Hollywood's Animal Stars Face Tough Times

Hollywood's animal actors are finding it harder to land roles. Rocco, a dog who has been in shows like Veronica Mars, hasn't booked a film or TV gig in years. He now spends his days playing with his friend Porter in a valley near Los Angeles. The decline in work isn't just affecting Rocco. Many animal actors and their trainers are feeling the pinch. The rise of AI is a big reason for this. More productions are choosing to create animal performances using technology instead of using real animals. This trend is worrying for trainers and wranglers who rely on this work. Karin McElhatton, who runs Studio Animal Services, says AI has already had a big impact on the industry. Her company supplies animals for various productions, but she's seeing fewer opportunities. Benay Karp, who owns Benay's Bird & Animal Rentals, is also feeling the squeeze. She says the number of jobs for her animals has dropped to 40% of what it was before the pandemic. Wild animals like lions and bears have always had fewer roles, but even dogs and cats, which were once Hollywood favorites, are struggling. In recent movies like Call of the Wild and Superman, the animal actors were created using digital effects. Some people argue that using AI is a good thing. PETA believes it's cruel to make animals work for entertainment. They point to movies like Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes and Mufasa as examples of how technology can be used to reduce animal suffering. However, animal experts say that real animals bring a unique emotional quality that AI can't replicate. Bonnie Judd, an animal coordinator, recalls a scene in A Dog's Journey where her dog's performance moved the entire studio to tears. She believes authenticity still matters. Back at Studio Animal Services, Rocco and Porter are still working, but not as much as before. They pose for photos, tongues wagging, eyes focused on the treats. The industry is changing, and these animal actors are adapting, but it's clear that the golden age of animal actors in Hollywood may be fading.