'Brokeback' blasted by animal activists

WorldNetDaily ^ | 3 March 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

"Brokeback Mountain," the controversial film about homosexual cowboys in love, allegedly had a lack of loving concern for the animals featured in the film.

The American Humane Association has fired off a letter to the movie's director, Ang Lee, expressing dismay over reports animal care and protection guidelines were violated during production of the Oscar-nominated film, claiming it sends "a dangerous message" that the public condones animal endangerment for the sake of entertainment.

"The excessively rough handling of the sheep and horses leaves viewers questioning whether anyone was looking out for the safety of those animals," wrote Marie Belew Wheatley, president of the group's film and television unit. "And many also wonder how the filmmakers got the elk to lose its footing and crumple to the ground 'on cue' after being shot. They ask if our safety protocols were in place to protect the animals during filming. The answer is: They were not."

Wheatley said she recently learned that anesthesia was reportedly used on an elk to portray a hunting scene, and noted the practice of anesthetizing animals solely for the purpose of entertainment violates the group's "Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media," which is the standard for animal-handling practices.

"Using anesthesia to facilitate filming has been prohibited since 1997 after causing several animal deaths during a production," said Karen Rosa of the AHA. "Regardless of how it's administered, anesthesia endangers an animal's life and health. That's why we require production companies to find alternatives – like humane training or digital enhancement – that create the same effect without jeopardizing the animal's safety."

"Brokeback Mountain" was produced in Canada, so the production company was able to circumvent the AHA guidelines and oversight.

"Filming abroad may be a cost-cutting measure, but the animals shouldn't have to pay the price," Rosa said.

The American Humane Association is the authority behind the "No Animals Were Harmed" disclaimer often seen in the end credits of motion pictures and television shows.

[Aussie Dasher]

Compared to some of the blokes in this flick, I reckon the animals got off easy!

[PetroniusMaximus]

""Brokeback Mountain," the controversial film about homosexual cowboys in love, allegedly had a lack of loving concern for the animals featured in the film."


Talk about swallowing the camel and chocking on the gnat!

[ExcursionGuy84]

...many also wonder how the filmmakers got the elk to lose its footing and crumple to the ground 'on cue' after being shot.

An Elk in Captivity?!?!

Wapiti are difficult enough to track, stalk & bring down in the REAL wild of the Western USA.

[Joe 6-pack]

With 'Brokeback' they could have issued a disclaimer...

"No Beavers were shot in the making of this movie."

[gov_bean_ counter]

""Brokeback Mountain," the controversial film about homosexual cowboys in love, allegedly had a lack of loving concern for the animals featured in the film."

Something for which the sheep are very grateful.

[Argus]

I understand the sheep were in particular peril on this one.

[taxcontrol]

Those poor sheep

[snicker]

[Aussie Dasher]

LOL! We would have believed them!

[Aussie Dasher]

It was filmed in Canada NOT New Zealand...

[Keith in Iowa]

Previous discussion on same topic: Claims animals mistreated in Brokeback Mountain

[HairOfTheDog]

I haven't seen this movie, and won't. And it's not clear, beyond the darting of the elk, what rough handling they are alleging.

I'm of mixed mind on this. On the one hand, I applaud the AHA for their oversight and education on the safe handling of animals used in film. Animal treatment on film has greatly improved because of their efforts, and it needed to. I refuse to watch old westerns because of the cruel tripwires and rough handling the horses of old suffered for the sake of movies. I don't like to watch it.

On the other hand, the AHA has a great deal of arrogance toward the Humane Associations of other countries. They refused to give endorsement for the LoTR movies also, not because there was abuse, but because the films were made in New Zealand, and though the NZ Humane Assn was there and on site, and approved all the scenes, since the AHA was not invited, they wouldn't accept the endorsement of the NZ authorities. The AHA ~wants~ to oversee all films, whether they're made in this country or not. What's not said in this article is whether Canadian HA was on site.

[Vicomte13]

I have to hand it to the animal activists here.
Love 'em or hate 'em, the one thing they ARE is consistent!

Brokeback Mountain is practically an untouchable icon of the Left now, destined to win all of the Academy Awards, etc. But here comes Dr. Doolittle dumping elk pee on the whole project, without so much as a genuflection to the "merit" of the film!

They march to the beat of their own...umm...woodpeckers.

[jazusamo]

"No Beavers were shot in the making of this movie."

It would have more PC had they.

[WestVirginiaRebel]

"The excessive rough handling of the sheep"

Now that's what I call method acting...

[jec41]

"The excessively rough handling of the sheep and horses leaves viewers questioning whether anyone was looking out for the safety of those animals,"

Caught you red handed Brokeback. You're going to have to buy that sheep, he looks fond of you too.

[Liberty Valance]

"The excessively rough handling of the sheep and horses..."

LOL. You can't make this stuff up.

[xarmydog]

Hey!They were just practicing on the sheep!The land where men are men,and sheep were scared!

[funkywbr]

Damn the TORPEDOES!~}

[Chode]

HA ha...
and the RATS take another one in the...