Academic Animals - Behind The Scenes

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, 'tis the season to be jolly! Can you imagine him dressed up as Father Christmas or an elf just to be close to the animals? We sure do! Welcome to the Christmas episode of Academic Animals in which Roger looks back into his experiences with reindeers during projects for this joyful and lovely season.

Roger met one of his longtime friends in a dog agility competition. This episode is about an experience with his friend Jan and his Saint Bernard dogs, a yogurt commercial, towels drenched in ice-cold water, and a trip from the Italian Alps all the way to Tel Aviv in Israel. Indeed, too many adventures!

Roger recalls the ups and downs of his journey in the film industry working with different animals. Sometimes things go really well, exceptionally well, while others… don’t. But you know, it is just another day in the office!

The film industry is all about having secrets and tricks up our sleeves. Hair, makeup, and special effects need them the most. In this episode, Roger reflects on how these three can work together with animals. Fast thinking is required to create these items for dogs, wolves, and monkeys! But also, taking care of animals while doing so, is a must!

In this episode, you will know when and under what circumstances Roger’s wife gave birth to her daughter and how their baby ended up in a supermarket trolley. Roger also shares some of his first experiences working with mice, how he ingeniously created a rubber stamp for autographs, and how tricky dreams can be! Being a professional animal handler can sometimes feel like a roller coaster!

After working for almost 3 decades with animals, there is still one thing Roger can’t quite prepare for, the unexpected. This is the story of a one-eyed bald ostrich that looked more like the turkey you’d see in a supermarket! Roger’s experience has brought him to resolve everything so creatively, in ways that you could not even imagine!

This week’s episode will have you on the edge of your seat! Roger recalls a near-death experience with one dog. He could’ve had his last day in the office, but fortunately, he ended only with two torn biceps, but with a life-changing lesson.

Some things aren’t what they seem. In this episode, Roger shares two very dodgy experiences he’s had in the industry. Yeah, you read that right! Fortunately, Roger knows how to drive through these awkward situations.

Midas would turn out to be a character with naughty habits but a few funny ones too. This is Roger’s story with this bird, tune in to have a laugh! Oh, and listen up for Midas’ party trick.

Roger was scared, really scared. This episode comes just in time for Halloween because Roger recalls three very scary accidents with his animals. Two of them involve a dog and the other one a reindeer. Fortunately, Roger knows how to deal with the unexpected, and the animals and himself were fine.

It’s a tough job, and somebody has to do it! Once, Roger was taken for a commercial shooting in the Turk and Caicos Islands with two St. Bernard dogs. The commercial was only a one-week job, but due to size problems in the airplane, Roger and his wife had to stay for another week. Everything paid, what a nightmare! This has to be one of his favourite jobs!

It is a little bittersweet as Roger recalls an occasion when he went to the extremes to get paid for two jobs. With respect and professionalism, Roger sorted out this tricky situation.

In this episode, Roger remembers the Piglet Project. The laws just do not cater to this scenario, and so he had a battle on his hands with the authorities. Common sense is not always that common, and the safety of these two piglets was a top priority!

Working with animals all day long can be fun, but it is essentially hard and dirty work. These are some of Roger’s funniest experiences with animal poo. This episode is all about poo and the problems of working with poo!!!

In a perfect world, we wouldn’t need a veterinary doctor on set to take care of the animals. But we all know we’re far from living in a perfect world. In this episode, Roger recalls his experiences with animal welfare on different occasions.

Chimpanzees are a fascinating species. Roger describes the unstoppable desire of Michael, a chimpanzee, to approach an attractive woman on set. 

You will never guess which Roger’s favourite animal is!   Even though he loves all animals, he especially enjoys the company of furry. But it is of most importance for him to establish a bond with the animal. Roger shares his experiences with dogs, reindeer, a chimpanzee, and a cat in this episode. Listen to this episode of wonderful stories with furry friends!

Roger puts his animals’ safety first. They get hurt most of the time because of humans; Like when he was called to film an opening video for ING Bank in Amsterdam. The set was on a plexiglass ceiling located twelve stories high. He noticed how the surface bent when the feline set foot on it. This is Roger’s version of Cat in a Hot Tin Roof. The only difference was it was made of glass and 12 floors up.

Roger could not believe his eyes when nothing more than a convoy of funeral cars came into the set to pick up a thousand geese! Neighbors all around stared surprised when they saw the bird’s little heads peeking out of the windows. Sometimes, you have to go to extreme measures to get the job done, and Roger is no stranger to this!

To nurse and nurture a wolf into adulthood is a dream! In reality, it’s a messy and challenging job that requires love and dedication. From stimulating a wolf cub's bottom with a wet Kleenex to helping her poop; to sneaking a wolf into a very posh hotel, Roger shares how he raised his Canadian timberwolf, who may be the one you've seen in commercials and movies! Get your notes ready for another fun and exciting episode from Academic Animals!

It's time to let your imagination fly high! In this episode, Roger's creativity and understanding of nature are highlighted as he works with 700 birds, an enormous tree, and two wardrobes. It sounds a bit like Narnia. Except this one involves two wardrobes. Discover Roger’s secret on how to make untrained birds fly around and land on a huge tree to create a heartwarming commercial in this riveting episode of Academic Animals!

The problems are never the animals – it’s always the owners. Roger reflects on the terms and conditions of several experiences dealing with the owners. You will learn that, as in marriage, you’re not only marrying the bride or the groom but their families too. The same thing happens with animals in the entertainment industry: owners are included, always!

There are two types of shopping lists related to working with animals when in the entertainment business. The diverse variety of animals asked for is one of them. The other one is the equipment needed to be creative on set. KY Lubricating gel, a costume mask with fangs, and several of the largest big black condoms in the market. For what, you might ask? Find out on this new Academic Animals episode!

This episode is all about frogs! Roger had the perfect opportunity to show off and make the film crew appreciate how different it is to work with a professional handler to manage animals. Roger tells us a couple of his experiences in what he calls the year of the frog!

Just like a scene from the Alien, this thing lunged into Roger, all claws raging and scratching his shoulders, his chest, his waist! This is one of the stories Roger shares about how some things go wrong in the show-biz. From misunderstanding a director to a Centurion tank invading the set, you will listen to how he always puts his animals’ wellbeing first.

In this episode, Roger asks himself – “what the hell am I doing up here, four floors up, walking along the apex of this roof with my feet set like a ballet dancer on pointe, tiptoeing along the ridge with a toolbox under one arm and a cat in a box in the other. Where are the health and safety measures?” This memory is one of Roger’s craziest stories. Cats, roofs, big jumps… What could go wrong? 

In this episode, Roger Farr tells us a story about when he was approached by a commercial producer who had a pitch by Sony. They wanted a bird that could react to the sound produced by a new sound speaker. Roger’s answer will shock you! Join this episode and listen to the ups and downs of this experience! It is an unforgettable one you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, you’ll meet Roger Farr, our host. He is one of the highest qualified trainers in Europe for working with all species of animals within the film, tv, and media industry. He will give you a sneak peek into what the show will be about.  You’re in for a real treat!