Trivia / Star Trek: Deep Space Nine S01E16 "If Wishes Were Horses"

• Never Work with Children or Animals: Hana Hatae, playing Molly O'Brien, had to run in the room and exclaim to her parents that Rumpelstiltskin was in the room. On the day that was supposed to be shot, Hana had a cold and was being uncooperative. The director begged her and eventually promised her one of her character's toys if she performed (disregarding whether they could be given away). Hana ended up performing the scene well, which impressed the camera man so much he screwed up the take. To paraphrase the book Deep Space Nine Companion, "the shot was completed in 6-7 takes... and 6-7 toys." Fulfilling the other half of the trope, the emus on the promenade also proved tricky to work with. The producers eventually resorted to putting the birds' trainer in a Bajoran monk costume so he could direct them from within the scene.
• What Could Have Been: Rumpelstiltskin was originally supposed to be a leprechaun. Colm Meaney very firmly said no, undoubtedly thanks to the very stereotypical portrayal of Irish people in "Up The Long Ladder".

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