Bob Barker Calls for Reform of 'No Animals Harmed' Movie Label

Whistleblowers' Graphic Reports of Recent Animal Injuries, Deaths on More Than a Dozen TV and Film Sets to Be Unveiled at News Conference

For Immediate Release:
September 12, 2012

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- At a news conference on Thursday, PETA, along with legendary The Price Is Right host Bob Barker and The Simpsons co-creator Sam Simon, will call on the American Humane Association (AHA) to launch an immediate investigation of more than a dozen claims by whistleblowers that the AHA's failure to adequately oversee several recent and current film and TV productions has led to animal injuries and deaths. The group is calling for a monitoring system overhaul and will present recommendations for how the AHA can make immediate changes that address allegations, including AHA management's alleged complicity in filming potentially dangerous sequences and a pervasive culture at AHA in which "relationship-building" with producers and directors has become more important than effective oversight.

When:   Thursday, September 13, 11 a.m.

Where:  The Bob Barker Building, 2154 W. Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles

As reported today in the Los Angeles Times, some of the projects coming under fire for questionable treatment of animals are currently in production, including The Killing Season, Killing Lincoln, The Lone Ranger, and The Hobbit. PETA received the complaints after it released leaked information about the deaths of horses on the set of HBO's Luck.

"Moviegoers can't rely on the assurance that 'no animals were harmed' if the very people standing on film sets to safeguard animals are the ones placing animals at risk," says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. "The reports of complicity and complacency that PETA has received suggest a broken system that must be fixed immediately, before one more animal is injured or killed."

A list of specific allegations made by whistleblowers to PETA follows. For further information, please visit PETA.org.

Allegations Made by Whistleblowers to PETA

• The Killing Season (in production; projected release date 2013; Millennium Films and Corsan Pictures; directed by Mark Steven Johnson; starring Robert De Niro and John Travolta): The production company did not want an AHA rep on the set for the filming of scenes in which elk are supposed to fight. Karen Rosa informed the AHA rep on set that she wanted to contact producers and the Screen Actors Guild to lodge a complaint but was overruled by Robin Ganzert. One reason given was that if animals were injured with an AHA rep present, doing nothing, it would be "not a good position to be in." The AHA rep was also concerned that the supplier of the animals, a wildlife facility registered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has a record of violations for inadequate housing and veterinary care, thus making the AHA's presence on the set during the elk fight scene particularly important.
• Killing Lincoln (in production for National Geographic Channel, based on the book by Bill O'Reilly; projected release date 2013; Scott Free Productions; directed by Adrian Moat; starring Billy Campbell and Jesse Johnson): A dangerous scene was filmed in which a horse, with an actor in the saddle, was forced to gallop across a narrow bridge with water, rocks, and logs beneath. The bridge had no railings or siding, and the scene was filmed at night. Before the scene was filmed, the AHA rep assigned to the set told Karen Rosa that this was dangerous for both horse and actor and that the trainer had asked the rep to oppose the filming. Rosa removed this rep from the set and assigned another, less-experienced rep to the set, and the scene was filmed as planned.
• Lone Ranger (in production, projected release date June 28, 2013; Silver Bullet Productions; directed by Gore Verbinski; starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer): The AHA rep who reviewed the script was concerned about many risky scenes involving animals. The rep's concerns were not backed by AHA management. One trainer was fired for refusing to cooperate with producers who wanted the scenes to be shot as planned. In one scene, horses with riders were to swim across the Colorado River. The first swim took place without incident, but before the swim back across was filmed, hours later, the river had risen more than a foot because of rainstorms upriver. One horse and rider swam back without incident, but a second horse and rider were swept downriver. Fortunately, a production crew was in a pontoon boat downriver. Two men jumped in to try to grab the horse. Eventually, someone was able to throw a lasso around the horse's head and pull the horse to the shore.
• The Hobbit (in post production, projected release date December 13, 2012; New Line Cinema, directed by Peter Jackson; starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Elijah Wood): According to a New Zealand newspaper article, three horses being used in the production died (the article is attached). One miniature horse was housed with larger, high- strung horses who trampled him. A second horse was placed in a partially fenced area that bordered a cliff with a sharp drop to a river below; the horse was found dead at the bottom of the cliff. The third horse died from unexplained causes, possibly related to feed. The AHA acknowledged the deaths in a public statement and says that an investigation was conducted. Whistleblowers tell us that the only wrangler on the set—who was interviewed in the article attached—voiced his concerns to production about the housing of the horses and was subsequently fired. Others complained to AHA reps, who did not take action and did not convey all the wranglers' concerns to production.
• Boardwalk Empire (HBO TV; created by Terence Winter; starring Steve Buscemi and Kelly Macdonald): A horse died on the set of this program on June 25, 2012. We understand that the horse died of a possible heart attack under extremely stressful conditions, including chaotic activity on the set and an incoming thunderstorm, yet filming was not stopped to allow the horse to calm down.
• Wrath of the Titans (2012; Warner Bros.; directed by Jonathan Liebesman; starring Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson): A horse died while being transported during this film. Despite this, the film was giving an "Outstanding" rating by the AHA.
• Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (2012; Abraham Productions; directed by Timur Bekmambetov; starring Dominic Cooper, Benjamin Walker, and Rufus Sewell): Horses were drugged with banamine, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory, indicating that they were not considered fit, and some of the horses used were later sold and shipped for slaughter in Mexico. The AHA acknowledged in its first review of the film that not all scenes involving animals were monitored, yet it gave the film an "Outstanding" rating. When PETA heard the allegations of drug use, we immediately wrote to Robin Ganzert, who responded that the allegations were unfounded but that the AHA was nevertheless downgrading the rating of the film to "Acceptable."
• Magic Mike (2012; Iron Horse Entertainment; directed by Steven Soderbergh; starring Channing Tatum and Alex Pettyfer): The AHA acknowledged that not all animal scenes were monitored, but it nevertheless rated the film "Outstanding."
• Moonrise Kingdom (2012; Indian Paintbrush; directed by Wes Anderson; starring Jared Gilman, Kara Hayward, and Bruce Willis): An underage kitten was used on the set, in violation of AHA guidelines and possibly state law. A screenshot of what appear to be AHA computer notes dated January 2012 stating that Karen Rosa approved the use of the kitten and mandating that precautions be taken is attached. Despite this and following the controversy surrounding the AHA-monitored show Luck, the organization rated the film "Unacceptable" for this very reason. 
• Pirates of the Caribbean (2011; Walt Disney Pictures; directed by Rob Marshall; starring Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz): Explosions set by production in Wallilabou Bay resulted in the deaths of 46 fish and 51 squid over a period of four days (a screen shot of what appear to be AHA notes on this is attached). There is no explanation for why the explosions were allowed to continue once the deaths occurred, yet the film was rated "Outstanding."
• The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011; Columbia Pictures; directed by David Fincher; starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara): The scene in which the body of a cat was found after being killed was not monitored as it was filmed in Sweden and the AHA did not want to pay for its rep to travel. In its review, the AHA acknowledges that the scene was not monitored: "In the scene where cat is found dead on front porch, production provided documentation." Yet the AHA rated the film "Outstanding."
• The Immortals (2011; Relativity Media; directed by Tarsem Singh; starring Luke Evans and Mickey Rourke): A finch used in the production escaped and was found dead, yet the film was rated "Outstanding."
• The Conspirator (2010; Wildwood Enterprises; directed by Robert Redford; starting Robin Wright and James McAvoy): The horses supplied by a Savannah, Ga., company were underweight, lame, improperly shod, improperly harnessed, and housed in filthy, substandard conditions. AHA reps on set were concerned but were instructed not to inform the production company. The same company was hired to supply horses for the film Savannah (2012; not yet released; Unclaimed Freight Productions; directed by Annette Haywood-Carter; starring Jim Caviezel), as the production company did not know of previous problems, and the horses were in similarly poor condition.
• There Will Be Blood (2007; Paramount Vantage; directed by Paul Thomas Anderson; starring Daniel Day-Lewis and Paul Dano): Three horses died. Two horses reportedly suffered from colic and died suddenly of unknown causes. While colic can occur for various reasons, whistleblowers state that horses were not given adequate water on very hot days (dehydration can cause colic, and heat is an aggravating factor). Whistleblowers further report that AHA reps discovered discrepancies between the reports of the horses' age, sex, and breed supplied by the trainer and the reports supplied by the veterinarian. None of this was reported in the review of the film, which was rated "Acceptable."
• Failure to Launch (2006; Paramount; directed by Tom Dey; starring Matthew McConaughey and Sarah Jessica Parker): A chipmunk was killed when a trainer transported him inside his clothing rather than transferring him to a cage for proper transport. Despite this, the film was rated "Acceptable."