Hank DeBruin and Tanya McCready DeBruin got a call from California in the fall of 2023; from Birds and Animals Unlimited looking for some sled dogs for a movie.
The owners of Winterdance Dogsled Tours in Haliburton then hosted Hollywood visitor, Thomas Gunderson, who took photos and measurements of their purebred Siberian Huskies.
He never mentioned what the movie was or who was directing it. Hank figures they found out about Winterdance as he had competed in the Iditarod and Yukon Quest dogsled races.
Tanya said, “he was looking for a very specific type of sled dog and that’s all he (the animal trainer) knew.”
They didn’t hear anything after that, except for an occasional request for more information about the dogs.
But on Christmas Eve 2023, Tanya said the Hollywood handler called to say ‘okay, I think this is going to happen’ and they had a phone call Dec. 26.
In January 2024, they were told the director was Guillermo del Toro and the movie was Frankenstein – which was released Oct. 17 in theatres. Not only would they need dogs on set, but Hank as a stunt double.
Based on the iconic 1818 book by Mary Shelley, the film revolves around a brilliant but egotistical scientist who brings a monstrous creature to life in a daring experiment that ultimately leads to the undoing of both the creator and his tragic creation.
In Frankenstein, dog sleds appear in the novel’s Arctic setting where Captain Robert Walton’s ship is trapped in ice. First, Walton’s crew spots a gigantic figure on a dog sled. Shortly after, they rescue a man named Victor Frankenstein, who is barely alive on another dog sled and was chasing the monstrous figure. The story that follows is Frankenstein’s account of his life and his pursuit of the creature.
Tanya said the film studio flew up Gunderson, who worked with them in Haliburton for almost two weeks. For example, they had to train the dogs to be comfortable being near a fire. They brought their dogs to four different sets in Ontario, including a frozen lake near North Bay for the Arctic scenes, and a studio in downtown Toronto. They were on set for about three weeks over a four-to-five-month period. Their part was over in June 2024, with the cast and crew moving on to Europe.
Movie to open film festival at Highlands Cinemas
Tanya said it was an incredible experience. “The passion that went into it … the people on the set poured their heart and soul into this movie.”
Hank added it was “an amazing group of people. They became like family. There were no airs to anybody, from the director all the way down; we joked and had fun but it was hard work and serious.”
Hank found del Toro to be “an extremely down-to-earth individual. He knows exactly what he wants. We would sit there for hours and all of a sudden, he’d say ‘we’re shooting now’.”
Hank was never nervous, Tanya said, because he trusts his dogs.
An unassuming Hank said it is a “real honour. I can’t wait to see the movie. I’m very excited.”
Tanya said they had to sign a nondisclosure agreement and could not talk about their involvement in the movie until Oct. 17, so it was a big secret to keep. “It was hard. When you see your dogs do that, and know they are going to be in a film and Hank being the stunt double, you want to share that, but that’s part of the industry. You can’t give that away.”
Frankenstein at HIFF
The Haliburton International Film Festival will be screening Frankenstein at Highlands Cinemas in Kinmount Nov. 7. Hank and Tanya will be there.
“That’s where we’re meant to see it. There’s no more iconic theatre than Highlands Cinemas. Our family has loved it since we moved here 25 years ago; so, to see it in Keith’s theatre … it will be worth the wait,” Tanya said.
Festival co-organizer Tammy Rea added, “where else would you want to see the Haliburton premiere of Frankenstein that has a Haliburton connection?” Tickets can be pre-purchased at thoseothermovies.com
