HBO Max Show Used Dead Cats in Dissection Scene, Causing 2 Extras 2 Leave

[BUtterfield 8 40,944]

The forthcoming HBO Max show “Generation” (styled “Genera+ion”)— created by 19-year-old Zelda Barnz and her father Daniel Barnz, and executive produced by Lena Dunham — is touting itself as an ultra-realistic look at high school life. 

Unfortunately, last Thursday, “Generation” took verisimilitude too far. In a scene set in a biology class, the production used actual dead cats for the actors to dissect. 

After being contacted by Variety about both issues, an HBO Max spokesperson issued this statement:

“’Genera+ion’ depicts the unfiltered experiences of high school students and is drawn from many formative moments in the lives of the show’s writers. The production recently filmed scenes depicting a biology classroom assignment involving dissection of animal specimens. These were ethically sourced in consultation with American Humane via a biological supply company that works with schools. Everyone involved was informed in advance that this would be a sensitive scene involving a real dissection; the assistant directors checked in regularly with all participants on set, and two background actors who expressed discomfort were released with full pay. However, after subsequent discussion with the creative team, the scene is being reconceived and will not appear in the series. We deeply regret that this occurred.”

Sources did confirm that a member of the crew had tested positive, and is currently in isolation. The sources said production had learned of the test results after the day had wrapped, contradicting the tweet. Production on “Generation” has been paused as of Thursday, and will resume according to safety guidelines. 

Dunham issued a statement of her own to Variety: “I am committed in my life and work to the principled, humane and ethical treatment of animals. I don’t use animal cadavers in any of my work, ever, and I was not on set or aware that they were used in a recently shot scene depicting a biology classroom assignment. I fully support the scene being edited out of the show.”

Source

[dynamite 50,362]

Azaelia Banks has entered the chat ... Ew

Edit: just realised chat is cat in French  I'm a poet and I don't even know it

[JazzGa 14,514]

What in the hell, nothing about dissecting a fucking KITTEN is part of an "ultra realistic high school experience". Like literally no one has ever had to dissect a kitten in high school. An absolutely ridiculous scene that would certainly repulse most viewers

[NFRatwell 23,290]

2 minutes ago, BUtterfield 8 said:

is touting itself as an ultra-realistic look at high school life. 

So another over dramatic look 

[weed 71,397]

tbh I don't think it's that bad that they used cats but the fact that the actors didn't know is a big issue. For some people that will be traumatizing, and a bad decision on their behalf. 

[NFRatwell 23,290]

2 minutes ago, the Devil of Pop said:

What in the hell, nothing about dissecting a ****ing KITTEN is part of an "ultra realistic high school experience". Like literally no one has ever had to dissect a kitten in high school. An absolutely ridiculous scene that would certainly repulse most viewers

I think my high school dissected cats? I didn’t take that class but I remember people talking about it 

[jsn 1,644]

Cats are dissected in some science and anatomy classes, so that's not that surprising, but what's the point of having background characters do actual dissections rather than just use props??  And the actors definitely should have been notified that they would be working with cats rather than frogs beforehand.

[Killa 15,787]

Lena durham, a 19 yrs old and a parent. 

Can we stop with serious, realistic, raw, it just comes out as empty, vain, superficial, tedious

[YASKALE 448]

4 minutes ago, the Devil of Pop said:

What in the hell, nothing about dissecting a ****ing KITTEN is part of an "ultra realistic high school experience". Like literally no one has ever had to dissect a kitten in high school. An absolutely ridiculous scene that would certainly repulse most viewers

I don't know about your high school experiences but I remember when I was a teen, I knew of students that did, indeed, dissect cats. My parents might have as well. (The largest animal my HS dissected were fetal pigs, but I did not cuz I wasn't in that class.)

To the OP: I respect the extras for not being up to it, it's a lot to handle. Calling it "traumatic" though is frankly… out of touch with nature.

[uo111 5,250]

Why is this news???

 

Did y’all not do dissections in high school? We did pig fetuses and plenty of people did cat fetuses.

[BUtterfield 8 40,944]

Just now, uo111 said:

Did y’all not do dissections in high school?

No wtf

[LateToCult 39,891]

I dissected pigs in high school biology but it was optional. Do other schools not make it optional?

[Runway 27,876]

I like unrealistic shows like Riverdale, Elite and 13RW. "Realistic" is usually code word for edgy, vsco girl type characters

[Shipper 12,905]

We did frogs and not cats. The bad thing was they gave it to us alive. 

[River 106,086]

Isn't it really just an American school thing?

we didn't do it in my school, we just watched some videos and puked