WHEN THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW 70 degrees, the Strays movie crew had to bring in a heating pad because Benny, the Boston terrier that plays Bug, didn't like his paws on wet grass, Josh Greenbaum, the film's director, said.
"But his performance is great. So, whatever he needs for his process," Greenbaum told Total Film.
It's no surprise that the comedy Strays is taking home more than one PAWSCARS Award. Thirty years after Homeward Bound, the R-rated film relies nearly entirely on dog actors. Three of the four main characters had never acted in a film before and Benny could not be further from his character's tough, street dog persona.
Benny's performance is rivaled by his new friend Reggie, played by a Border terrier named Sophie.
The lead of the film, she used head tilts and varying walking paces to convey the emotion of a dog whose naïveté gives way to a newfound independence. In one scene, Reggie crawls under a fence while the other dogs hold it open for him and, in another, Bug pulls off Reggie's bandana. It's a scene that showcases the moment the dogs decide to become a pack with one mission-and one that took several combinations of behaviors (and trainers) to get right.
Sophie didn't always have a pack, though. She was the only dog in her litter and, being a COVID puppy, didn't socialize with other dogs until she was on the film set, which makes her performance even more impressive. "She was like, 'I'm made to do this," Mathilde de Cagny, a long-time trainer who worked on Strays, told Newsweek.
A successful performance requires the animal to not only perform the behavior but be engaging.
The dog needs to convey the scene's emotion, such as wagging their tail to signal happiness, according to trainer Bill Berloni, who has worked on shows including And Just Like That. The goal is to make the trainer, who's working with hand and noise signals, invisible to the audience.
This story is from the March 01 - 08, 2024 (Double Issue) edition of Newsweek US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 01 - 08, 2024 (Double Issue) edition of Newsweek US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Exhausted No More
Political polarization has led to burned-out Americans, weary of civic discourse. The answer lies not in disengagement but, rather, positive engagement
Reef Rehab
Innovative concrete structures mix with corals to defend the coastline during hurricane season
Biden's European Headache
The right-wing surge in the EU elections could hamper the president's ambitions in Ukraine and play into the hands of his election rival, Donald Trump
Lupita Nyong'o
THE TRAILER FOR A QUIET PLACE: DAY ONE (JUNE 28) SHOWS STAR LUPITA Nyong'o carrying a cat around moments before New York City is overtaken by aliens.
Do Films Have a Future?
With the movie industry under threat from streaming and Al, experts predict how Tinseltown will look in 10 years' time
MOST TRUSTED by PHARMACISTS OTC BRANDS in AMERICA 2024
HEADACHES, UPSET STOMACHS AND FEVERS-THESE ARE some of the minor conditions that many people treat with over-the-counter medication.
DISSENTING OPINIONS
BUCKING THEIR TRADITIONAL RESERVE, JUDGES FROM ACROSS THE SPECTRUM ARE PUBLICLY DISAGREEING WITH THE SUPREME COURT JUSTICES AND DECISIONS
'I'm Happy To Disrupt'
Libertarian presidential candidate Chase Oliver talks to Newsweek about Trump, Biden, NATO, Gaza and maximum freedom
Budget Battle
Protesters demonstrate in Kenya's capital city as the country's members of parliament debate a finance bill on June 18.
AMERICA'S BEST SPECIALISTS & SURGEONS
FINDING THE BEST MEDICAL SPECIALIST IS A DAUNTING TASK for anyone requiring specific treatment.