Majors

A Lot Of People Talk To Animals. Not Many People Listen.

Animal coordinator Andrew Simpson tells Paul Salfen why Heart of the Beast — Brad Pitt, a combat dog named Odin, and New Zealand standing in for Alaska — was a no-brainer, and why he is not sure a real animal will still have a place in cinema five years from now.

By christineSeptember 28, 2026Updated:October 8, 2026No Comments1 Min Read

Animal coordinator Andrew Simpson has the job other people invent at ten. Then David Ayer’s Heart of the Beast showed up with Brad Pitt, a combat German Shepherd named Odin, and New Zealand standing in for Alaska. In this AMFM exclusive, Managing Editor Paul Salfen talks to Simpson about the surreal set days, why listening is the rare half of animal work, the Hail Mary that sent 13 wolves to Siberia at minus 60, and why he is not sure a real animal will still have a place in cinema five years from now. Heart of the Beast — in theaters now from Paramount Pictures.

AMFM_Simpson_Heart_of_the_Beast_Paul_Salfen

#HONDO Alaska wilderness amfm magazine Andrew Simpson animal coordinator animal trainer Anna Lambe Brad Pitt David Ayer Game Of Thrones Hail Mary Heart of the Beast Instinct Animals for Film J.K. Simmons military working dog New Zealand Odin Paramount Pictures Paul Salfen Ryker Seeka The Revenant UBER Wolf Totem Wolves Unleashed

Previous ArticleA Lot of People Talk to Animals. Not Many Listen.

Next Article “A Dark, Romantic, Psychedelic Musical Odyssey” | Adam Egypt Mortimer Interview PATHETIC FALLACY

christine

Comments are closed.

Authors

October 19, 20260By christine

Rebecca, But With Cats

1 Min Read

AMFM_Licorice_KaraLaReau_Paul_Salfen

Majors

October 16, 20260By christine

We Just Open Our Eyes: Shahar Isaac and Paras Patel on the Living World of THE CHOSEN

1 Min Read

On the set of The Chosen and Lazarus House, Shahar Isaac and Paras Patel—Peter and Matthew—talk about the world James Cunningham built so completely that the actors simply open their eyes and the reality is already there. With Season 6 streaming on Prime Video beginning November 15, 2026, and the theatrical film The Chosen Crucifixion

Majors

October 16, 20260By christine

The Weight of the Empty Cross: The Chosen’s John, Mary, and Andrew on Season 6

1 Min Read

On a Texas set under a heat advisory, George Xanthis (John), Vanessa Benavente (Mother Mary), and Noah James (Andrew) sit in Caiaphas’s office—a room none of their characters have needed before—and talk about the work that has brought them here. Season 6 of The Chosen captures the final twenty-four hours of Jesus of Nazareth. Streaming

Majors

October 16, 20260By christine

Still Not Jesus: Jonathan Roumie on the Anger, the Prayer, and the Cross for The Chosen Season 6

1 Min Read

On the set of The Chosen Season 6, Jonathan Roumie is nearing the end of the most demanding stretch the series has asked of him. One more week of difficult physical scenes remains—scenes that will match what was already filmed in Matera, Italy. Paul Salfen and his father, Ronald Paul Salfen, sat with him there.