Eric Weld was in advertising before he got into training big cats and bears with Hollywood Animals. One day, a lion was on the set of a commercial Weld was involved in, and he became enamored, leaving the life of an adman behind to work with animals full-time.
What advice do you have for actors who have never worked with animals before?
My suggestion for actors who want to do this stuff, who want to be able to work with animals on set, is to be honest. I’ll give you a little example: Almost 85 percent of actors who say they can ride horses can’t. But they have “horseback rider” on their résumé. [Looking at it] from the get-a-job aspect, I get it—acting is so competitive. But the thing about animals is that they are quick to figure out whether someone is telling the truth, and they are not afraid to sell you out on set. That goes for any animal, especially horses, because it can be dangerous. We can train a dog to do tons of different behaviors, amazing things, but if they don’t get feedback from their cast mate, it will show in the performance. The dog will do what he has to do because he’s been told to, not because he wants to, because the energy isn’t there.
READ: “6 Easily Avoidable Résumé Mistakes”
What are you looking for in an actor?
I’m always watching the animal and seeing how they relate to the person. If you can see someone is nervous, that animal has picked it up 10 minutes ago. I’m taking my cues from the actor we’re working with. I’ll see things that the animal is not concerned about but are giving me pause.
How should one deal with nervousness about shooting with an animal?
Tell me. I’ll give you a few minutes to placate your nervousness, but if the person is nervous, the tiger will have a hyperawareness; I’ve had a tiger step away from someone because [of it].
What can you do to prepare for an animal you’re not comfortable with?
Let’s stick with tigers: If we have a shoot with a tiger, we’ll put it in the budget for the actor to come up to the ranch to prepare. We’ll require that. We won’t go in there cold and expect the actor to perform flawlessly. We have a step-by-step way of introducing that actor to that tiger that’s designed to get [them] as comfortable as possible. When we’re working, ask any questions. Getting as much information as possible before filming is best. We [operate] knowing there’s not a tiger on every street corner to help you prepare.
Looking for a new, furry castmate? Check out our film audition listings for opportunities involving animals! And for more advice on how to handle onset nerves, check out the video below!