Don’t See FLICKA!

I’m a little late to this particular party, but two horses died during the filming of Flicka, starring Tim McGraw, Allison Lohman and Maria Bello. The short version is: Boycott the movie, and don’t ever believe that animals aren’t harmed in the making of movies because the American Humane Association said so. American Humane HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH the Humane Society of the United States.

For those who insist, here’s the long version:

Flicka is the update of a tale of a girl who wants to prove to her dad that she can run the family ranch. Many horses were involved in the filming, and you can read American Humane’s version of what happened here. Meanwhile, the whistleblower, Roland Windsor Vincent of Juniper Hills California, an attorney who owns (nobody’s perfect) and loves horses, and was an extra on the set, recalls the details much differently, and was even offered $2,500 to keep quiet. He has a fabulous myspace page called Mydeadflicka (priceless!) where he explains who he is, what happened, and why he’s doing what he’s doing (i.e., a nationwide boycott that has cost Fox Films over $5,000,000). You should also check out the official Boycott Flicka site (also by Vincent).

Now, about those American Humane folks . . .

Let’s deconstruct them:

• They "monitor" animal action during filming.
• What does that mean, you ask? Not much. If you go to the film and television unit page of the American Humane site, and click on the New Movie Reviews (including Flicka’s), you’ll see that this organization often doesn’t get to monitor anything. You’ll also find that if a film states American Humane monitored the animal action, all that means is that at least one of their representatives was on set–watching. Only if the film states "No animals were harmed in the making of this film," can you assume that’s close to true. BUT, what about transport to and from the set, rehearsals, and training? None of that is covered.
• Ratings include:
  • Believed Acceptable
  • Acceptable
  • Unknown
  • Not Monitored
  • Monitored: Acceptable
  • Monitored: Outstanding (that’s the one that gets: No animals were harmed . . . )
  • Questionable (and exactly how is Questionable different from Believed Acceptable? Obviously if it’s not Acceptable, but Believed to be, it’s Questionable, right? Otherwise it wouldn’t be Believed Acceptable, it would simply be Acceptable.)

• As the list states, American Humane doesn’t always actually know, for sure, what’s happening on the set, as they’re not necessarily there "monitoring." Apparently they are "believing" someone, though.
• Did I tell you the part about how American Humane touts their ability to help increase a film’s distribution, because some distributors won’t market a production without one of their disclaimers? I wonder if Believed Acceptable counts as a disclaimer of anything.
• They also state two other benefits:
  • "Controversy and bad press can affect a production’s success. American
    Humane spends hundreds of hours every year responding to rumors and
    accusations both on and off set for the distribution life of a
    production." Hmmm, can you say "damage control" and "spin?"
  • "Accidents
    and deaths due to natural causes can happen, despite everyone’s best
    efforts. American Humane verifies what happened and serves as the
    professional, credible, and objective witness." Here’s my question: Outside of a heart attack on the set, what’s a natural cause? And what’s an example of an accident due to a natural cause? Neither of the horse deaths on the set of Flicka were natural–they were forced to "act" in inherently dangerous events.

What can we all do to make sure this never happens again?

I choose to boycott films that feature animals–I don’t care how well someone says they’re treated. Seabiscuit got an Acceptable rating and starred Tobey McGuire–WHO’S A VEGAN (go figure!)–but I still wouldn’t go. As long as we continue to pay money to watch movies that feature real animals, movies that feature real animals will continue to be made.

Say it with me, now: Supply and demand.

With the technology achievements of the past decade, I’m convinced that the need for real animals will dwindle (the technology is more expensive than the animals right now, so budgets will win over compassion). Once the technology is less expensive, and more people can do it, the cost of computer-generated animals will become more competitive. Or at least this is what logic and economics tell me.

For now? Boycott Flicka, and give to the Humane Society of the United States, not the posers at American Humane.