Back in July, it was reported that Dakota Fanning would go for Oscar gold in her upcoming movie Hounddog where she plays a motherless Elvis loving child of the 50’s. In an article published by Premiere magazine, more details of the movie have come out. There is still a rape scene, she promises to kiss a boy if he drops his pants, sleeps next to a naked man and forces two kids to strip and hug at gunpoint while she wraps a snake around them. But the scene causing the biggest uproar is the rape of Dakota Fanning by an older boy who tempts her with Elvis tickets. The director had this to say about it,
Exactly how I was going to film the rape scene was articulated quite specifically in the script, and her mother, her agent, and her teacher/child welfare worker were all present for the filming of the scene, which was carried out exactly as we discussed it. There was so much I had to hide [during filming]. I had to hid the fact that this girl is not naked. I had to hide the fact that there is not a boy on top of this girl having sex. One of the choices I made as a director is, I shot her face. I didn’t shoot flesh against flesh, his leg touching her leg; I shot her face because I wanted to capture a soul going through this experience, not a body. The assumption that [Dakota] was violated in order to give this performance denies her talent.
The protesters make it sound like she’s going to be raped live on camera. God it’s only pretend rape. I’d be more offended if she WASN’T raped. I think that came out wrong. No, no it didn’t. I bet Roman Polanski wishes he thought of this first.
This girl is fantasic actress no matter what movie she does im sure it will be a hit
as far as the scene talked about come on it,s a movie i trust in that all involved would not let anything really happen to Dakota i really trust that her mom
and her agent and all the cast and crew would not anything happen to Dakota
her mom and agent seem to alway look at Dakota,s best interest
I agree with Craig’s comments. Dakota may only be 12, but she is extremely mature for her age. When she gets a script, she always asks questions about the plot, characters, etc. so I’m sure everything was explained to her about how the scene was going to be filmed. I’m sure her agent and mom also asked a lot of questions and made absolutely sure Dakota knew what she was getting into, or they never would have okayed the project in the first place. I don’t agree with others who said all they were interested in is a possible Oscar.… Read more »
I have to say I think this is the first web site I have found where everyone is not trying to put this off as a disgraceful mistake made by her mother and agent to get an oscar. I for one must say that at 12 I think most get the basic concept of what this movie is about. And can anyone honestly say that didn’t have questions about sex at 12? I think Dakota will fair just fine and the nation may come out for the better. This isn’t the type of thing parents like to discuss with their… Read more »
OK—aside from there being a general crisis in morality here, let me make it clear: child pornography laws in this country make it a felony to depict REAL or SIMULATED acts of sex involving a minor or EVEN anyone simply portraying a minor; it is also a felony in most circumstances for child nudity (barring family baby pictures); and child porn charges don’t even require the child to be naked. The film has a 12 year old girl in bed with a LIVE naked MAN. And you people are OK with this? For the first time in my life, I… Read more »
Correction to 4th para:
The story is contrived and designed to push a left-wing, pedophile-friendly (Consider that Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg believes the age of consent should be reduced to no more than age 12) agenda.
There was some question about that earlier this year, when it was announced that Fanning would be appearing in an untitled movie that will premiere at January’s Sundance Festival. Fanning plays a victim of family child abuse in what is said to be an unnerving rape scene, and it was originally said she would be partly nude. Fanning says that was just wrong information; she is clothed in the scene and says it caused her no trauma. “It’s a character, it’s not me, and I never, ever confuse the two, whether I’m playing someone who is good or bad or… Read more »
All I can say is if its illegal why has it been allowed to make it through editing and to premier. From my understanding there was a DA looking into but has been unable to find grounds to make any charges.
There are no child labor laws in North Carolina where this was filmed. Go to the website and you will see that they tout the fact that children are exempt from any labor laws. THAT is the reason that the DA won’t do anything. Why do you think they go there to film these movies? I am in the film business and I know that the director and producers want to get parents as far away from the set as they can, so all of this nonsense about Dakota’s parents being present for the scene is questionable. I have the… Read more »
Michael G – good post. I agree wholeheartedly. My heart breaks for that poor little girl. What kind of twisted, sick individual would encourage her 12 year old to even be involved in such a thing… real or otherwise? Some role model. Yikes. Poor Dakota has been so brainwashed that she can’t even see how damaging it could/will be to her sexually. It is a disgrace to this Nation that something like that would even be considered for “entertainment”. I am ashamed that there are adults who actually think it is ok to permit this kind of exploitation of a… Read more »
I agree with Michael G ‘s post in entirety with one exception. I do not agree that this is a partisan issue. Get off the wings and ride inside the fussilage with the rest of us. ;) Other than that minor objection, Dakota’s parents and the producers of Hounddog should be indicted for child exploitation which is illegal in North Carolina and also violates federal law. And to Defan; You neglected to mention the mutual masturbation scene and that Dakota’s character is supposed to be 9 years old. It isn’t so much what she was wearing as what she was… Read more »
i think this so call person should be taken to court along with that little girls mother and sent away for letting this happen to a child. who in their right mind would sit there and watch her little girl be raped by a adult male. and think it is just fine .and to take a close up of the girls face when it is happening you have to be one sick person. i believe all should be put away. that girl is a baby yet for gods skes.you sick s.o.b
I have not seen this movie and probably won’t, simply because it’s not my style of film. However, I have to say that, while I’m not surprised at the amount of publicity this film (and especially the rape scene) is getting, I am annoyed at the type of arguments people are laying forth. Yes, Hollywood often tramples over the line of decency. Yes, nude scenes are written for women in order to boost revenue. However, anyone who honestly thinks that this movie was made in order to push some sort of pro-pedophilia agenda is crazy. Child abuse, and especially child… Read more »
This post is for Jeff. I have the script in front of me and I spoke to someone who saw the film last night at Sundance. The concensus is that the rape scene is one of the most disturbing scenes they have seen in film. Not only that, but from people in the audience, the film wasn’t even that good. As for Linda Blair, I know her personally and she did a documentary on E! where she tells of the trauma that she went through LATER in her life due to the things she did in “The Exorcist”. Trying to… Read more »
I love Dakota Fanning and she is such a superb actress that I almost feel to deny her this role is not right. HOWEVER, I am inclined to say I don’t think I can go see this film due to the content. Dakota is only 12 – she shouldn’t even have to know about things such as rape yet. I think her parents and agent could have picture a different role for Dakota as her options have to be many in this industry.
Hollywood loves to explore child abuse, rape and pedophilia, and is ever creative in means to get it on screen. Under the guise of ‘important awareness’; ‘opening dialogue for the silenced victims’, etc. Hollywood has managed to have near toddler non-related, newly acquainted naked boys in tubs with mature women (Birth 2004); pre adolescent teens becoming prostitutes (Taxi), young girls smoking and swilling booze (Paper Moon) and of course Kubricks Lolita whose name alone states the films premise. I’m sure there are many more films that I’m just not aware of. I have to confess, I haven’t seen any of… Read more »
For all the christians and so called church people in here bashing the film hounddog and dakota fannings family here is some words from the bible.You must be warned this is “sick stuff”. Genesis 19 19:32 Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father. 19:33 And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose. 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that… Read more »
You really dont know anything about the Bible, do you? The scriptures cited tell of incest, yes, but , in no way does their inclusion in Genesis suggest the behavior is condoned by God. It is written, rather , to the contrary, that such behavior is SIN. You have to understand ALL of it in order to get ANY of it, my friend
Sandy!!!!!!!
I am on your side 10% about this!!!
Your sooooooo right! The parents are making there kids do everything.
they probaly made it out not to sound that bad, I mean, When your parents tell you something like that is okay and you just a kid, your going to believe it! you know?
As a kid you always think your parents are the smartest truthfull poeple out there!
thats how I always thought about mine.
Sandy, I meant 100%! ^_^
The only problem I have with this film & it’s Director is the straighforward one that here in England, if some adults decided to talk about ‘Rape’ with an underage child (male or female) they could be arrested & charged with ‘indecency’, so, exactly how did this Director discuss the idea of FORCED ‘penis penetration’ of a ‘vagina’ with an underage girl?
If it was my daughter I’d have kicked him into next year!
Sandy: Not all people, kids, etc. go through tough times in their lives. Dakota, can think for herself and while I simply don’t agree with the decision for this film to be shown, its not up to us. Fanning is a smart 13yr old, wise and knows EXACTLY what she was doing. And not to step on toes though I may have to, can I point out a scene, hence another movie that IS good, but disturbing to watch but have heard on a number of sites that it is a lot worse than this scene (With an actress about… Read more »