In addition to my main career as a pet writer, I also write about entertainment media for a couple of publications -- things like music, movies, television shows, and film. In a recent crossover of the two fields, I wrote an article about the deerhound who played Padfoot in the newest Harry Potter film for the current issue of The Bark.
Now I'm thinking there may actually be a career in writing about canine actors. From the London Observer:
Friends and family of nominated film stars are often nervous on the eve of a big cinema awards ceremony. For dog owner Liz Smith, the run-up to the first ever Fido Awards at the London Film Festival on 28 October will be tense indeed.Smith's five corgis - Anna, Poppy, Megan, Alice and Oliver - are all featured prominently in the Oscar-winning film The Queen, and are now joint contenders in the Historical Hound category at the inaugural awards event for dog performances on screen. If the dogs succeed in their bid for critical recognition, director Stephen Frears will be able to add a pack of four-legged actors to the long list of those who have already been saluted with Baftas, Golden Globes and Oscars for their part in his intimate portrait of the reaction of the British monarchy to the death of Princess Diana.
The dog stars are shown at right with Smith during an appearance before a screening of The Queen at the Harwich Electric Palace Cinema. Reuters has more:
The Fidos are the brainchild of journalist Toby Rose, who annually awards the Palme Dog at the Cannes Film festival to the finest canine performance on screen.
"I loved those corgis because they were funny," Sunday's Observer quoted Helen Mirren as saying.
"I can understand why the Queen has them. Forget winning an Oscar, I'd be more proud of an award for dog handling."
But the corgis, owned by retired caterer Liz Smith, could face tough competition at the Fidos from a collie mix who appears in "Control," Anton Corbijn's film about the life and early death of Joy Division lead singer Ian Curtis.
Who are the other nominees?
Historical Hound for a dog in a film set in the past:
1. Control, dir: Anton Corbijn
2. The Queen, dir: Stephen Frears
3. Moliere, dir: Laurent Tirard
Comedy Canine for best pooch in a romantic comedy:
1. Year of the Dog, dir: Mike White
2. The Holiday, dir: Nancy Meyers
3. Feast of Love, dir: Robert Benton
Blockbuster Bowser for best achievement in an action film:
1. Shooter, dir: Antoine Fuqua
2. The Savages, dir: Tamara Jenkins
3. Shoot 'em Up, dir: Michael Davis
Cupcake Cinema for dogs in a short film
1. Dog Flap, dir: Jack Herbert
2. Dog Altogether, dir: Paddy Considine
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