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Defamer Hollywood
EXCLUSIVE: Dakota Fanning's 'Diva' Director Sets the Record Straight
Posted by Kyle Buchanan at 5:00 AM on October 15, 2008
As a 14-year-old transitioning to more grown-up roles, child star Dakota Fanning has an important choice to make: Does she want to be a Jodie Foster or a Lindsay Lohan? (Also, lesbian leanings in former child actresses: discuss) We've always pulled for the precocious Fanning, so you can imagine how we felt yesterday when we discovered that Rowan Woods, the director of Dakota's upcoming Winged Creatures, had called out the actress as a tantrum-throwing "diva" whose performance in the film turned out to be a "disaster" that necessitated some judicious editing. Today, Woods got in touch with us to present his side of the story:
I directed Dakota Fanning in WINGED CREATURES.
I am very upset and disappointed on behalf of Dakota that such untruths have spun around the internet in regards to Dakota and WINGED CREATURES and that those opinions be attributed to me. They are not my opinions.
My only WINGED CREATURES interview since completing the movie was this one...
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=642285
Dakota Fanning is an incredible actor and a wonderful person. She is brilliant as Anne in WINGED CREATURES. The climactic scene of the movie is the most difficult scene and she hits it out of the park.
My only advice for people that read such things is: watch the movie, judge for yourself. I am proud to be associated with Dakota's amazing performance.
Cheers,
Rowan Woods
Duly noted, though we think it's important to note that the original article sprung not from an interview granted by Woods but from remarks he supposedly made while speaking at the Australian Directors Guild conference in Sydney. We'd prefer a little more clarification from Woods on that issue, but until it comes, we suppose it's okay to unbury our I Am Sam DVD (not Cat in the Hat, though — that one can stay six feet under).
[Photo Credit: AP]
Previously: Dakota Fanning A Diva From Hell, Claims Her Latest Director
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
Midge
Posted 4:13 AM 15/10/08
Well, he is Australian. So chances are he was drunk at the conference and doesn't remember a thing.
What kind of gift basket do you get for a 14 year old girl? Are the Jonas Brothers involved?
Midge
DarkKnightShyamalan
Posted 3:52 AM 15/10/08
The Big Fanning lobby got to him.
DarkKnightShyamalan
taraniso
Posted 3:35 AM 15/10/08
I dunno, that pic of Dakota speaks volumes....
taraniso
Shumina
Posted 5:29 AM 15/10/08
That pic it pretty rough.
"Uh, Dakota? I like your acting, but you'd better wipe that snotty look off your face before I bounce the back of my hand off of it."
Shumina
Victor Ward
Posted 5:28 AM 15/10/08
Please somebody watch WINGED CREATURES, I will photoshop a picture of Dakota with cocaine if you watch WINGED CREATURES, she'll become a scientologist if you catch her brilliant performance in WINGED CREATURES, I will learn how to appropriately format the title of a film in written English if you watch WINGED CREATURES...
Victor Ward
Juancho
Posted 5:55 AM 15/10/08
I would like a chance to direct a motion picture again. Please forgive my momentary clarity.
Cheers,
Rowan Woods
Juancho
majikthise
Posted 6:56 AM 15/10/08
first, you have a 14-year-old (think hormones, moodiness) WORKING like an ADULT. Then you have an adult director - who should be more circumspect - bad-mouthing said child to the media. she probably DID act like a diva, so what? i give her a big pass on this one, and he should be embarrassed.
majikthise
Lulamaybelle
Posted 6:52 AM 15/10/08
Wait - what's the name of the movie again?!
Lulamaybelle
Losin_it
Posted 8:09 AM 15/10/08
If she acts like a jerk on the set, it doesn't matter if she is 12 or 200. She is getting the big adult payday, isn't she? She should be called out. Not only is there nothing wrong with criticizing a child, it should be encouraged (within reasonable limits). Maybe if Dakota learns some stern lessons before she is 18, she won't go down the path of Lilo, Britney, and about a zillion others like her.
Losin_it
dolemite1975
Posted 9:38 AM 15/10/08
"And don't forget that I directed WINGED CREATURES, which stars Dakota Fanning in WINGED CREATURES, who was not, byt they way, a diva while filming WINGED CREATURES.
Don't forget to watch WINGED CREATURES when it comes out, starring Dakota as Anne in WINGED CREATURES, which I directed, WINGED CREATURES."
@Victor Ward:
dolemite1975
Your Mom
Posted 10:23 AM 15/10/08
FANNING SMASH!!!!!
Your Mom
LLH
Posted 1:28 PM 15/10/08
that picture makes her look like the 40 year old woman she acts like.
LLH
Miss d
Posted 3:10 PM 15/10/08
Jesus - that was such a mis-typed error - but I think you all know where I was going with that....
Miss d
Miss d
Posted 3:09 PM 15/10/08
As for the lesbian undercurrent - when you've had to deal with 50 year old producers flashing their wizzlen tossels in your face, saying "Your mom had to go sign your contract - so suck on this for a while..." - you'd be parting the beef curatins faster than you can say "Former Child Star"...
Miss d
Jeff_Nutz
Posted 7:38 AM 16/10/08
Um, I'm not familiar.
Jeff_Nutz