Here's an inside look at the techniques that make animal performances feel real.

Director Ben Leenberg and his wife Kari produced the horror film 'Good Boy', which stars their own dog, Indy, and is told entirely from the animal's perspective. The film gained attention after its trailer went viral, leading to a wider release than initially planned. 

The filmmakers overcame challenges such as working with a single, untrained dog by filming over three years and using creative techniques like shooting at the dog's eyeline and editing to convey emotion. The film's unique approach, including having the dog interact naturally with his real owners and leveraging the audience's tendency to project emotions onto dogs, contributed to its success.

How to make hit horror movie starring your dog

Were you even the least bit surprised that the trailer for Good Boy went viral? It's the easiest elevator pitch I've ever heard. A horror movie starring an insanely cute dog, told entirely from that dog's perspective. Look how handsome he is. They're not gonna hurt that dog, right? The trailer got so many views that IFC bumped the movie from limited to wide release, which is pretty unusual for a film starring a relatively unknown actor. But it's one thing to pitch a movie and quite another to make it. So how in the world did Ben Leenberg, director and co-writer of Good Boy, manage to make an entire film starring his own non-theater trained dog? To find out, I knew I needed to speak with an expert, so I went upstairs to ask my own dog, Zemi. How did Ben get his dog Indy to do acting? Should we try and figure it out together? Okay, good boy. There's a couple of movies Ben Leenberg cites as inspirations for his horror flick. Air Bud, of course, but also Rin Tin Tin, The Witch, featuring our favorite little devil black Philip, The Thing, and Poltergeist. But none of these movies are from the dog, sorry, the animals perspective. The animal might be a star, but they're really the supporting character. And there's a very good reason for that. They say don't work with kids or animals for a reason? Animals have a pretty limited window each day where they have the energy and patience to work. Often movies will cast multiple dogs to play one role, not just for energy reasons, but sometimes so that one dog can be the main star, and then another one can be swapped in because they know how to do a few specific tricks. Ben and his wife Kari, who produced the movie, didn't have the luxury of hiring multiple dogs, and they didn't really want to either. So in order to get a 73-minute movie cut together starring just their own dog, they took their time. Specifically, three years. But it's good advice for any independent filmmakers. Know your resources. In this case, they had a very cute dog who's born to be a star, a very small budget, but they did have time and patience to boot. Anyone can make a movie, you just have to be realistic about what kind of movie you can make. The rest comes down to artistry, and Ben made a really important artistic choice as he kicked off filming. You see, the character who's on the eyeline of the camera is usually the one we're focused on, so everything in Good Boy is shot from Indy's level, which makes us connect and relate to him more. Compare this shot of my pup Zemi to this one. This one is from a human perspective, and this one is from a dog's. I know, you're very good at trying to... Throughout the movie, we're at a dog's eyeline, almost never seeing a human above their shoulders. And this actually benefited the production in another way. Ben and Kari were able to act as the body doubles for the lead human characters throughout the film, with dialogue added in after the fact by other actors. This meant that Indy was often acting with his own humans, which is why he seems so comfortable and lovey with the owner character in the movie. He's not pretending to love his human, he just really interacts with him that way, making his performance feel natural in those moments, because it is. As Ben says, I think he's a method actor the way some human actors would only ever dream. Just a quick primer, method acting, more or less, is when actors attempt to literally experience the emotions and mental state of their characters, rather than just imitate those emotions, in order to give an honest, lived-in performance. It's a fairly popular tactic used by some of our greatest and some of our most annoying actors. When you think about it, all dogs are method actors. They don't know what acting is. Zemi has no idea why I'm following him around with a camera, let alone what a camera is. He just is, and always will be, experiencing the true emotions of being a dog. So if you want a natural performance out of a dog, one way to get it is to write in scenes where they would behave that way anyway. There's still one more massively important filmmaking tool used on Good Boy that benefits all actors, no matter how many legs. Editing. Obviously, it starts out fairly simple, with the ability to cut out all of the failed attempts to get the dog to do what's needed for the story. But the biggest assist editing gives Indy is something called the Kuleshov effect. In essence, the Kuleshov effect describes what happens in the audience's imagination when they see two shots in a movie back-to-back. If I show you this shot of Zemi, and then this shot of me, well, he was probably looking at me to see if I had a treat. Now if I show that same shot of Zemi, then a shot of a dark corner, Zemi's face seems more worried, like he's seeing something lurking in the darkness. Zemi's face didn't change. We, the audience, placed that meaning onto him via the power of the edit. There probably are a few other animals we do this with, but humans have a very special relationship with dogs. More than any other animal, we're able to place these emotions onto dogs, because we see them as extensions of ourselves. That's one of the big reasons this movie is able to work, and certainly why the trailer went viral. Because we love dogs. Very, very much. Kudos to Ben, Kari, and their beautiful pup for making such a unique and exciting entry in the catalog of Indy filmmaking. What, I can't make jokes anymore? Come on, I thought about it for like three days. I have to use it. Okay, maybe I'll cut it. I probably won't though. Hey, thanks for watching. If you enjoyed this video, please like and subscribe to see more stuff from Mashable. Until next time on How It Hits. Just lay down. Just lay down, please. I know, I took three years. I know.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced on social media another strike targeting a vessel allegedly connected to narco-trafficking off the coast of Venezuela. CBS News' Reed Cowan reports.

Hegseth announces another strike against vessel off Venezuela coast

Sarah Mullally has been named as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1,400-year history of the role, but her appointment immediately drew criticism from conservative Anglicans mainly based in Africa who oppose women bishops.

Canterbury

Church of England names first female archbishop

Israeli forces have intercepted the last vessel of an aid flotilla headed for Gaza. The convoy was in international waters, prompting accusations that Israel violated maritime law. Protests have been staged in cities around the world.

Middle East Conflict

Israel's interception of Gaza aid flotilla prompts protests

U.S. President Donald Trump said that he is issuing a Sunday evening deadline for Hamas to agree to a U.S. peace proposal, backed by the Israeli government, to end the war in Gaza.

Washington

Trump issues deadline for Hamas to reach ceasefire deal

Prince William opened up on comedian Eugene Levy's Apple travel show, "The Reluctant Traveler," about his wife Kate, his mother, Princess Diana, and changes to the monarchy when he becomes king.

London

Prince William opens up about family, future plans for monarchy

The White House says the first round of mass layoffs resulting from the government shutdown could be announced on Friday. CBS News' Nancy Cordes reports.

Government shutdown mass layoffs could begin today, White House says

One of the two people who died during the Manchester synagogue attack on Thursday was possibly struck by police gunfire, authorities say. CBS News' Imtiaz Tyab reports.

Manchester

One victim likely killed by police during Manchester synagogue attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke at the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, Russia on Thursday (October 2). He fired back at U.S. President Donald Trump's remark calling Russia a "paper tiger", suggesting NATO might be one instead. Putin also warned that if the United States supplied Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine it would trigger a dangerous new escalation.

Sochi

Putin warns U.S. Tomahawk supply to Ukraine would trigger escalation

Ukraine and Russia have carried out another exchange of prisoners of war. About two hundred Ukrainian prisoners released by Russia have arrived in the Chernihiv region near Ukraine’s border with Belarus.

Chernihiv

Ukraine Invasion

Russia, Ukraine exchange 185 prisoners of war in latest swap

Two Jewish men were killed and three other men were seriously injured in a terror attack outside a synagogue in the northern English city of Manchester, authorities said.

Two killed in U.K. terror attack outside synagogue on Yom Kippur

President Trump has declared the U.S. is in an "armed conflict" with drug cartels as the White House calls drug runners "unlawful combatants."

Trump declares U.S. in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels

The head of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Presidential Library has resigned after sources say he resisted a request from the Trump administration to give a sword from the library's collection to King Charles.

Abilene

Eisenhower library head resigns

Two regional jets crashed into each other on the tarmac at New York's LaGuardia Airport when the wing of one aircraft hit the front end of another. One flight attendant was injured.

LaGuardia Airport

Two regional jets collide on tarmac at New York's LaGuardia Airport

Blame was thrown around by all sides on the first day of the shutdown after the White House and Congress failed to agree on a way to keep the U.S. government funded and open. The White House said layoffs to the federal workforce were ‘imminent.’

White House says federal worker layoffs ‘imminent’ after shutdown

Jane Goodall, the British conservationist and researcher renowned for her work with chimpanzees, has died at age 91. The Jane Goodall Institute confirmed her death on Instagram Wednesday, saying she died of natural causes.

Los Angeles

Jane Goodall, chimpanzee researcher and conservationist, dies at 91

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order, promising military action if necessary, to defend Qatar in the face of any future attack. It follows an Israeli strike on Doha last month, targeting a Hamas negotiating team. Qatar called the attack a violation of its sovereignty, prompting Trump to issue the new security assurances to the Gulf nation.

Doha

Trump signs executive order protecting Qatar after Israeli strike

The Israeli military is pressing on with its offensive in Gaza, launching strikes across the territory, as Hamas weighs up its response to the U.S. peace proposal. Debora Patta reports.

Jerusalem

Israel continues Gaza offensive as Hamas weighs U.S. peace deal

The Supreme Court has added another blockbuster case to its new term of cases. The court announced it would hear whether President Trump can legally fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook. Jessica Levinson has more.

Supreme Court to weigh Trump firing of Fed's Lisa Cook

Flash floods in Ukraine's Odesa killed at least nine people, including a family of five trapped in their home as it was engulfed by water, emergency services said on Wednesday (October 1), as torrential rain left hundreds in need of rescue and thousands without power.

Odesa Oblast

Deadly flash floods hit Odesa after downpours in Ukraine's south

Parts of the U.S. government remain closed after Senate votes failed to pass funding. A GOP-backed House bill fell short of the 60-vote threshold, leaving 750,000 federal workers facing furloughs and possible military pay delays.

Government shutdown continues after Senate votes down resolutions

In Afghanistan, concerns are growing after days of virtually no internet connectivity. The blackout has disrupted banking, commerce and aviation. The Taliban denies banning internet services.

Kabul

Afghanistan imposes internet blackout

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Hamas militants have about three or four days to respond to his Gaza peace plan proposal or face the consequences. But Gazans saw little hope in the plan, which was presented to Hamas after Israel had endorsed it as satisfying its war aims.

Hamas under pressure as Trump issues deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to use 'dangerous' U.S. cities as training grounds for the military at a rare meeting of top military officials where he and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took aim at what they called 'woke' military standards.

Trump threatens to train military in U.S. cities

At least 69 people were killed after a 6.9-magnitude earthquake shook the coastal city of Bogo and outlying rural towns in Cebu province in the Philippines, officials said. CBS News foreign correspondent Anna Coren has the latest details.

Cebu

Dozens killed after 6.9-magnitude earthquake shakes Philippines

U.S. President Donald Trump and lawmakers failed to reach a funding deal, causing the government to shut down Wednesday. Tens of thousands of federal workers will be told to stay home – furloughed without pay.

U.S. government shuts down after lawmakers fail to reach funding deal

U.S. President Donald Trump is amping up pressure on Hamas to respond to his 20-point peace plan to end the war in Gaza. He says he wants a response in a matter of days or there will be a ‘very sad end’ to the conflict.

Trump puts pressure on Hamas with deadline on Gaza peace plan

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said there would be no more ‘overbearing rules of engagement’ for the U.S. military while President Donald Trump threatened war on ‘the enemy from within’ at a gathering of top U.S. military commanders.

Hegseth calls for end to ‘politically correct’ U.S. military leadership

European leaders, from Ursula von der Leyen to Emmanuel Macron, have reacted positively to U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Gaza.

EU leaders urge Hamas to accept Trump's Gaza plan 'without delay'

Military leaders have been summoned to Quantico Marine Corps base from all around the world by Defense Secretary Hegseth for a rare, in-person meeting. Democratic lawmakers have raised safety concerns about the military leaders leaving their posts for the well-publicized meeting.

Quantico

Hegseth gathers U.S. military leaders for rare, in-person meeting

Imelda is now a Category 1 hurricane, threatening dangerous weather conditions on the East Coast alongside Hurricane Humberto. CBS News' Rob Marciano has more details.

Breakdown