Certified Animal Safety Rep
Certified animal safety reps are on film and television sets making sure that no animal is harmed during the filming of a show, that the animals get breaks, and that they are treated with the utmost respect.
Many people outside the industry question the protection of some animals — say, a cockroach. “It's all about where we draw the line,” says Jone Bouman, head of communications for American Humane's Film & Television Unit. “Should we make the cutoff at guinea pigs or dogs or larger animals? We have to protect all animals without discriminating. Our goal is to watch out for the welfare and safety of each and every animal on the set.”
American Humane started working in the film industry in the 1920s and '30s. “At that time, there were several instances of wire-tripping of horses in westerns,” says Bouman. “It was the film Jesse James, starring Henry Fonda, that had a chase scene where a horse had to jump over a cliff. The horse was forced over the cliff and died. That was in 1939, and because of that situation, American Humane was able to rally a public outcry. We weren't officially recognized on film sets before that time. The Film & Television Unit officially opened its doors in 1940.”
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The year 2007 marked the 130th anniversary of the American Humane Association. It has two divisions: one protects children from all forms of child abuse, and the other focuses on the well-being of working and farm animals.
So when you are watching the end credits of a film and see the statement, “No animals were harmed in the making of this film,” you know that a certified animal safety representative was on the set watching out for the animal actors.
Certified animal safety representatives are part of the Screen Actors Guild. They are not hired by the studio, producer, or director. “That would be a conflict of interest,” says Bouman. “We aren't beholden to the people who make the film. Our reps are on the set working for American Humane. Their salaries come from grants from American Humane.”
Working with major film stars can be exciting. Rebecca Humber, who works as a full-time certified animal safety representative for American Humane, has met many A-list stars. However, she gets an even bigger thrill from the animals. “I enjoy working for the animals,” she says. “Each day is different, and often we don't know where or which set we will be working on.”
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For the film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, reps from American Humane were on the set from the start. They actually monitored the preproduction training as well, and made sure that the dogs' costumes were comfortable. Max and the other six dogs that played the same role had to wear antlers and long, floppy ears for the film. These headpieces were just a few ounces in weight, and didn't seem to bother the dogs at all.
Being in Los Angeles or Hollywood is important, because that is the film capital of the world. However, American Humane employs reps throughout the country, and many travel overseas to work on film sets. For instance, the film Chronicles of Narnia was filmed in New Zealand. The Harry Potter films were on location in Great Britain. “We go were the work is — it's an adventure,” says Humber, who recently worked on a television movie set keeping a close eye on a mountain lion.
American Humane hires 10 full-time reps and between 25 to 35 on-call and part-time safety reps. “We keep them as busy as possible,” says Bouman. “We host trainings once a year. It is a tough job. It can entail a lot of travel, hard work, and long days with a lot of sitting around.”
Full-time reps earn $40,000 a year to start. Part-time reps are paid by the hour. It can be as low as $15 or up to $25 an hour. Food is usually provided on the set, and hotels and transportation are paid for by American Humane if you are on the road.
Humber got her degree at Moor Park College. “I'm from northern California,” she says. “I learned about Moor Park's animal training and management programs from trainers at Sea World. After the shows, I would stay and ask all kinds of questions — mostly how they got into this business. When I was in high school, I contacted the school for information. Toward my senior year, my parents and I took a trip to the campus. I applied and got accepted. I think what helped was that I volunteered at local rescue operations.”
Even though the staff of reps is small, “we are always looking,” says Bouman. “Not everyone is comfortable with the amount of travel and unpredictability of not always knowing what set you will be working on. This type of schedule does lead to openings. I'm always looking for people with equine experience or trainers who work with livestock. Being able to work with dogs, cats, horses, and other animals gives you a leg up in this job.”
