New Moon teen stars Fanning and Bright are the most seasoned and controversial

 Cameron Bright, 16, and Dakota Fanning, 15, cast as siblings Alec and Jane in the second flick of the Twilight Saga, New Moon, share more than just being cast as fellow Volturi members.

Of all the cast members, the young actors are among the most high profile, having been cast in prominent roles in movies such as X-Men, Juno, The Butterfly Effect(Bright) and I am Sam, Taken, and Charlotte’s Web (Fanning)Both actors share a darker past as well, however- the result of being a child actor in an adult-themed film. Controversy has plagued each of the child stars.

The 2007 movie, Hounddog, filmed in 2005, featured 12 year old Dakota as a tomboy who attempts to escape reality of her life with a sternly religious grandmother (Piper Laurie) and a brutish, alcoholic father (David Morse) by dreaming of singing with her idol, Elvis Presley.

Dubbed the “Dakota Fanning Rape Movie,” naysayers went as far as to start a petition attempting to both block the release of the film and requesting law enforcement arrest Dakota Fanning’s mother (Joy) and agent (Cindy Osbrink). Their claim suggested that having a 12 year old participate in a rape scene and run around in her underwear was outrageous.

 Dakota dismissed such claims, saying:

“It was gossip, a rumor, like a lot of things about people are. It’s really a beautiful story and I really hope that a lot of people get to see it and I hope that a lot of people learn from it. I had a lot of fun doing it. It’s really no different than playing any other character – I’m still not playing myself. I get to experience different things people go through without going through them myself, which is no different from watching a news story and learning from that. It’s an emotionally moving movie, and I hope people enjoy it.”

RAINN- Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network), the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization applauded the film. Lynn Parrish, RAINN spokesperson, said about the film:

“RAINN applauds the makers of ‘Hounddog’ for shedding light on the issue of sexual assault against our nation’s children, a problem we see every day. It is our hope that the national discussion created by the film will give a voice to young survivors everywhere, encouraging them to come forward despite the hurdles they face.”

Cameron faced a similar controversy for his role in Birth,  sparked by sexual suggestions of he and co-star Nicole Kidman sitting together in a bathtub, both appearing to be naked. About the controversy, USA Today reported: 

Kidman isn’t bothered by talk about being in a tub with a child “because it wasn’t really an intimate scene,” she said. “I believe that the boy is a man, and at no point do I ever think that he’s a genuine boy. 
“I grapple with the idea, and I hope that it’s true, that my dead husband has come back.”
Young Bright isn’t stressed about all the commotion, either. “I don’t really care,” he said. “I can’t wait to see the look on people’s faces because nothing really happens.”

Reports revealed that Cameron was never naked and, in fact both actors wore special clothing not visible to the camera. Aside from a single shot, the actors were not in the same room during the controversial scene.

As seen by the countless New Moon spoiler reports, consider this further proof that things are not always what they seem when translated from studio to big screen. In Hollywood.com’s  most recent interview with vamp Victoria, played by Rachelle LeFevre, she reveals the trick behind creating the famous cliff-diving scene in which Bella gets caught up in a tidal wave while pining for her beloved Edward:

I spent six hours in a pool doing the underwater stuff. They did a really interesting thing where they did this amazing stunt with the bit where Bella gets caught in the tidal wave … I think it must have been 2,000 gallons of water in massive — they looked like huge, rectangular cargo containers you put on the back of trains.

First, they did it with a stunt double, and then they did it with Kristen’s photo double, and then they literally, on action, pulled the hatch and she got pummeled with a massive tidal wave and you could watch underwater, which I did because I was in the pool, or you could watch in the monitor. You could literally see her spinning, they created a tidal wave, and they literally filmed until she got spit out. And when it spit her out, the cut was over.

Assuredly, that scene will look much different on the big screen than described by Rachelle. With tight restrictions for minors, one would assume that great care is taken to ensure the young actors’ safety and innocence. With the countless themes in movies, most of which provide the need for young actors, how far is too far to stretch a young actor?

How do you feel about child actors? Are they plunged into a seedy word without due care, or do they provide a necessary, important role in films that must be filled, even if the role is controversial? If your child insisted, would you allow him/her to pursue an acting career?

Source- examiner.com

Author- Kimberly  Sherman