Word for subjecting an animal actor to extreme distress in order to film its "performance" for a film?

Solution 1:

I'd use the word abuse as a verb. Torture is close but it's not really pain that's intended but the appearance of pain, the distress felt by the monkey is almost incidental. I wouldn't argue against the use of the word Torture but I think I'd use Abuse, to speak of directors torturing actors to get the desired performance is common but it's a deliberate exaggeration for effect rather than an accusation of a crime.