Milo headlines with John Jarratt in new film, StalkHer, but not every pet can be a star

MILO the snowshoe cross thinks he’s the cat’s meow after wrapping up filming on the new John Jarratt film, StalkHer.

Milo the cat will star in the new John Jarrett film, "Stalkher" pictured with Owner Ros Taber and children Alex 12 and Belynda 10. Pic Mark Calleja

MILO the snowshoe cross thinks he’s the cat’s meow after wrapping up filming on the new John Jarratt film, StalkHer.

Milo’s owner, RSPCA Animal Training Centre manager Ros Taber, says Milo had a month of training for the gig, on top of his basic training which includes walking with a harness and sitting on her shoulders.

Milo’s scenes included jumping on to Jarratt’s lap and jumping on to a table and looking into the camera.

“There was lots of mince- stuffing into John Jarratt’s lap when Milo had to jump on to his lap, so he had to wear a daggy pair of pants that day,” she laughs.

Ros is branching out into dog and cat training under the name Pawsitive Connection, this month.

There are not many pet talent agencies in Australia. Queensland’s latest, Famous Pet Agency, launched last week.

Until recently, animals needed for commercial work in Queensland have been sourced only through well-known animal trainers or breeders.

Friends Lani Carter and Lisa Bearne set up the Famous Pet Agency after realising there wasn’t a centralised Queensland database.

Peolpe have a fantastic idea that an animal would earn a fortune but that's misleading.
Sue Thompson, owner Animal Stars

Lani, who is a professional photographer and former model agency manager, says there are already several animals registered and available for work.

Trainers say although it is beneficial if an animal can perform some tricks, it is not necessary, as sometimes clients are just looking for a specific look.

Potential pet stars need to have basic obedience, such as being able to stay at a distance, or even out of sight, of the owner.

If an animal is better suited to modelling work than acting, there are also opportunities for advertisements and catalogues and social media work.

Photographer Charlotte Reeves says she often has clients such as dog collar and lead companies looking for a certain type and colour of dog to model their new products.

Her “clients” are paid $50 an hour or given products to the same value.

Sue Thompson, owner of Animal Stars on the Gold Coast, says clients could be looking for native wildlife such as crocodiles or goannas; birds, marine life; or domestic pets; as well as ducks, rabbits, pigs or pigeons.

“Once I had a request for flies,” she says.

“It was for a movie called The Great Raid, about soldiers in a prisoner-of-war camp.”

She says pay for animals ranged from nothing to $400 or more if they were lucky enough to be chosen for a big-budget film. But she also emphasised that it was only spontaneous work.

“Pet owners have a fantastic idea that an animal would earn a fortune, however that is misleading,” she says.

Taber says Milo was paid in treats (he is now on a diet),and in return Jarratt has joined the RSPCA as its ambassador.

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