NEGOTIATING WITH THE WOLF

By Lance Hoffman

We were scouting for a television commercial in the eastern Sierra-Nevada Mountains. The spot was to be a promotion for one of Networks. The client had retained a top commercial production company who had hired us to find the locations. My wife, Barbara Mc Quaid was to scout for locations and stay on the job as production manager. “Mc Cabe and Mrs. Miller” influenced the feel of the commercial. There were to be rugged riders in the snow with mountains in the background with a wolf in the spot.

We found the right terrain in Jack’s Valley near Lake Tahoe and the Reno airport. During the scouting we mentioned to one of the ranchers that we would be using a wolf in the commercial. He said, “ There is a wolf right down the road named ‘Six Pack’”. Of course, we jumped at the chance to meet “Six-pack”(we are scouts, right- can’t pass a opportunity like that). It turns out that old “Six-pack” is only three-quarters wolf. But he looks like a wolf. He has wolf eyes and fur. He has worked before, is tame, lives in town, and would be thrilled to be in the spot. Plus, he will work cheap. We send a picture of “Six Pack” along with the last batch of location pictures.

A couple of days later the director and client arrive at the Reno airport, scout for a day and approve the locations. But the client wants “a real wolf”. No problem, we call around and find a movie wolf with the “right credentials”. Barbara has the job of negotiating with the wolf. She is talking to the owner/handler and says, “ I see in your bid there are three days for you and the wolf at the full rate. I think it should be half day travel to location, a work day, and another travel day back to LA.” The handler says, “I’ll give you the half-day travel. But, THE WOLF ALWAYS GET HIS FULL RATE!” I can imagine the wolf leaning back in the chair with his feet up on the desk smoking a cigar while listing to the conversation on the speakerphone, and nodding his head. If the wolf is still aroundand working he probably demands his own deluxe “pop out” trailer with cable TV and an Internet connection.Some people know what they are worth.