Director Peter Berg Talks About the Jungle Parrot That Delayed Filming for His New World War II Movie

Director Peter Berg faced many tough moments while making his latest movie, 'The Mosquito Bowl,' but an unexpected animal actor caused his biggest headache on set. The movie is based on a book by Buzz Bissinger and follows four college football players who join the Marines to fight in World War II. The main roles are played by Tom Francis as David Schreiner, Nicholas Galitzine as John McLaughry, Ray Nicholson as Tony Butkovich, and Bill Skarsgård as Bob Baumann.

Jungle Shoot

The production filmed on location in Queensland, Australia, taking viewers from football practice straight into intense battle scenes in the Pacific. Director Peter Berg explained during a Hollywood Q&A that the book mentions a parrot sitting on Tony's shoulder, so the team felt they had to include one. Since finding a local bird in the deep woods was difficult, Berg asked producer Alex Gayner to track one down.

The Parrot Scene

The day before filming, the crew managed to secure a trained bird that arrived with four serious handlers. Ray Nicholson was brought on set, but the handlers took full control of the interaction and ensured no one harmed the bird. The crew had to keep absolute silence, and Berg was not allowed to speak. Despite assurances that the parrot's wings were clipped, the bird flew straight up into a 100-foot tree the second the director yelled action.

Finding the Bird

Berg joked that he feared the media headlines would blame him for losing the rare animal. The escape paused production for a few hours until workers finally coaxed the bird down from the tree. The handlers then tied a string to the animal's leg to keep it secure, and the crew successfully captured the scene. The film is currently playing in theaters and will premiere on Netflix on November 25.

Context

Movies based on true historical accounts often strive to include small, personal details from the original books to stay faithful to the source material. Animal actors on film sets require strict safety protocols and specialized handlers to prevent stress or escape during production. Location shoots in dense forests or jungles frequently present unique logistical hurdles for film crews beyond standard studio work.