MEDIA > ARTICLES & INTERVIEWS > 2005

HERTLAND FILM FEST GAINS STAR POWER
from Wish-Tv, October 13, 2005
A taste of Hollywood is coming to the Circle City as the 2005 Heartland Film Festival kicks off. The festival appears to be gaining some star power.
Heartland's opening night premiere takes place at the IMAX Theater with “Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story.” Dakota Fanning, 11, is one of its younger stars who will walk the red carpet Thursday at the premiere.
At the tender age of 11, Dakota is already a scene-stealer. The actress has roughly 19 screen appearances under her belt, often starring opposite big names.
"She just made everybody better. When she shows up for work everyone kind of rises to the occasion. As a minor she only has a certain amount of hours she can work a day, so we all kind of had to focus to be able to let her do the best job she could do given those hours,” said John Gatins, director.
"Kurt [Russell] and I would always count down the minutes until I was done with school and then I'd run out of the trailer and we'd be like going crazy,” said Dakota.
Dakota's resume of actors she's worked alongside is a wish list for many: Sean Penn, Robert De Niro, Denzel Washington, Tom Cruise.
"I think getting to work with all these other wonderful people I just got to learn so much and it helps me in lots of different ways,” said Dakota.
Her latest film, "Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story" has her starring with Kurt Russell.
"I play Kurt Russell's daughter and I'm someone who loves horse and just wants to be around horses all the time,” said Dakota.
“Dreamer" is about a father who, for the love of his daughter, sacrifices almost everything to save the life of an injured racehorse and bring the filly back to her former glory. Her character, Cale, was originally supposed to be cast as the son of Russell.
"My wife and I went to see ‘Man on Fire' and I walked out of the theatre and looked at her and said Dakota Fanning is just exceptional on a level that I just have to chase her and see if I could get her to do this movie and I would rewrite the part for her,” said Gatins.
Dakota isn't all work. She's picked up several hobbies such as knitting and others from roles she has played. "It's fun to do movies where you get to learn something. I learned piano when I did ‘Man on Fire' and I still take piano and I still horseback ride from ‘Dreamer' so it's lifelong things."
Here's what's on tap for the kick-off of the Heartland Film Festival:
Two screenings of “Dreamer" will be at 4:30 and 7:30 pm Thursday. Dakota will be walking the red carpet for the 7:30 premiere.
There's a big gala on Saturday. Patricia Heaton from "Everybody Loves Raymond” and Bill Paxton from the movie "Twister" are just some of the stars coming to town.

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