applesmom
04-25-2007, 05:00 AM
This is the story of my dog Howdy and his adventures while making a commercial in Monument Valley.
When I took my novice obedience dog, "Howdy" a German Shorthaired Pointer to Monument Valley to appear in a Korean beer commercial--It turned into an adventure never to be forgotten.
Howdy's delight in his role, working through an interpreter, plus the magnificent scenery all created a memorable experience. The unexpected element of danger made It unforgettable!
I came home with a reinforced belief in obedience training, an increased respect for my amazing dog, and a long list of questions to ask next time!
Howdy had just obtained the first two legs toward his C.D. when I got a phone call from a local producer asking me if they could use Howdy in the commercial.
FROM BIT-PLAYER
TO CO-STAR
Howdy's love of obedience work and his animated personality were the reasons he was asked to appear in the commercial. He was to be in three scenes, doing simple sit-stays in an open Jeep with a Korean actor.
As soon as we arrived at the motel in Kayenta, on the Navaho Indian reservation where we would stay during the filming, I took Howdy for a walk.
"Is that the dog?" a man on the balcony called down to me. "Yes, this is Howdy, and I am Carol, his owner and handler." Seven smiling Korean men came pouring down
the stairs and surrounded us. Steve, the assistant producer, introduced himself and explained that he would be our interpreter. The members of the crew spoke very little English. He introduced me to the others, and then asked, "Is Howdy friendly to everyone?"
"Yes, very," I replied. "Howdy, say hello!" Wagging every ounce of his liver and white-ticked, seventy-five pounds, he greeted them all and smiled his shorthair smile for them; they were captivated!
At 6:00 a.m. the following morning our caravan, including a moving van full of equipment, drove to Monument Valley. The first scene was to be a "Sunrise scene" and even though it was still pitch dark, Steve called for Howdy.
Mr. Lee, the star of the commercial had arrived--he was a Korean version of Indiana Jones, even to the hat he wore. He and Howdy were introduced and it was love at first sight!
Mr. Lee didn't speak English, but he spoke softly, and gently rubbed Howdy's ears. Howdy leaned up against him and sighed with pleasure.
Steve gave Howdy a pat, then reached down and scooped up handfuls of the red dirt and rubbed it into his glistening freshly bathed coat. At the same time, members of the crew were throwing dirt on the shining yellow Jeep that was to be the prop for all of the scenes. The young owner of the Jeep blurted out, "I just had it washed and waxed before I left home." I said: "I bathed and groomed Howdy too", and we both burst out laughing. Steve smiled and said, "They have to look like they have been riding around in the desert for days; they were too clean!"
At my command Howdy happily jumped into the jeep for a sit-stay. He sat beside Mr.
Lee looking out the windshield, ears perked forward, and looking around intensely. He appeared to be watching in awe, as the sun slowly lifted the shadows of darkness and cast its golden glow across the Valley. Truthfully--he was in awe of all the cameras and activity around him and secretly hoping we were going hunting!
After the first scene was finished, Steve approached saying, "The film is great; Howdy is a natural, and we'd like to make him a Co-Star! "What would he have to do if he became a Co-Star?" I asked.
Steve replied, "The next scene will be with the Jeep moving very slow, for a close-up. Later this afternoon a helicopter will be filming from overhead, as they drive through the Valley. Tomorrow will be still-scenes, one of them at John Ford Point. We'll use the helicopter for that scene too."
DECISIONS AND TRUST
I wasn't too sure about Howdy riding in an open vehicle! However; since he has always been reliable on his stays, it shouldn't be a problem. I told Steve, "I'll try him in the slow moving scene and see how he does, and then I'll let you know about driving through the Valley."
Steve said, "That's fine, I would like to use him in every scene, but I don't want to endanger him. If at any time you don't feel comfortable with something, tell me."
As we drove across the Valley to the next location, the beautiful red rock formations set ablaze by the glow of the rising sun were a magnificent sight! As they were setting up for this scene, Steve casually mentioned that Mr. Lee had never driven a Jeep before!
Uh-Oh, I thought. Was my pride and confidence in Howdy getting us in over our heads? These next two scenes were not going to be simple sit-stays!
Howdy and Mr. Lee got in, and the crew attached a camera to the front of the Jeep and one on each door. Howdy watched everything that was going on, his head turning from one side to the other as if he were at a tennis match.
Mr. Lee spoke, and Steve laughed and translated, "Now Howdy wants to be the director!"
On the first try, Mr. Lee put the Jeep in gear, and it lunged straight at us--then stalled! I hastily backed up, but tripped on the uneven ground and landed flat on my back! I
was instantly surrounded by the crew asking if I was hurt. As I stood up, red with embarrassment, I said, "Only my pride!" I looked over at Howdy; he was sitting with his paws on the dashboard looking for me. I reminded him to stay, and he leaned back in the seat and relaxed.
The next try, was better than they had hoped for. Mr. Lee handled the Jeep with no more problems. Howdy appeared to be looking all around as if there was more glorious
Scenery than he could possibly take in. When I'd put him in the Jeep, I’d noticed a bee walking around on the outside of the windshield. I knew that was what he was really looking at, but I just kept quiet and let everyone believe that he was a terrific actor! Mr. Lee saw the bee too, but we just shared our secret with a smile!
MAKING A POINT
When the scene was finished, Steve said, "We don't want to take the camera off the door. Have Howdy jump over the door and let him rest until the helicopter gets here." "No, I can't do that, I said. "Why not?" Steve asked, "He won't get hurt jumping that far to the ground." "He will if the jeep is moving though. If I tell him to jump out now, he'll think he can do it at any time."
I then told him about Howdy and the gate at home. We had a baby gate up between two rooms for two years and Howdy never even thought of jumping it. One day I was too lazy to get up and open the gate for him and I told him "Howdy-Over." He jumped it!
Then I had to re-train him not to jump that gate. Steve got the point! They removed the camera from the door and I took Howdy to our van, gave him some treats and let him rest.
That afternoon the helicopter landed and I took Howdy over to see if it would frighten him. Not at all! He wanted to get in and go for a ride; to him it was just a great big noisy car!
When I took my novice obedience dog, "Howdy" a German Shorthaired Pointer to Monument Valley to appear in a Korean beer commercial--It turned into an adventure never to be forgotten.
Howdy's delight in his role, working through an interpreter, plus the magnificent scenery all created a memorable experience. The unexpected element of danger made It unforgettable!
I came home with a reinforced belief in obedience training, an increased respect for my amazing dog, and a long list of questions to ask next time!
Howdy had just obtained the first two legs toward his C.D. when I got a phone call from a local producer asking me if they could use Howdy in the commercial.
FROM BIT-PLAYER
TO CO-STAR
Howdy's love of obedience work and his animated personality were the reasons he was asked to appear in the commercial. He was to be in three scenes, doing simple sit-stays in an open Jeep with a Korean actor.
As soon as we arrived at the motel in Kayenta, on the Navaho Indian reservation where we would stay during the filming, I took Howdy for a walk.
"Is that the dog?" a man on the balcony called down to me. "Yes, this is Howdy, and I am Carol, his owner and handler." Seven smiling Korean men came pouring down
the stairs and surrounded us. Steve, the assistant producer, introduced himself and explained that he would be our interpreter. The members of the crew spoke very little English. He introduced me to the others, and then asked, "Is Howdy friendly to everyone?"
"Yes, very," I replied. "Howdy, say hello!" Wagging every ounce of his liver and white-ticked, seventy-five pounds, he greeted them all and smiled his shorthair smile for them; they were captivated!
At 6:00 a.m. the following morning our caravan, including a moving van full of equipment, drove to Monument Valley. The first scene was to be a "Sunrise scene" and even though it was still pitch dark, Steve called for Howdy.
Mr. Lee, the star of the commercial had arrived--he was a Korean version of Indiana Jones, even to the hat he wore. He and Howdy were introduced and it was love at first sight!
Mr. Lee didn't speak English, but he spoke softly, and gently rubbed Howdy's ears. Howdy leaned up against him and sighed with pleasure.
Steve gave Howdy a pat, then reached down and scooped up handfuls of the red dirt and rubbed it into his glistening freshly bathed coat. At the same time, members of the crew were throwing dirt on the shining yellow Jeep that was to be the prop for all of the scenes. The young owner of the Jeep blurted out, "I just had it washed and waxed before I left home." I said: "I bathed and groomed Howdy too", and we both burst out laughing. Steve smiled and said, "They have to look like they have been riding around in the desert for days; they were too clean!"
At my command Howdy happily jumped into the jeep for a sit-stay. He sat beside Mr.
Lee looking out the windshield, ears perked forward, and looking around intensely. He appeared to be watching in awe, as the sun slowly lifted the shadows of darkness and cast its golden glow across the Valley. Truthfully--he was in awe of all the cameras and activity around him and secretly hoping we were going hunting!
After the first scene was finished, Steve approached saying, "The film is great; Howdy is a natural, and we'd like to make him a Co-Star! "What would he have to do if he became a Co-Star?" I asked.
Steve replied, "The next scene will be with the Jeep moving very slow, for a close-up. Later this afternoon a helicopter will be filming from overhead, as they drive through the Valley. Tomorrow will be still-scenes, one of them at John Ford Point. We'll use the helicopter for that scene too."
DECISIONS AND TRUST
I wasn't too sure about Howdy riding in an open vehicle! However; since he has always been reliable on his stays, it shouldn't be a problem. I told Steve, "I'll try him in the slow moving scene and see how he does, and then I'll let you know about driving through the Valley."
Steve said, "That's fine, I would like to use him in every scene, but I don't want to endanger him. If at any time you don't feel comfortable with something, tell me."
As we drove across the Valley to the next location, the beautiful red rock formations set ablaze by the glow of the rising sun were a magnificent sight! As they were setting up for this scene, Steve casually mentioned that Mr. Lee had never driven a Jeep before!
Uh-Oh, I thought. Was my pride and confidence in Howdy getting us in over our heads? These next two scenes were not going to be simple sit-stays!
Howdy and Mr. Lee got in, and the crew attached a camera to the front of the Jeep and one on each door. Howdy watched everything that was going on, his head turning from one side to the other as if he were at a tennis match.
Mr. Lee spoke, and Steve laughed and translated, "Now Howdy wants to be the director!"
On the first try, Mr. Lee put the Jeep in gear, and it lunged straight at us--then stalled! I hastily backed up, but tripped on the uneven ground and landed flat on my back! I
was instantly surrounded by the crew asking if I was hurt. As I stood up, red with embarrassment, I said, "Only my pride!" I looked over at Howdy; he was sitting with his paws on the dashboard looking for me. I reminded him to stay, and he leaned back in the seat and relaxed.
The next try, was better than they had hoped for. Mr. Lee handled the Jeep with no more problems. Howdy appeared to be looking all around as if there was more glorious
Scenery than he could possibly take in. When I'd put him in the Jeep, I’d noticed a bee walking around on the outside of the windshield. I knew that was what he was really looking at, but I just kept quiet and let everyone believe that he was a terrific actor! Mr. Lee saw the bee too, but we just shared our secret with a smile!
MAKING A POINT
When the scene was finished, Steve said, "We don't want to take the camera off the door. Have Howdy jump over the door and let him rest until the helicopter gets here." "No, I can't do that, I said. "Why not?" Steve asked, "He won't get hurt jumping that far to the ground." "He will if the jeep is moving though. If I tell him to jump out now, he'll think he can do it at any time."
I then told him about Howdy and the gate at home. We had a baby gate up between two rooms for two years and Howdy never even thought of jumping it. One day I was too lazy to get up and open the gate for him and I told him "Howdy-Over." He jumped it!
Then I had to re-train him not to jump that gate. Steve got the point! They removed the camera from the door and I took Howdy to our van, gave him some treats and let him rest.
That afternoon the helicopter landed and I took Howdy over to see if it would frighten him. Not at all! He wanted to get in and go for a ride; to him it was just a great big noisy car!