You are witnessing the outcomes of hours of training between the animal and an animal trainer when you watch television or a movie and observe a monkey folding laundry, a dog leaping a bike, or a horse opening a gate. It can be tempting to assume that an animal’s participation in a production will result in high earnings for the animal or his owner, but this is typically not the case. In actuality, some animal actors and their trainers make less money than their owners do, turning it more into a hobby.
Animal actors perform auditions for roles, just like human actors, and when they land those roles, they work under contract. The terms of each contract varies from production to production. For instance, if a small local business is shooting a commercial and the owner simply wants to get his animal on camera due to a limited budget, the company may not pay an animal actor anything at all. However, an animal actor in a significant Hollywood film can make several hundred to several thousand dollars each day. According to John Hall, a staff writer for Animal Actors International, animal actors employed by AAI make about $300 per day. It all depends on the production budget the business has and whether the owner is astute enough to specify things like subsidiary rights and coverage for travel, lodging, meals, and general maintenance.
Animal actors work freelance jobs that vary from gig to gig, just like their human counterparts. An animal actor works in more productions, which increases his income for his owner. However, the problem is that the availability of productions fluctuates. There is no assurance that the casting directors will choose a specific animal for a role, even if productions are available. Because they do not appear in scripts as frequently, extremely unusual animals are even more restricted, but rare animals may receive more money per production because of their rarity.
The fame of the animal performing has some bearing on the salaries of animal trainers. Generally speaking, experienced animal trainers who have a track record of working well with animals on high-budget productions are in high demand and thus have the leverage to negotiate higher pay than those who are just starting out. Production companies frequently agree to these higher fees because successful animal actors and trainers are able to create high-quality, commercial-quality audio files, television shows, and films.
Owner-operated animal trainers who use their charges as actors typically earn the same overall salary as other animal trainers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for all animal trainers was $31,110 in 2010, or just under $15 per hour.
According to the BLS, the average annual wage for animal trainers in the 10th percentile was $17,240, or $8. 29 per hour, as of 2010. The median salary was $26,580 per year, or $12. 78 hourly. Trainers in the 90th percentile earned $53,580 per year, or $25. 76 hourly.
Because animals must pay for many essential expenses, such as leashes and cages as well as work permits, animal trainers and animal actors typically make low salaries. Additionally, trainers must frequently take the animal to the vet. In some cases, the animal’s trainer receives far less money from it than it costs to keep it over the long term.
Eagan, Minnesota-based freelance writer and editor Wanda Thibodeaux She has written on topics ranging from fly fishing to parenting and been featured in print and online publications. She currently works through her business website, Takingdictation. com, which functions globally and welcomes new clients.
Rin Tin Tin, one of the biggest earners in early Hollywood, was paid more than a co-star
One of the most illustrious actors in Hollywood history has to be Rin Tin Tin. After all, how many other animals were able to earn their own salary in addition to that of their handler, could open a movie based solely on name recognition, and could boast of earning more money than actual movie stars?
Few people have done as much research on Rin Tin Tin as journalist Susan Orlean, who wrote the dog’s biography, “Rin Tin Tin: The Life and the Legend.” She additionally penned a piece about Rinty for The New Yorker in which she claimed that Warner Paid Rinty, who was dubbed “the mortgage lifter” because he could make any film he was in profitable, $2,000 per week. The studio paid the dog eight times as much as they did the human actors, she also revealed to the New York Post.
The biography (via The Guardian) confirms at least one instance in which Rinty was paid more than his co-star. Rinty starred alongside William Collier Jr. in the 1924 Warner Bros. flick “The Lighthouse by the Sea.” Rin Tin Tin was paid $1,000 a week for the role, while Collier only got $150 per week. Collier was an important enough actor to get a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame, and he still pulled in less of a paycheck than a dog. Though its near impossible to locate contract information for most of Rin Tin Tins movies, all of this info implies that Rinty getting a bigger paycheck than his co-stars was a frequent occurrence.
9 Keiko the Killer Whale: Earned $36 Million
This actor played the lead role in the Free Willy films and made a fortune. When he was released back into the ocean in 2002, this whale regained his freedom after receiving over $36 million in compensation for his performance. 2003 saw the death of Keiko in Norway following a battle with pneumonia.
How much do dogs get paid for a movie?
While some dogs can earn up to $400 per day on average, most only make $50 to $100, which isn’t even close to what Terry earned on the Oz set decades ago.
FAQ
Are dogs in movies paid?
While some dogs can earn up to $400 per day on average, most only make $50 to $100, which isn’t even close to what Terry earned on the Oz set decades ago.
What is the highest paid dog actor?
Paid Rinty, who was dubbed “the mortgage lifter” because he could make any film he was in profitable, $2,000 per week. The studio paid the dog eight times as much as they did the human actors, she also revealed to the New York Post.
How are dogs trained to be actors?
Many animals are trained using clickers for use in movies and television shows. Miller discovered that clickers, which are typically only used with puppies, helped mature dogs get ready more quickly while also maintaining their attention.
How can I make money with my dog?
- Take a walk. Why not earn money for walking your dog if you’re already doing it?
- Make your dog Instagram famous. …
- Start a pet blog. …
- Sell photos of your dog on a stock photography site.
- Train your dog to be a professional actor (or model).
- Make YouTube videos of your dog.