Certified Animal Action Overview

No Animals Were Harmed™ representatives were on hand to carefully monitor every scene involving animals, ensuring their comfort and well-being remained top priority throughout production. From sheep calmly standing on their marks with handlers nearby, to horses guided gently by experienced trainers and mounted using blocks, each moment was thoughtfully prepared to support natural behavior and minimize stress. Pigs relaxed in roomy pens with food scattered to keep them content, a small dog worked only for brief takes before returning to rest, and even a snail was filmed with protective measures in place. Special effects like rain were closely managed, with animals dried and cared for immediately after and lifelike props were used whenever a scene called for something that could compromise an animal’s welfare. Through attentive supervision, patient training and a focus on calm, familiar routines, the animal performers were kept safe, comfortable and treated with the utmost respect at every step.

Detailed Animal Action Report

In the scene where two actresses stand in a parlor and we see sheep outside in the courtyard, through the windows, prior to filming the sheep were fitted with halters in the trailer and a wet charcoal mix was applied to their fur to make them look unkempt. They were then walked to set and placed on their marks on soundstage which represented the external side of the farm. On action, they filmed the scene inside the barn while the sheep were outside being held by handlers in costume.

In the scene where the man rides a horse into a tunnel, prior to shooting, the horse was tacked up on the set by his trainer. When the camera was ready the actor mounted the horse using a mounting block while the trainer held the horse to its mark. On action, the actor rode the horse a few feet towards the tunnel. The actor rehearsed this scene, and riding the horse in general, many times before shooting the scenes.

When the two actresses look outside the windows and we see a pig with her piglets in a pen in the courtyard, prior to filming the pig trailer was backed inside the sound stage to the edge. Once they parked and crew members were cleared, the trainer unloaded the pigs into a square pen. The handlers then took each corner of the pen and moved it along to usher the pigs into the pen. Once the pigs were inside, the trainer scattered food amongst the bedding to keep them occupied. On action, they filmed the girls looking out the window and the pigs performing natural behaviors in the pen.

In the scene where a horsedrawn wagon climbs up a mountain as two actors watch from the hill above, prior to filming the horses arrived in a trailer and were given hay and water until they were needed. Trainers then tacked the horses to the carriage and drove it to its mark. On action, the carriage was driven from A to B.

In the scene where the actor walks into the courtyard in the rain, mounts the horse, talks to another actor, then gallops off-camera, the scene was shot on stage. Prior to shooting, the horse was tacked up to the horsebox and led to set by the grooms. Once they arrived, the horse was held by a groom in costume while another actor stood close by, pretending to hold the horse. The pigs and their piglets were also led to the pen in the background for this scene. On action, the VFX team turned on the rain machine. On action, the actor started by laying on the ground, before he stood up and used a mounting block to mount the horse. The actor delivered his dialogue while sitting on the horse before riding out of the shot. After the scene, they turned off the rain machine and dried off all the animals.

In the scene where the actor stacks hay in the stables, while a horse stands in a stall nearby, prior to filming, the horse was walked to set and placed in stables. On action, the main actor walked around the horse and saddled him. The actor rehearsed how to approach horse before shooting the scene. When filming, the actor mounted the horse and rode out of the barn.

In the scene where we see an actor cut open a dead pig that’s hanging upside down, production used a fake rubber pig for this scene. They also transported real pigs to a pen who can be seen in the background. Prior to shooting the scene, they hung up the fake dead pig and transported the real ones in a trailer to the stage. Once the trailer arrived, trainers led the pigs to the pen.

In the scene where the actor walks alongside the horse drawn carriage rumbling down the dirt road, prior to shooting the horses were hitched to the carriage by the grooms. The grooms stood next to the horses while the driver climbed up and took the reins. On action, the driver drove the horses forwards at a walk until they were on the paving. Then they went into a trot across the set for a couple hundred feet. Once they were out of the shot, they were pulled back to a walk. On the next take, the driver drove the horses at a walk as the actor walked alongside the carriage.

When we see the tight shot of a snail crawling along the window sill, the scene was filmed on a stage. Prior to filming, the trainer carried the snails to set in a small plastic box. The trainer then placed a ladder and a safety net under the window before he carried the snail up the ladder in the box and positioned it on the glass. As the snail moved slowly up the glass, they filmed it.

In the scene where the actress walks past the actor who’s riding the horse in the opposite direction, grooms brought the horse to its mark where the actor mounted him. On action, the actor rode the horse past the actress. Once the horse was out of the shot, the trainers helped the actor dismount. In the subsequent scene when the actor runs into the stable, saddles a horse, mounts him and rides out, prior to filming the trainer brought the horse into the stable set. The actor was already acquainted with the horse. They also rehearsed the actor turning the horse in a circle before riding him out of the stable. On action, he saddled horse, mounted him and rode out without an issue.

When the actor rides the horse across the open countryside, prior to filming the horse arrived on set in a box trailer and was unloaded by his groom. He was then tethered to the trailer in a quiet spot on set and given hay and water. The actor then mounted the horse. On action, the actor rode the horse across the countryside.

In the scene where the actress sits at a large dining room table and another actress sits across from her holding a small dog, prior to shooting the scene the trainer handed the dog to the actress who has already been acquainted with the dog before filming. They used a fake dog between takes so he could relax. On action, the actress held the dog without any issues.

In the scene where the actress shows another actress the house while holding the dog, the trainers instructed the actress how to hold the dog for the scenes. The dog was only used for the actual shooting, not the set-ups or rehearsals.

When the actress feeds goldfish inside the glass urns, the fish has already been poured into the urns, which were cleaned beforehand. Just before shooting, the trainer removed the aeration pumps from the urns. On action, the actress pretended to feed the fish. As soon as cut was called the trainer stepped in and replaced the aeration pumps in the urns.

In the scene where the actress rides the horse across the field, prior to shooting the trainers brought the horse to the set. They also marked any rabbit holes with orange flags so the actress would avoid riding near them. The actress then mounted the horse. On action, she rode the horse to its mark. For the master shot, a stunt woman rode the horse across the valley.

In the scene where the dog scratched on the bedroom door before being let inside by the actor, prior to filming the trainer brought the dog to set in a carrier. The trainer brought the carrier to its mark and placed the dog on his mark. On action, the dog was verbally cued to walk to the door and scratch it while standing on his hind legs. In another shot, one trainer used a clicker to mark the behavior, and another trainer opened the bedroom door a few inches and let the dog in. After they called cut, the dog was brought back to its waiting room.

In the scene where valets lead two women to a horse and carriage before she gets inside and the carriage takes off, prior to shooting the horse was brought to the set. A groom stood off-camera holding the horses in place the entire time. The horse was then hitched to the carriage while a groom stood at the head and the driver in costume climbed onto the seat and held the reins. On action the actresses crossed the yard and climbed into the carriage. Once the door was closed and the footman climbed beside the driver, the trainer led the horse forwards for a few feet until the carriage was out of the shot

In the scene where the actress lies in bed with leeches on her body and leeches in a bowl next to the bed, the leeches were kept in a plastic container that had small aeration holes in the lid. This container was also kept in a cool box and the leeches were kept in the dark so they would stay cool. The leeches were regularly checked, with the temperature taken regularly to check that it had not risen. Just before filming, the handlers placed the leeches in the prop bowl. The handler then filled the bowl with water and checked the water temperature. The leeches on the actress’ body were fake and made of lated