Click here for the link to an interesting article about the making of Avatar. They used real horses to create realistic movements for the six legged equines in the film. The director, James Cameron, was determined to create as accurate a rendition as possible. This is one of the most successful films every released. It contains an important message and is a must see if you have not already done so.
I highly recommend a new film called Temple Grandin on HBO this Saturday at 8pm. The film is about the remarkable work Temple Grandin has done in the field of livestock behavior and humane slaughter. Rex worked on the film with Harbor Mist, also known as Mr. T has a pivotal scene in the film. Friends who have previewed the film say that it is very powerful on many levels and is worth watching. The film has an excellent cast with Claire Danes as Temple Grandin, with supporting roles played by Julia Ormond and David Strathairn.
One day of filming required Mr. T to play dead and lay perfectly still under a tarp. This would not have been easy on a quiet set and was especially difficult because the scene required Mr. T to lie absolutely still while Claire, as Temple, has a fit standing over him. As you know horses are highly sensitive to energy and it is remarkable how Rex was able to convince Mr. T to lay perfectly still during the sequence. This is the result of many hours of training and a tremendous trust between horse and trainer. Mr. T also has several other scenes where he has to fight and rear as well as being gentle with his co- star.
I also recommend you read the review about the film in the New York Times today.
Does your horse stand quietly in the cross ties, does he wait patiently at the mounting block, does he step off only when you ask him, is he on your aids when you ask him to go, whoa, move laterally? If not, come to a clinic this Spring and learn how to teach your horse to be so obedient, even a monkey could ride him. Check the web site for dates and availability.
Tuff, Tutt, Tazz and Monkey in California. The field of “Blacks” are ready to be cast in their next film.
As a result of working in film for nearly 4 decades, Rex Peterson has designed several products to make horse training more efficient and safe. The Neck Rope designed and made by Rex Peterson can be used for many purposes, including ponying kids on their first few trail rides across country. It is important to get out of the arena as soon as possible for the rider as well as the horse. You can see in this video how easy it is to control the pony when he speeds up or wants to turn the wrong direction. This method allows the kid to feel the independence of riding while having a safety line for any errors.
Here is the view from the grandstands at Keenland in Lexington, KY where Disney is filming scenes for “Secretariat”. Dean Semler (“The Cowboy Way”, “Appaloosa”, Dances with Wolves”) set up several cameras on the track to shoot various scenes of the movie. Dean is a master of using several cameras to capture several scenes with one set up. Hundreds of extras showed up to fill the grandstands for the shot of the Belmont win. Several horses portray Secretariat depending on the shot, some are better for the close up shots and others are fast runners. Randy Wallace (“Braveheart”) directs Diane Lane who stars as Penny Tweedy and John Malkovich as the trainer. Rex Peterson is the Horse Trainer working with Rusty Hendrickson, Horse Wrangler. Over 30 horses are being used for the film, with several stepping in to portray the uber-athlete Secretariat.