The Meg (2018)

In the scene where the dog jumps out of the actress’ hands and jumps into the ocean, this scene was filmed in a large heated outdoor tank in a studio. The dog was required to swim from A to B from several different POV’s. The dog swims regularly three days a week to prepare for this scene. The dog’s trainer had to train her to turn in the water using a piece of fine nylon attached to her collar. This is gently pulled when required and the dog responded by turning in that direction. Both trainers were in the pool during filming and always in the dog’s eyesight. There were always divers in the tank as well. The tank was basically a large swimming pool, fully chlorinated, heated to over 80F, and fully filtrated. On rolling the trainer places the dog in the water and the other trainer attracts her attention with her voice. On cue, the dog swam from one trainer to the other. On cut, one of the divers placed the board in front of the dog, and the dog climbed on top of it.

When the actress pulls the dog from the water, the dog was carried from her holding area in the cabin to the set. The dog was held by her trainer on the deck next to the camera. Sitting on the next step up on the deck was the actress. On action the actress leant forward to pick up the dog from the step below, giving the impression she was lifting dog Kelly out of the ocean at the back of the boat. To achieve this the dog was placed in a warm water bath just off camera so she appears dripping wet when picked up. On action the trainer lifted the dog out of the bath and onto the lower deck.

Take 3: Slight change of action. The Director asked that after the Bride had picked Kelly up and made a fuss of her, that she then put her back down on the deck and trainer Rosie would call her back, making it appear dog Kelly was moving back to the back of the boat, but Kelly stayed where she was placed, so cut called.