Tagline: No stray gets turned away.
Hotel for Dogs tells the story of two orphans, Andi and Bruce (played by Emma Roberts and Jake T. Austin), who attempt to hide their dog at an abandoned hotel after their strict new guardians tell them that pets are forbidden at their home. They also take in other dogs to avoid the dogs being taken away by two cold hearted animal pound workers and police officers.
In the family comedy-adventure “Hotel for Dogs,” Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce (Jake T Austin) live in a strictly no-pets household and are fast running out of ways to keep their perpetually hungry dog, Friday, under wraps.
When they accidentally stumble on an abandoned hotel that is already home to a couple of resourceful strays, Andi has an idea. She taps Bruce’s mechanical genius for turning everyday objects into mechanical marvels, and, with the help of their friends in the neighborhood, transform the down-and-out hotel into a magical dog paradise – not only for Friday, but for every stray they can find. But when the barking dogs make the neighbors and the suddenly out-of-work local dog catchers suspicious, Andi and Bruce have to use every invention at their disposal to prevent them from finding out “who let the dogs in.”
Hotel for Dogs is an American family comedy film based on the 1971 Lois Duncan novel of the same name. The film, directed by Thor Freudenthal and adapted by Jeff Lowell, Bob Schooley, and Mark McCorkle, stars Emma Roberts, Jake T. Austin, Troy Gentile, Kyla Pratt, Johnny Simmons, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon and Don Cheadle.
All About “Hotel for Dogs”
Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother Bruce (Jake T Austin) have a secret – a furry, adorable and always hungry Jack Russell Terrier named Friday. When they can no longer keep their beloved pet in their small apartment, with a strict no-dogs allowed policy, the siblings will do whatever it takes to make a new home for him.
That’s the premise of “Hotel for Dogs,” an inventive urban fairy tale based on Lois Duncan’s beloved children’s book. Passionate dog-lover, activist and film producer Lauren Shuler Donner felt the book’s strong message about the importance of family – however unconventional it may be – made the novel an ideal property to bring to the big screen.
What stood out for her was the fact that the story presented ample opportunities for humor and adventure. “`Hotel for Dogs’ is as much an adventure as it is a comedy. Andi and Bruce have to ingeniously find a way to hide their own dog, Friday, and eventually, every stray dog they come across,” says Shuler Donner. “The more dogs they rescue, the more dangerous it becomes for them. So Bruce has to keep coming up with new inventions to keep the dogs happy and quiet.”
The comedy, she continues, “comes from the dogs’ personalities and interactions – like one who likes to chew everything and the dog who howls if he can’t look out the window, which all become running jokes that get funnier and funnier. I sensed that working with the dogs would give rise to some happy accidents on the set – and I was right. And then, of course, there were the fun machines Bruce puts together from stuff the rest of us would regard as junk. They’re all so clever, you just have to laugh in appreciation.”
“And I love kids as well,” she continues. “These kids cause a bit of havoc because they are willing to do anything to stick together. Until these dogs come into their lives, they are afraid to connect to anyone else. When they set out to fight the system and rescue the dogs, they ultimately end up being saved themselves.
“There’s a key scene in the film in which Andi tells her brother that they really should find Friday a real family, and he insists that they are a real family,” she says. “Eventually they adopt all these dogs and they do become the real family he’s talking about. So family is where you find it, family is the gathering of those closest to you.”
Making his feature-film directorial debut, filmmaker Thor Freudenthal was drawn to the way the film’s themes spoke to the importance of a sense of belonging. “It draws an interesting parallel between the kids and the dogs,” says Freudenthal. “Although I was aware that it was a risk to jump into directing my first feature working with both kids and animals, I recognized the importance and relevance of the story and thought it was worth it.”
Producer Jason Clark had worked with Freudenthal on both “Stuart Little” movies, for which Freudenthal served as lead storyboard artist. His ability to produce CGI characters with lifelike personalities and emotion told Clark that Freudenthal’s acute attention to visual detail made him a perfect candidate to direct “Hotel for Dogs.”
“I was fascinated by Thor’s creativity and his ability to create characters and moments that rely on visuals rather than dialogue,” explains Clark. “I knew he would be able to imbue the dog characters with qualities we would all fall in love with.”
Shuler Donner was determined that “Hotel for Dogs” stand out from other family movies visually and believes that Freudenthal’s experience in animation gave him a unique edge. “We viewed a short film he directed and, within three minutes, we knew he was the guy,” she says. “It was the way he framed shots, the way he moved the camera, the use of color, the use of light. He’s very visually savvy and very specific.
“And we wanted to make sure we had somebody who got along well with kids, who wasn’t too intimidating or gruff,” the producer continues. “He’s a real sweetheart and the kids took to him right away.”
Executive producer Ivan Reitman observes that Freudenthal’s work has a special feeling that will set the film apart from more run-of-the-mill family fare. “`Hotel for Dogs’ is a great story and very funny,” he says. “It’s a terrific idea and we wanted someone who could tell the story in a way that would appeal to an entire family – to parents, adults and teenagers, as well as to kids.”
Shuler Donner adds: “Our mandate was that this had to be a film that parents like just as much as the kids. You laugh a lot and maybe you do cry a few times, but it never crosses over to the gooey side. The kids and animals are on a wild adventure and having fun. The dogs are so cute, the kids are so engaging and the inventions are so clever, that the parents will enjoy it.”
Adds producer Ewan Leslie, “One of the things we loved about Thor was his whimsical approach to the movie. As an artist, he wanted to create a world that was grounded but still visually captivating to parents and kids. He was very interested in creating mood and character using color and texture, and he focused on the tiniest details that the rest of us might have missed. There were several ideas that Thor really fought for that the rest of the team didn’t think were as important. Thor was often right, and that attention to detail elevated the movie way beyond your average family fare.”
The secret ingredient in “Hotel for Dogs,” according to Reitman, is that in addition to being very funny, it has a deep emotional core. “These days it’s kind of refreshing to see a story like this told in live action, rather than in animated form,” he says. “It’s a bit of a throwback to the great family movies of the `60s and `70s, like “The Nutty Professor” and “The Shaggy Dog.” There’s something special and magical going on.”
Clark concurs: “I’m sure it will make audiences laugh, but it will also engage them emotionally. I see the heart of this movie as the real connection between these two lonely kids and the animals. Ultimately, there is something very real at stake here and that’s a strong reason to root for these kids to succeed. The movie is funny, exciting and has real heart, so I think it will work with audiences of all ages.”
The “Hotel for Dogs” Acting Family
For the central role of Andi, the fast-talking, protective older sister, the filmmakers chose rising young star Emma Roberts. “We basically needed to find someone who could carry a whole movie,” says Freudenthal. “To find someone who can do that at such a young age is extremely difficult. Emma came in and was amazingly professional. She understands the language of filmmaking and it was impressive to witness her level of professionalism and preparedness. She makes it look so easy on film.”
“Finding the right actress to play Andi was very important because the character has to be tough and protective of her brother but also vulnerable and very sympathetic,” says producer Leslie. “Emma is one of those young actors whose face just lights up the screen and she has the ability to play a wide range of emotions without any dialogue. The camera just loves her.”
“Emma is fabulous,” says Shuler Donner. “When it came to the dramatic scenes, she nailed them. What I didn’t expect was her sweetness, the way she cares for Jake Austin, her co-star, and in the movie, the way she cares for her brother, Bruce. Her heart grounds the movie.”
“Emma has star dust,” says Clark. “She is an incredible and charismatic actress who can play the range of this part because Andi is someone who is always hiding her pain in an upbeat, optimistic and glib way. Emma can act the con man, but she also allows you to see underneath to the real pathos of a kid looking for a real home.”
Roberts was excited by the role, especially the character’s emotional growth during the course of the film. “Andi is definitely a bit of a tomboy but is cautious and very protective of her little brother, Bruce. Through this adventure, the dogs and the new friends they make, they get something they’ve never had before.”
“Both Andi and her brother have great strength of character because they’ve had to take care of themselves and figure out how to navigate life on their own,” notes Freudenthal. “While she really wants to be a conventional teenager, what Andi ultimately learns is to be proud of who she is.”
To play Bruce, Andi’s little brother and the movie’s master inventor, the filmmakers conducted a nationwide search for an actor who was fun and could emphasize the whimsical side of this boy genius. They found their Bruce in Jake T Austin.
Producer Clark remembers meeting Jake and recognizing qualities in him that perfectly suited Bruce. “Jake came in really late in the casting process after we had seen close to 80 boys and he was amazing on every level. He played the emotional beats very well, felt the role and also understood timing. When there was a joke or comedic line, he always understood when to give or to hold back.”
Austin had just the right combination of innocence and wisdom we were looking for, according to Shuler Donner. “We needed someone who was a little lost and looking to his sister for guidance and yet super-smart, so that you believe he can concoct all these inventions. Jake is right on the cusp of something. He has a sort of savvy without being precocious.”
Although Bruce is a mechanical genius, director Freudenthal adds, he still had to have a particular level of whimsy. “Jake has a glint in his eye and a way of looking at something in front of him and instantly understanding it.”
Joining Roberts and Austin are three other young actors, who help them transform the abandoned hotel into a home for four-legged creatures. The characters of Dave and Heather, two local pet store employees, are played by Johnny Simmons (“Evan Almighty”) and Kyla Pratt (“Fat Albert”). Mark, a comically awkward teenager who works at a nearby market and befriends Andi and Bruce, is portrayed by Troy Gentile, who previously appeared in such comedies as “Nacho Libre” and “Drillbit Taylor.”
In the film, Andi and Bruce’s social worker, Bernie, is their most dependable adult lifeline. “Bernie bridges the gap to the adult world,” explains Freudenthal. “He is their anchor. He’s a disciplinarian, someone they take very seriously but also have a rapport with.”
Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle was intrigued by the dynamic between Bernie and the kids. “When I read the script, I appreciated the way my character talked to the kids, because that’s how I talk to my kids, pretty straight- up and honest.”
The relationship between Cheadle and his younger co-stars mirrored that of their characters, according to Emma Roberts. “Bernie and Don are a lot alike because Don is very sweet and, when he talks to you, he doesn’t talk down because you’re a kid. He talks and laughs with you the same way that Bernie does with Andi and Bruce.”
Cheadle was at the top of the producer’s wish list for the role, says Shuler Donner. “It turned out his daughter is a big fan of Emma Roberts,” she says. “And he had done enough serious movies recently that he felt comfortable putting some lighter fare into the mix. We were very lucky. I mean, you could literally hand Don the phone book and he would give it intent and make it believable. He was just amazing. And the kids rose to the occasion. He made them even better.”
For Reitman, Cheadle’s presence brought what he calls “the weight of credibility and intelligence to this very frothy tale. He’s a very serious presence and it was wonderful just to watch him work. What happens because of his acting skills, everyone around him, even the dogs, become better. There’s a truth and reality that takes over as soon as he steps on to the set.”
Cheadle, who has two young daughters himself, also appreciated the fact that “Hotel for Dogs” was a family film that both parents and kids could enjoy. “You don’t want to make a movie that parents are going to sleep through – although those can be nice too because you get that `day nap’ in.”
The heads of Andi and Bruce’s household, Lois (Lisa Kudrow) and Carl Scudder (Kevin Dillon), are aging musicians desperately holding on to the dream of becoming rock stars. Unfortunately, they fail to recognize their complete ineptitude for creating music, with hilarious results.
“In his mind, Carl is the total package of a rock star,” says Freudenthal. “He’s completely delusional. Lois, who is a bit deluded herself, probably met Carl when he was a roadie and believed they could someday make it. They’re holding onto that dream for dear life.”
Lisa Kudrow agreed to come on board after reading the script and discussing the project with Freudenthal. “I loved it and thought there was something different about this project,” explains Kudrow. “I got really excited after meeting Thor and hearing his take on how the film would look visually. When I came to the set and watched how it was being shot, I appreciated and understood what kind of beautiful and magical storybook movie this was going to be.”
Lois and Carl’s musical skills can best be summed up as nonexistent, says the actress. “We can only be described as a `band’ because Carl plays the guitar and I have a Casio that can play many instruments at the same time. They are not very good. In fact, their level of talent goes beyond bad to pathetic.”
Kevin Dillon jumped at the chance to fill the shoes of the narcissistic rock god wannabe Carl Scudder. Scudder, he says, is a character he could really have fun with, someone who is sincerely convinced he’s destined for greatness. “I think the reason Carl hasn’t made it is mostly because all the songs he writes are about himself,” say the actor. “Even if he attempts to do an issue song, it ends up revolving around him in some way.”
The comedic chemistry between Kudrow and Dillon came as no surprise to the filmmakers. The duo truly enjoyed playing off each other. “When I heard that Kevin was playing my husband, I knew it was going to be good. He is absolutely hilarious; every time he opens his mouth I have to fight to not laugh,” says Kudrow.
“I’ve loved working with Lisa,” says Dillon, returning the compliment. “We bounced off each other very well and came up with some really interesting moments that weren’t on the page. She’s a lot of fun and her character is a real crack up.”
While the Scudders are by no means great guardians, Kudrow and Dillon bring a playfulness to their characters that draws audience sympathy, notes producer Jonathan Gordon. “The way Kevin and Lisa play the Scudders, you have to love them. You never feel the kids are in real jeopardy and, in reality, they’re giving the kids a way of staying together.”
The Hotel “Guests”
Andi and Bruce’s beloved Friday is tough for them to keep under wraps. Friday’s inability to resist any kind of food makes him conspicuous at extremely inconvenient moments. “Friday always wants to eat and has a very strong will. If you tell him no, he goes for what he wants anyway,” says Freudenthal. “This constantly gets the kids in trouble, but ultimately, he’s the harbinger of good fortune.”
“I love all the dogs in “Hotel for Dogs” and there are lots of them,” says Reitman. “But Friday is probably my favorite. He has this wonderful intelligence in his eyes.”
The canine actor playing Friday is actually a rescue dog named Cosmo. “We tried to use as many rescues as possible and then find homes for them,” says Shuler Donner. “We wanted dogs that would connect. We were looking for dogs with the most personality, the most interesting quirks, not the most beautiful.”
Those “quirks” helped to create characters with their own distinct personalities. Since the filmmakers had decided against using any special effects, the challenge was finding different ways to distinguish the dogs from each other. “The question we asked ourselves was, how can we take the audience on a journey where we meet distinct characters who don’t speak throughout the movie?” recalls producer Clark. “Recognition and believability were important to us. We wanted the dogs to show who they really are, real animals with strong characters.”
To prepare the canines for their complicated roles and stunts, Mark Forbes of Birds and Animals Unlimited, one of Hollywood’s premier trainers, was brought on board. Forbes appreciated the story’s acknowledgment of the strong connection between people and animals. But he was also aware of the challenges the film would present.
“When I read the script for the first time, my initial reaction was both sheer terror and excitement, because I knew it would be a really fun project to work on,” says Forbes. “It is a great story about making a place for yourself and your loved ones in the world.”
In addition to Friday, several other dogs become permanent “guests” at the hotel. The filmmakers selected nine “hero” dogs to play these key roles.
Lenny and Georgia are the original inhabitants of the hotel. Lenny, a 160-pound Bull Mastiff, is a gentle giant who watches over Georgia, a feisty Boston Terrier who is small in size but large in personality. The dogs’ personal quirks inspire Andi and Bruce to come up with novel ways to entertain them.
“Lenny’s biggest concern is that he get a view of the outside world, so he always wants the windows open,” explains Forbes. “If Lenny doesn’t have a view or an open window, he starts howling, which jeopardizes the secrecy of the whole operation.”
Georgia, Lenny’s partner-in-crime, is a compulsive fetcher. “Georgia must always be chasing after something, picking it up and bringing it back to somebody so they can throw it again,” says the trainer. “Bruce ends up inventing a fetching machine for her so she can play all day long.”
“Georgia seems to be the kids’ favorites because she’s cute and little and she’ll fetch anything,” says Shuler Donner. “She’s got a really sweet face and a personality to go with it.”
Cooper, Shep and Romeo, the three dogs from the pet store that Dave begs Andi to adopt, each have their own peculiar habits that have prevented them from finding homes. Cooper, an English Bulldog with loads of personality, compulsively chews up anything in sight. “Cooper will chew drywall, license plates, shoes, you name it,” explains Forbes. “He’ll chew his way out of his crate.”
Reitman describes Cooper as the natural comedian of the pack. “There’s just such a scale to him – his weight and the jowliness of his face make me laugh every time I see him.”
Cooper seems destined to win a lot of hearts in this movie, says Shuler Donner, who recalls his first experience with one of the movie’s signature gadgets: “We set up treadmills and we hung bones on the treadmills to keep the dogs walking forward. The other dogs were trying to get the proper gait, but when Cooper saw the bone at the end of his treadmill, he was way over the end of it, going after that bone. It wasn’t planned, but it’s in the movie and it is so funny. He just has a little mind of his own. So I liked him a lot.”
Shep, an energetic Border Collie, has no control over his herding instincts. “Shep loves to shepherd and order people around by circling them,” says director Freudenthal. “In the end, he helps gather all the various dogs and steers them in the right direction when they lost.”
The inappropriately named Romeo is a Chinese Crested, a breed that is hairless except for a tousled topknot. “What can you say about Romeo?” asks Forbes. “He doesn’t possess the most beautiful face you’ve ever seen, but he doesn’t know that. He falls in love with the beautiful Juliet, and that makes for quite an interesting match.”
Juliet is an ungroomed Poodle the kids rescue from the grips of the dog catchers who are about to haul her off to the pound. “Once the kids take Juliet back to the hotel and groom her, she comes out looking like the Bo Derek of the dog world, and Romeo chases her all the way through the hotel up to the rooftop, where they fall in love,” says Forbes.
“Romeo starts out a timid pooch given to hiding under tables and is not particularly confident,” says Freudenthal. “He becomes emboldened when he meets Juliet and his romantic instincts really kick into gear. His is a classic case of `don’t judge a book by its cover’ because he possesses a romantic nature that you don’t see at first glance.”
Last, but not least is Henry, an intimidating Beauceron(a French breed that looks like a cross between a Doberman and a Rotweiler) with the gentle soul of a pacifist. As Forbes, the animal trainer explains, “In the story, Henry had an owner who wanted him to be a guard dog, which really didn’t suit his personality. The kids rescue him and bring him to the hotel. He starts gaining confidence and ends up helping the kids through a really sticky situation.”
The first step in bringing these distinctive dog “actors” to the screen was casting them. “As far as putting personality into a dog on screen, you can do it somewhat with behavior and the other types of activities they perform on screen,” explains Forbes. “But it’s hard to make a dog act differently than he or she really is. In the end, the animal’s real personality will emerge. It’s not as if you can ask them to read the script and give their comments to the filmmakers; so finding the right dog for each particular role was our primary responsibility.”
With Forbes’ help, the filmmakers went through a catalog of breeds to determine the identity of each of the hero dogs. “We wanted to make all the dogs look different in size, as well as color and facial structure, so that their look suggested their personality,” says Freudenthal. “After all, you can’t talk to the dog about his motivation, so the face has to read easily and express who each dog is.”
“I automatically gravitated toward either the smaller ones or the really big ones to create contrast,” continues Freudenthal. “In both the Romeo and Juliet relationship, as well as the one between Lenny and Georgia, I think we ended up with a really good matchup.”
To fill out the extensive cast of dogs – about 70 in total, the filmmakers selected a variety of breeds, mostly mixed, plus several pure-breeds. “Each of them has his own story,” says producer Leslie. “Within a couple of months, we trained them all to do everything that was needed for the movie. It’s pretty amazing.”
In a classic example of life imitating art, roughly two-thirds of the dogs used in the film were rescues. The lead dog, Cosmo, and his two doubles, who all brilliantly play Friday, were rescued within six months prior to shooting.
Producer Leslie, a devoted animal activist, works with Karma Rescue, an organization that finds adoptive homes for abandoned and homeless dogs. With the help of a donation from DreamWorks Pictures, he was able to rescue and find homes for 14 dogs throughout pre-production and filming. Several crew members adopted dogs or helped find some of them new homes.
“We saved quite a few dogs, and are hoping it will inspire others to adopt a dog,” he says. “One of the most amazing things about rescued dogs is they’re just so grateful that you’ve come along and saved them. When they find a loving home, they’re so grateful to have somebody that they are truly the best dogs in the world.”
You Can Teach An Old Dog
To prepare for the extensive on-camera action required of his canine charges, Forbes and his team of trainers began working with the “hero” dogs 16 weeks prior to the start of production. For the “green” hero dogs – rescues with no prior training – the process was broken down into four-week phases. In the first phase, the dogs were taught basic commands such as “sit” and “lie down,” as well as how to hit a mark with front feet on a big block. The second phase focused on more sophisticated commands like retrieving, waving and finding ways to pull behavioral traits out of the individual dogs to create a performance.
“The way a dog rolled on his back with his paws in the air might suggest laughter,” says Clark. “Or a dog might have body language that expresses sadness, like tucking its tail between its legs with his shoulders and ears down. The second level of training was finding these behaviors and defining how they establish the character.”
The last phase was to take the dogs into various public places to train and review the commands. “At this stage in the training, the dogs were taken to shopping malls, parks and other public arenas, because there was no other way to recreate the atmosphere of a movie set.” notes Forbes. “You want the dogs to sense that everything is fine and they’ll still get their treat regardless of the location. The set becomes just another place for them to go.”
When basic training was complete, Forbes’ team focused on the specific actions required of each dog. “It takes quite a bit of organization just to figure out how to get each dog to do what he’s supposed to do,” he explains. “We have to take the script and turn it into dog language. Then we can slowly train the dogs so they understand what they’re supposed to do. Each scene becomes all about how many shots it will take to create it and each dog is reminded of what it has to do right before the shot, because they can’t possibly remember it the next day.”
Another important part of the training included working with the actors to familiarize them with how the dogs behave and create a comfort level between the human and the dog actors. “A lot of times, the training with the actors is more for the actors than for the dogs, because it teaches them to relate to whoever they’re working with in the scene,” Forbes explains.
“Working with the actors before the shoot also helps familiarize them with what goes into training and working an animal on set,” Forbes continues. “The actor may have to give the dog a treat a few times, or there may be a trainer right off his or her eye line who’s jumping up and down and waving to the dog, so it can be a little distracting.”
“We wanted to give the actors and dogs an opportunity to develop a relationship and it’s been wonderful to see,” says producer Clark. “These dogs have become these kids’ dogs and when the camera cuts, you can see that they’re deeply in love with these animals. They became a family and you’ll be able to see that close relationship in the film.”
The experience was an eye-opener for Roberts, who had never shared the screen with a four-legged co-star. “Working with all the dogs definitely takes a lot more patience than you’d think, because even if we do it right, if the dog wasn’t right, then the take was bad. Sometimes the dog will do the scene perfectly and other times they’ll just start wandering around. You forget sometimes and have to remind yourself that they’re dogs and can’t do exactly what you ask them to do every time.”
“On a normal set, there is a lot of quiet when actors are working, but when there are dogs present, the trainers are doing everything including shouting, jumping up and down or whistling, and that is distracting for any actor,” says Clark. “Emma and Jake and all our actors did an amazing job at acclimating themselves to that process and diving right in like the terrific performers they are.”
To prepare the dogs for using the various gadgets in the film, the special effects department gave the trainers early mock-ups of the machines for the trainers to work with. “Michael Lantieri and his effects team were great because even if they didn’t have the machines ready,” observes Clark, “they got something to us so we could get the dogs used to the machine months ahead of filming.”
The Genius and the Gadgets
In “Hotel for Dogs,” the clever 11-year-old Bruce, ingeniously puts together gadgets he assembles from discarded items he finds in the abandoned hotel to keep the dogs happy, safe and fully entertained. “Up until this point, no one has truly understood and appreciated Bruce’s talents, but in the hotel he finally gets the attention and appreciation of all these kids around him,” notes Freudenthal.
Academy Award-nominated special effects co-ordinator Michael Lantieri was brought on board to build the ingenious contraptions Bruce devises to keep the dogs engaged, healthy and hopefully quiet. “The two things that attracted me to this particular project were the opportunity to build all these amazing gizmos and my personal love of dogs,” recalls Lantieri. “One of the things I look for in a project is whether or not whatever I’m building is a central part of the story and with this film that was very much the case.”
For Georgia, the Boston Terrier who loves to fetch and run, Bruce creates the ultimate fetching machine, which Georgia can operate and enjoy all by herself. The creation of this gizmo went through two model phases. The first was a simple spring-loaded device that throws a ball and spoon down hallways, while the second device was a bit more sophisticated. “This fetching machine uses a bicycle and a hand from a mannequin. It is timed so that the wheels turn, and the ball is magnetic so it sticks in the hand, which comes round and launches the object so the dog can chase it,” explains Lantieri. “Things can seem simple when you read them, but making it work on screen has to do with timing, the weight of the ball and how the ball stays in the hand until you want it to move.
In addition to making the complex inventions work, Lantieri and his team faced the additional challenge of making them look as if they sprung from the mind of a gifted 11-year-old boy. “Every gadget had to look as though Bruce was capable of putting it together and, fortunately, over the years, I’ve been able to assemble the best experts to match up with the intellect of a real 11-year-old,” deadpans Lantieri.
As if that weren’t enough, the inventions also needed to be created from objects that might be found in an abandoned hotel. “We had many meetings over what would be left behind in a hotel – in the laundry rooms, the kitchens and in storage,” Lantieri says. “We tried to pick things that couldn’t be recognized as new or store-bought but something that would be found up in the attic next to all the old Christmas decorations, hotel supplies and other equipment.”
For Shep, the Border Collie with an uncontrollable urge to herd, Bruce creates a specially designed room. The herding room is a paradise for Shep. He chases remote controlled sheep made out of fishing wire, oven mitts, cotton balls and foam mounted on top of disassembled remote controlled cars. Lantieri and his team particularly enjoyed this creation. “Initially, when I read the script, I thought the sheep would be on wires, but once we got to actually radio-control them, we raced them in the shop to test them. It became a sort of kindergarten for adults.”
“Michael Lantieri has been nominated for many Oscars,” notes producer Gordon. “You can see him going to the ceremony in his tux and returning to his workshop where he and his team are essentially building the ultimate dream toys. It’s good to know that, in the process of destroying their parents’ homes for the first 18 years of their lives, he and his crew finally found a creative outlet in the movie business. They are the most brilliant kids you’ll ever meet.”
For the door-knocking room, Lantieri gathered doors in specific colors and architectural styles. The knockers were driven by air, springs and elastic bands, which caused a boot to repeatedly knock on the door. “That is one of the funniest rooms in the movie,” says Lantieri. “Having my own dog and knowing how crazy and excited dogs can get when the doorbell rings or when someone knocks at the door, it was hilarious to watch a pack of dogs reacting to multiple knocking doors. It was total chaos and a lot of fun to watch.”
Bruce creates another special room to satisfy one of the most common canine habits. “We all know that dogs like to stick their heads out the window while driving; it’s part of the fun of being a dog,” says Shuler Donner. “Bruce goes into the basement and commandeers whatever he finds that’s useful, and with old car doors, a projector and some strategically placed fans, the dogs get to enjoy their ride.”
For Cooper, the English Bulldog who chews anything he can get his teeth on, a vending machine is transformed into a fantasy gadget. Filled with shoes and various other chew toys, Bruce rigs the machine so that Cooper can step on a lever and the machine drops a new toy on demand.
To keep Friday and the other dogs fed when the kids are not around, Bruce creates a feeding machine that is on a timed-release system that drops food in the bowls through six hatches. Friday, with his insatiable hunger and sharp intellect, soon figures out how to operate the machine and is able to eat whenever he feels like it.
When the hotel becomes populated with more “guests” as the kids begin to rescue scores of strays off the city streets, Bruce builds a massive feeder that can accommodate all the new arrivals. His pièce de résistance, the second feeding machine is comprised of two long belts with bowls that are pulled down a grand dining table by a toy train, with food dropping into each bowl. Lantieri had to build a machine that was timed perfectly. “We worked on designs for the big feeder for weeks to sort out all the details like the colors, the number of dishes we could use, the table to slide it on and making certain that the train was powerful enough to pull all the bowls out. Everything was done in steps and what audiences will see is very simple and elegant, just like an 11-year-old had created it.”
Each bowl had to be filled with the exact right amount of food, no easy feat since all the food is transferred from a giant bottle above, through chambers, down a worm drive, through flaps, into each can and dumped into every bowl. When the machine was complete, the dogs rehearsed with the machine to make sure they were comfortable with the contraption. “We had to spend time with the dogs getting them used to the noises the machine makes and its process,” notes Lantieri. “The first dog at the table had to learn to watch all 50 filled-bowls pass by without diving in. When we accomplished that, we thought it was a big success.”
A second unit was brought in to capture the extensive dog action sequences and gadgetry. This team had the unique experience of working with up to 60 dogs on any given day, recalls Clark. “They were asked to capture some crazy action. They had a real ball, but on some days things got a bit deafening. They were at the mercy of not only the dogs, but also their 60 trainers. It was a very loud unit as you can imagine.”
Check Out This “Hotel for Dogs”
“I think part of the appeal of our movie is the wish-fulfillment aspect for kids,” concludes producer Leslie. “After all, the hotel in our movie is the ultimate `fort’ or `tree-house.’ And what kid wouldn’t like to create a secret world where no parents are allowed and go on top-secret missions with their friends? When I was young, I really loved movies in which kids became empowered, and what’s more empowering than a group of friends making their own hotel, saving dogs and ultimately creating their own family?”
From the beginning, “Hotel for Dogs” was never just a movie about dogs, adds executive producer Reitman, but really a story about family. “For me, it was really about how the kids take care of the dogs – lots and lots of dogs. People have this experience with their pets that runs very, very deep. We have serious relationships with our animals, particularly with dogs, because dogs have a way of speaking to us and being part of our family that touches us. `Hotel for Dogs’ tries to capture the sense of what it means to have these wonderful animals as part of our family.
“I hope the people who come to see `Hotel for Dogs’ are totally knocked out,” he continues. “It’s one of those films that resonates. I think it’s because of how likeable the main characters are – particularly the dog characters. It’s so much fun to watch them over and over again and it’s a great, moving, emotional experience.”
Hotel for Dogs (2009)
Directed by: Thor Freudenthal
Starring: Don Cheadle, Emma Roberts, Lisa Kudrow, Kevin Dillon, Johnny Simmons, Troy Gentile, Robinne Lee, Eric Edelstein, Johnny Simmons, Jonathan Klein, Andre Ware, Johnny Simmons, Kyla Pratt
Screenplay by: Jeff Lowell
Production Design by: William Sandell
Cinematography by: Michael Grady
Film Editing by: Sheldon Kahn
Costume Design by: Beth Pasternak
Set Decoration by: Robert Gould, Linda Lee Sutton
Art Direction by: Brad Ricker
Music by: John Debney
MPAA Rating: R for brief mild thematic elements, language and some crude humor.
Distributed by: DreamWorks Pictures
Release Date: January 16, 2009
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