Never work with children or animals! A well known phrase coined by the comedian W.C. Fields but is it valid? Are children and animals really that bad? I've started thinking about this phrase, and the evidence behind it as for my next film, I have written parts for both a child and an animal. Now I begin wonder if I have boarded, settled in and  chained myself to a sinking ship. The last drama I wrote had a child in a lead role. The character of Anzelika was a 6 year old girl written in both English and Albanian, in the midst of an insane daydream where everything I want happens exactly how I want it. Funnily enough, when it came to the auditions there was a severe shortage of foreign language speaking child actors in the Staffordshire area. By some stroke of sheer luck, one of the girls who turned up to audition was half Albanian and actually spoke her Albanian lines better than her English ones. The insane daydream continued. I had previously worked with wonderful child actors on a few shorts and wasn't prepared for anything other than a top standard performance. This did not happen. In hindsight I should have had a million more rehearsals and more shooting time however, children are erratic creatures and you never really know what they're going to be like in that vital moment. Animals I'm not so sure about, I've worked with a parrot on a shoot before. He seemed very obedient and exceeded the directors expectations. I was impressed until I found out shortly after that his owner let him out for a routine fly one day and he went AWOL and never returned. Now I'm not casting a bird but I can't yet imagine directing an animal in a stellar performance. Especially not the musical number I have planned...

I digress, having written a script I'm really excited about and created characters I care for, I begin pre production on my next film. This time I find myself not only planning for the unexpected but planning for the expected as well.

Thus far, I am looking forward to working with children and animals. I'm certain I can pick the cutest, most adorable of both from my auditions so if all else fails the cast will look delightful. 

 

Or...