TODAY'S NUGGET: Shaggy D.A. (1976) - How to Effectively Use an Animal Actor

[Quick Summary: An attorney runs for District Attorney against the incumbent, but is threatened by a magical ring from his past that turns a human into a dog.]

When the world is tough, all I want to do is follow a dog planting a recording device.

I thought the writer did a great job of understanding: 1) how to set up the story; 2) the limits of what an animal actor could do; and 3) combining 1) and 2) well. 

In the scene below, the story is that "Wilby" is the attorney in his dog form. In the film, it is played by a real trained canine actor.

Notice the skills that the dog can be trained to do: Carry a tape recorder. Open a door. Look toward Roschak. Lay recorder on a chair. Press a button.

Notice also how the writer allows the audience to give meaning of these actions.

INT. WAREHOUSE

...ANOTHER ANGLE 

holding the tape recorder in his mouth, "Wilby" starts across an open stretch toward the stairs

ANOTHER ANGLE "WILBY" 

Tiptoeing up the stairs, toward Roschak's office, carrying the tape recorder in his mouth.

EXT. AREA - SLADE'S CAR

approaching the warehouse.

RESUME "WILBY"

as he opens the door to Roschak's office and enters. This is actually an outer (or secretary's office). But through a second door, leading into Roschak's office, we SEE the crime boss counting money into piles, putting the bills into envelopes.

CLOSE "WILBY"

He looks toward Roschak, then carefully lays the tape recorder on a chair behind the desk. Now comes the anxious moment. Can he push the right button without starting the Marine Band again? "Wilby" reaches a huge paw out ever so carefully and presses a button.

EXTREME CLOSE UP - TAPE RECORDER

as the tape starts moving -- recording. "Wilby" sighs, then again glances toward Roschak and starts to exit the office.

WHAT I'VE LEARNED: Training an animal is not the hard part.  It is giving MEANING to those actions, which is the writer's job.

One of the reasons this scene lands is because of the set up in previous scenes, ex. "Wilby" hit the wrong button on the tape recorder.  Will he hit the right one now?

Shaggy D.A. (1976)(shooting script 1/7/76)
by Don Tait