The American Humane Association monitored all animal activity on the set of “Evan Almighty.” |
From the moment Universal Pictures started filming the summer release, the American Humane Association’s Film & Television Unit was on set, monitoring the welfare of every species used in the film. “Evan Almighty,” starring Steve Carell and Morgan Freeman, is a modern-day tale of Noah and the Ark.
Though Carell and Freeman are the stars of the movie, the film would fall flat without the contributions of dozens of animal actors. Tonya Obeso and Gina Johnson, AHA’s animal safety representatives, helped filmmakers get the shot while keeping all of the animals safe from harm.
Filming took place in Virginia and Hollywood over the course of eight months. On two farms near the set in Virginia, the production company built living quarters for the animals, ranging from 17-foot-tall giraffes to 8,000-pound elephants. A typical day for the AHA safety reps included making sure the animals had enough downtime between takes and plenty of shade. The elephants received baths once a day, even getting a bath from the film’s director, Tom Shadyac.
“Evan Almighty” received AHA’s Monitored: Outstanding rating, meaning that safety representatives were on the set to ensure the safety of the animals throughout production. For more information about AHA’s Film & Television Unit, visit the group’s website.