In this edition of our Spotlight series, we highlight animal trainer Gerry Cott, co-director of A-Z Animals Limited, specialists since 1983 in animal talent for film and television.

We caught up with Gerry to discuss how his journey began, his favourite projects, and why the commitment to animal welfare remains a top priority at all times.

The early days

My journey in the industry began back in 1983 when our beloved border collie, “Marley,” named after Bob Marley, auditioned for a dog food commercial in London and landed the role. Marley’s friendly and confident demeanour made him a natural for the filming environment, and it set the course for my career.

Over 9,000 production days later, we’ve learned that the right animal for each role has a unique personality just like Marley’s. Our success in connecting animals with their roles is deeply rooted in both a love for animals and a comprehensive understanding of production needs.

You have to love animals first and foremost to be really good at this job. Also, we understand each department’s operational needs and criteria, and most importantly, we know where all the bones are buried in production. Please forgive the pun!

Majestic moments

One standout project for me is the red deer sequence in the film The Queen. Planning and executing this scene in Scotland was incredibly rewarding. It was a privilege to later work on The Crown for six seasons, also written by Peter Morgan, solidifying our place in high-quality productions.

Coming on board

We often start working directly with the production team or producers, especially when the animal character is central to the storytelling. During the prep stage, we collaborate with various departments to ensure that all details are meticulously planned and executed, which we believe is the key to a successful production.

Insurance

As part of our services, we provide specialist insurance which sits alongside the production’s insurance package. This includes full risk assessments, £10m Public Liability Insurance Cover, and arrangements for veterinary surgeon attendance and welfare certification.

Ensuring animal safety and well-being

Casting the right animal is crucial. We meticulously assess each animal’s suitability for their role. Careful preparation is essential to deliver the desired performances safely, and we are happy to suggest alternatives such as VFX if certain actions aren’t feasible.

We prioritise animal welfare and actively support organisations advocating for high standards in animal treatment on sets. We are big supporters of animal welfare monitoring by American Humane, The Animal Protection Agency and Veterinarians on film sets.

The global streaming broadcasters and international brands understand the importance of the highest standards of animal welfare in film and media production to protect their brand reputation. 

Biggest challenges

While we appreciate how structured and focused filmmaking has to be, achieving the best results demands significant time, resources, careful planning and execution. We maintain high standards at all times, regardless of the challenges.

Having the right cast, a skilled training team, a comprehensive prep programme, and diligent supervision on set are all our critical factors.

The animals

We primarily work with companion animals and domesticated ones who are already acclimatised to their surroundings. Our approach involves rewarding the animals with treats to help prepare them for the environment and ambience they will encounter on set.

It’s also crucial that these animals live normal, well-adjusted lives in their home environments.

Recent production credits

A-Z Animals Limited has had the opportunity to work on numerous high-profile projects, showcasing their expertise in animal handling, including:

• Alice & Steve
• Capital
• Icebreaker
• Slow Horses
• The Roots Manoeuvre
• Signal
• Ladies First
• Man vs Baby
• Pressure
• Slow Horses
• Wild Cherry
• The Night Manager 2
• Haven
• The Seven Dials Mystery
• Doctor Who
  

The real stars

WC Fields is credited with the famous quip to a young actor starting out… “Never work with animals or children, they’ll always upstage you, kid” Good advice indeed!

With many thanks to Gerry Cott at A-Z Animals Limited for his help in compiling this article. All images provied by Gerry Cott.

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