Overview
Productions wishing to include animals in filming activities must complete an Animal Use Request describing the proposed use of the animal, the conditions under which filming will occur, and the safety and handling procedures that will be followed during production. Approval comes from the FSU Animal Care and Use Committee.
Animals introduce additional safety, liability, scheduling, and welfare considerations that require careful review before approval is granted. The request process helps ensure that productions are planning responsibly, protecting the well-being of both the animal and the crew, and complying with university expectations regarding safe production practices.
FSU Animal Care and Use Committee
Producers are required by Florida State University policies to file a request for review of animal use on the production by the FSU Animal Care and Use Committee (ACUC).
Approval is required by federal regulation, but it also enhances the relationship of FSU with the public, demonstrating to the public that the University is concerned with all use of animals by the University community.
This request must be submitted well in advance of the start of the production, as it will usually take a number of weeks for a request to be approved. If a production does not receive approval from the ACUC in time for production, the use of an animal is not permitted.
Instructions
Prior to making a request for animal use, the Producer should review the relevant sections of the American Humane Association’s Guidelines for the Safe Use of Animals in Filmed Media.
Should a production require ACUC approval, ACUC requires that the ACUC Film School Protocol Form and a PDF of the script (highlighting the parts that contain animals) be submitted at least two weeks prior to any animal use. This will permit the Committee to perform its federally mandated oversight function to ensure University compliance with Federal regulations. Students are strongly encouraged to allow for more than two-weeks of turnaround time, in case delays occur or revisions are needed. Again—if the request is not approved in time for production, the use of an animal is not permitted.
The application is submitted to the ACUC Coordinator in the Department of Laboratory Animal Resources (LAR) office. The ACUC Coordinator then forwards a copy of the protocol to the LAR veterinarians for a pre-review. These individuals conduct a preliminary review with an eye to helping eliminate any stumbling blocks to approval by the full Committee. Suggested modifications and questions are provided to the person that has filed the protocol. The LAR staff is available for consultation and is often able to assist with locating animals suitable for the productions.
If last minute modifications to the production are necessary following approval, students are required to contact one of the LAR Veterinarians for approval prior to making any changes. The LAR Veterinarian will then report on the modification at the next ACUC meeting.
On occasion projects request the use of animal tissue rather than live animals. These productions/projects also must be reviewed by the FSU Animal Care and Use Committee for reasons related both to public concern over source and health reasons related to the handling of animal parts. Individuals should follow the above instructions for protocol submission. Also, individuals should be aware that certain precautions are necessary when handling animal carcasses or tissue.