the dog ate the food as the actors delivered their lines.

In the scene where the actress sits in front of the house petting a kitten, prior to filming the trainers brought several kittens to set in carrying boxes. The trainer then placed one of the kittens in the girl’s hands. On action, the girl pet the kitten without any issues.

In the scene where the actress watches the play in the theater, and we see the actor playing the fool enter the stage carrying the falcon on his arm while miming talking to the bird, the trainer brought a hawk in a specialist carrying box. It was held on his perch with food and water. The actor had rehearsed with the hawk several times. Trainers stood off-camera for the entire scene. Prior to shooting, two animal handles stood in the wings, off the stage and placed leather gauntlet and hawk on this actor’s arm. Between setups the hawk was taken outside for breaks.