Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 (2015)

In the scenes where the crane attacks Kevin James, production closed the set to the public. All streets were closed down to traffic. For both scenes involving the crane attacking the actor, production used a puppet to double for the real crane. The most intense action in these scenes was when the crane physically attacks the actor. This was accomplished by using the fake crane that was controlled by puppeteers. When they utilized the live crane for certain shots, it was only for close-ups and when we see the bird run from point A to point B out of the frame. In this instance where we see the crane run outside, there were two trainers giving verbal cues off-camera, instructing the crane to go from point A to point B. The crane was rewarded with food between takes.

In the scene where Kevin James slaps the horse on the rump, and it kicks him, the horse actually never kicked anyone. The kick and the smacking sound of his slap were added in post. There were two trainers for the horse and they were always on set when the horse was on set. The horse was never smacked on the rump by the actor. At best he just lightly touched the horse on one or two takes, pantomiming a slap.

In that same scene when we first see the actress riding the horse towards Kevin James, the trainer walked alongside the horse, but out of frame. The horse had rubber shoes on and the traffic was stopped for safety when the horse was on set. Most of the horse action was standing still as the actress was on its back talking to Kevin James.

During the same sequence when a car drives past the horse, the car was being driven by a trained driver. He was driving very slowly while Kevin James stood on the street in between the car and the horse about four to six feet away.

The scene in the opening with the dolphins jumping out of the water was filmed in the dolphin’s natural habitat, which in this case was a Vegas hotel and their facilities.