|
|
Behind the Scenes
Unnatural Actors
Apes on television and in the movies have something in common with their human costars—their wide, toothy grins. The apes, however, are "smiling" in terror. To them, acting is strange, upsetting, and often torturous. Most people do not know that the chimpanzee "grin" so often seen in movies and on TV is actually a grimace of fear or a carefully choreographed response to a command.
Clear and Present Danger
In order to force them to perform, trainers often beat young chimpanzees with their fists, clubs, or even broom handles. Shock devices may also be used. This systematic pattern of abuse and dominance causes the animals to be constantly anxious and fearful, always anticipating the next blow.
 Apes are routinely beaten into submission and forced to pantomime human behaviors that are foreign and confusing. The public learns nothing about a chimpanzee or orangutan by watching him or her riding a skateboard or dancing in a tutu. In fact, it is misleading to portray these animals as cute, cuddly, childlike creatures, and doing so encourages people to acquire these intelligent, strong, and often dangerous animals as "pets."
 Dressing chimpanzees and orangutans in suits, shorts, or dresses and forcing them to perform silly tricks lulls viewers into forgetting that these are rare, endangered animals and falsely conveys the idea that these sensitive primates enjoy performing confusing, repetitive tricks for our amusement.
Animals Were Harmed in the Making of This Movie!
The film industry hoodwinks filmgoers and television viewers with the American Humane Association's (AHA) misleading "No animals were harmed" seal of approval. The AHA does not monitor the training of animals or their living and transport conditions. Its guidelines are vague, and it rarely, if ever, files formal complaints against studios or production houses. In fact, the AHA actively defends the use of great apes in productions despite its inherent cruelties.
High Tech
There is no reason to use live apes as actors when animation, blue screen, computer-generated images, and other highly advanced technologies can produce realistic substitutes. PETA advocates the use of these alternatives and encourages entertainment-industry executives to pledge not to use great apes in their work.
|
|
|
