Movie Review: Mr. Popper’s Penguins
A business man changes his ways after he inherits six penguins
Featured Animal Action:
All grounds were inspected for hazards and sets were closed off and secured. Floors and props were disinfected before filming began. Cast and crew members were introduced to the animals and instructed on their proper handling. All actors carried fish in their pockets to entice the penguins to stay near them or follow them when needed. Trainers hid around the set to supervise the action and help guide penguins. The indoor sets were kept at a very cool temperature throughout filming. Trainers used a food bucket, fish bait, and guide sticks in order to get the penguins to look or walk in various directions. Anytime penguins were on furniture or props, stunt pads were placed on the floor nearby as a precaution. The “honking” sound of the penguins involved recording a real penguin’s vocalization and then enhancing it/multiplying it in post production.
When the penguins are seen at the New York Zoo, filming actually took place at a facility called Mystic Aquarium, where the African Penguins live full time. The habitat is made up of a deep water pool, rocks and man-made islands. Cameras were set up inside the habitat to capture the animals’ normal behaviors. Aquarium staff was present at all times and limited crew and cameras were allowed.
When the penguins are seen in Popper’s living room, trainers release the caged penguins inside a temperature-controlled, secured room. The “snow” was shredded paper bits. To get the penguins to climb and sit on the living room furniture and in the bathtub, trainers secured apple crates to the floor to make it easy for the penguins to climb onto and into areas. Trainers filled the water in the tub before filming began and continually monitored the temperature. Scenes when penguins eat at the table and walk on it, nonhazardous plates and other props were secured to the table so they would not move. Trainers placed fish around the table to entice the penguins.
When penguins were seen on the sidewalk, they were brought in a refrigerated truck until moments before filming, and then released onto a sterilized/barricaded sidewalk set. To get them to stand in the right spot, penguins stepped on markers next to treats. Traffic was closed off, and takes were brief.
For many scenes, computer generated penguins were used. Sometimes a live penguin was used to set up the shot, and then CGI was added to create special effects or stunts. Several scenes, such as ones in which penguins bit people, pooped over a toilet, slid down a hallway, played soccer, danced, and flew were all creating using CGI. Whenever penguins are seen being held or picked up, this involved a combination of CGI and costumed trainers posing as the actors. For several scenes involving penguins and humans (such as children playing with penguins), the humans and the animals were filmed separately and composited together in post production.
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