On the Set of True Grit

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  Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media -

  
  

  Protecting Animal Actors

  
  

  Since the introduction of the Guidelines, animal accidents, illnesses and deaths on set have sharply declined. Our Certified Animal Safety Representatives™ apply the Guidelines on the more than 2,000 productions per year that we monitor, keeping tens of thousands of animal actors safe.
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  Film and Television Unit.

  
  

  American Humane Association’s Film & TV Unit is the leader in the protection of animal actors. With established Guidelines, on-set monitoring, movie ratings and reviews, and stories from the set, the Film & TV Unit is the only animal welfare organization with oversight sanctioned by the Screen Actors Guild (SAG). American Humane Association assumes the monumental undertaking of providing protection for animal actors and keeps the public informed.
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  Hey, Producers / Film Makers:

  
  

  Protect Your Ass*

  
  

  *and your horse, your dog and every other animal on your set
  You’re going to use an animal on your set, aren’t you? Well, and why wouldn’t you? What was Dorothy without Toto? The Bradys without Tiger? Harry Potter without Hedwig?
  Have at it then! Just make sure you call American Humane Association and arrange for our services on your production.
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Carefully Choreographed Scenes

The original True Grit rode in 41 years ago and stared John Wayne, Glen Campbell and Kim Darby. Back then, Wayne’s love for his horse, Ole Dollor, meant the horse was protected from anything that could happen, even preventing anyone else from riding his favorite steed. Today’s True Grit, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, takes that passion for humane treatment and makes it a universal mandate. “I was extremely pleased with how production adhered to our Guidelines,” remarked American Humane Association Certified Animal Safety Representative™ Sgt. Ed Lish, who is also a certified humane officer. “The perception is that some of the animal scenes were intense and seemingly dangerous however, these animals couldn’t have been in better hands.”

The horses in 2010’s Oscar-nominated True Grit were trained and asked to perform improbable looking stunts. In order to accomplish the equine action, each horse was trained using positive reinforcement to jump, nay or lie down through cues by animal trainers. A light touch of the knee, a pull of the reins or call, and the horses immediately respond without issue and are quickly rewarded for their good work. Any scenes that need extra realism were enhanced with special effects, stand-ins and editing techniques that guaranteed the well-being of the horses in the scene.

2010’s True Grit contained difficult scenes to watch, yet strictly adhered to the Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media. American Humane Association created the Guidelines to ensure that all animal actors are treated humanely in all filmed projects. But how did filmmakers and producers make a film like True Grit without harming the horses? How did they get Little Blackie to swim across a river and “ride him to death” without actually harming him? How could all the horses be treated better than Wayne treated ‘Ole Dollor’?

Crossing the River
In the gripping scene where Little Blackie, ridden by Mattie Ross (Hailee Steinfeld), swims across a raging river, trainers under American Humane Association’s oversight prepared four horses — all specially trained and very well-rehearsed swimmers — for the swim to ensure they would have no problem crossing. This scene was filmed in separate shots, also involving a mechanical horse and visual effects. All safety precautions were used, including clearing the river of any debris and rocks that could pose a safety hazard to the horses and rider. The trainers then used each horse, one time each day, to swim across and back, so as not to overtax them. As a precaution, four safety boats were ready and waiting in the river at all times to be sure that if anything happened to any of the horses or riders, they could quickly help. The boats were never needed, as each scene played out beautifully, and both horse and rider made it safely across.

Pantomimed Stress
The most difficult scene to watch is Little Blackie being ridden to death, collapsing and being shot. No matter how it looked on screen, every frame in every scene with an animal actor was carefully planned and the animal’s safety and welfare protected. The horses used in the scene where Little Blackie is ridden to exhaustion were specially trained, and the visual effect of exhausted breath was added after the scene was shot. This scene was filmed slowly and carefully over a period of three months, and movie magic replicated time changes, season and environment.

Trainers spent weeks prepping for the scene where Little Blackie collapses to the ground. They taught the horse to lie down, making it a second-nature behavior. Letting the horse take its time as it eased onto a mat placed on the ground was paramount for safety. American Humane Association Animal Safety Reps supervised while trainers made sure the horse was on the ground for a short time, so as not to hurt the animal. From that point on, a fake horse, or “stuffie,” took the live horse’s place, allowing the action to play out for actors without putting unnecessary stress on the animal.  While the viewer believes Little Blackie has endured extraordinary pain and stress, the audience can be assured that the horse playing Little Blackie was comfortable and safe.

Asked what rating Sgt. Lish would give the film for creating such demanding scenes while treating animals humanely (on a scale of 1 to 10) he responded, “Ten. Absolutely a ten. They pulled everything off according to our Guidelines.” In all the nitty-gritty of True Grit, and all other films carrying our vital and respected “No Animals Were Harmed”® end credit, is the care, compassion and professionalism that American Humane Association assures are behind those words.