We've been keeping quite the secret over this past summer!
First, some things to note:
1) Yes...that was a goat. His name's Ranger.
2) Oh, you didn't catch the goat? Watch again. ;)
3) You betcha! The entire 3:30 minute video is one take.
4) How? Patience and a lot of dog cookies....
5) Where? Filmed in Corvallis, Oregon!
6) Many of the dogs are rescues! Check out
www.okgo.net for details.
Are you craving a few more details? Alright, then. Here you go; we'll start with a quick behind the scenes video:
The video began five years ago, when the idea to use dogs suddenly seemed possible upon meeting up with Talented Animals. A year passed, and then the planning and brainstorming began.
Fast forward to June 2010, and they were ready to put all that planning into action. Dogs were cast, trainers hired, and our location was settled.
That's when our little trio drove down from Seattle to the small town of Corvallis, Oregon, and called a big building with shaded pink windows our new home for the next month.
We started with 2 weeks of dog training - without the band members. We taught all of the dogs their various assigned roles, and also "crosstrained" each dog so they could perform any given behavior you see in the video...the whole time keeping fun our top priority for the canine members of the crew. To the dogs, this wasn't just work - it was some crazy form of work cleverly disguised as play (okay, so going through 4 pounds of dogs treats each day helped a lot with that).
Also during those first two weeks, we trainers practiced our own choreography. What you see in the shot is only half of the story; just off camera there is furniture being rolled in, rolled out, and staged up. Trainers are running this way and that, cuing their dogs or getting in position for their next move. And somewhere off stage the goat is munching on some hay, preparing for his big moment. Each behaviour alone was not particularly challenging. However, stringing all the moves together and getting the transitions from one behaviour to the next accomplished in time to the song was a different story.
With the help of spread sheets, stuffed animal stand-ins for the dogs, audio tracks with voice cues, and a metronome, we all learned out parts to this intricate dance.
During the third week of production, we were joined by band members Damian, Tim, Dan, and Andy, as well as
Trish Sie, our wonderful and inspiring choreographer. I can tell you first hand that these guys aren't afraid to put in the work required to create something awesome. We practiced. We trained. We rehearsed. We prepared. We revised...and then had to practice again.
In a little over a week we learned how to work with the guys, and the guys learned how to work with the dogs. Then it was time.
The dogs were trained, the band members were practiced (and by now covered with puppy kisses), and we trainers had learned how to cue our dogs on the beat. The choreography was rehearsed a few more times, and at last we were ready to start rolling the camera.
Or should I say, "cameras?" We had three different cameras rolling during each run through; the main camera, a 3D camera (oh yes, you read that right!), and a wide-angle camera set up high above us to catch all of the action going on just outside those frame lines we had taped out on the floor.
We filmed for 4 days. Out of 124 total takes we successfully made it through the entire routine, start to finish, 30 times.
It was almost like a dream. We had actually done it. And more than once! 12 dogs, 4 band members, 2 furniture movers, 12 trainers, and 1 goat repeatedly hitting their marks for three and half consecutive minutes. We were each so caught up in our roles during the runs that taking a step back and actually looking at what we had just accomplished was somewhat mind blowing.
Of those 30 takes, Trish graded 10 of them "excellent." Of those 10, it was take number 72 that was deemed "the most magical." In number 72 the energy and excitement we saw in our dogs' eyes was enough to make the whole crew grin from ear to ear. The attitude the dogs brought to that take was just something extra-special. Without a doubt, that was the one.
What happened afterwards? Well, we waited, anxiously, for the release.
The video premiered on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on September 20th. Within the first 24 hours, the video received over 1 million views on YouTube. Within the first 48 hours? About 3 million.
Are we excited?
You have no idea. :)
