Dust Factory, The (3/22/2005)

PG for thematic elements and some scary images

Directed by Eric Small

Starring Hayden Panettiere and Ryan Kelley

The Dust Factory is an adventure about the love and friendship between two teenagers who help each other through a difficult time in their lives.

Ryan (performed by Ryan Kelley) is a boy who loses his father, a tragedy that takes away his desire and ability to speak. But that all changes when one day he is magically transported to a fantasy realm know as The Dust Factory.

In this fantasy world, Ryan meets Melanie (Hayden Panettiere), a young beauty who steals his heart and leads him on an adventure where they develop a strong friendship. But eventually Ryan needs to face his fears and go back to reality.

The film started strong. The performances were good and the story grabbed me right away . . . until the fantasy world. I didn’t buy it. And frankly . . . I was bored.

The film tackled a great subject: confronting your fears. The story was a great parable to teach this lesson, but it won’t hold the interest of its viewers long enough to teach this lesson. The only hope this film has is its performers. Ryan Kelley did a good job, and Hayden Panettiere stole the show.

Hayden isn’t your typical teen actress. 15 year old Hayden has been stealing the show for years now with films such as Joe Somebody, Remember the Titans and Raising Helen. And she hasn’t emerged from the typical Disney channel route like many other young popular actresses of today have. She has earned her spot in Hollywood with strong performances portraying serious roles alongside Oscar winning actors and actresses.

Hayden also hasn’t disappointed parents in today’s world, a place almost completely void of positive role models. I asked Hayden about this pressure- the pressure to be “the bad girl” or “dress like Brittany” on and off camera.

JONATHAN: Some other actresses and musicians have shown up on the cover of Rolling Stone wearing very little or at movie premiers with dresses that ‘shock.’ Some are highly critical of this kind of thing, others defend it. I would think that there’s a line that exists somewhere of ‘what you do and don’t do.’ Where do you draw that line?

HAYDEN: I think everyone has the freedom to wear what they want and do what they want to do. But I think they should consider what everyone else will think. Rolling Stone can be a “sexy magazine.” Personally, I wouldn’t do anything like that. I do draw the line at certain things like, ‘that skirts getting a little too short’ or ‘that top’s getting a little too tiny . . .’

JONATHAN: Sure.

HAYDEN: . . . and the clothes get less and less and when you wear certain things . . . I don’t want to judge anyone—they can wear what they want to wear, but I’m going to wear more conservative clothes or something a little more classy.

JONATHAN: I guess the bottom line is this: As you get, older, more popular and get even more roles, and if you know that your poster is going to be on the walls of little 8 year old girls across the country . . . would that make you think? Is there a responsibility that comes with this? Are you now a mentor?

HAYDEN: Personally, I think so. But for me- dressing raunchy is just not who I am. I am a little scared to say that’s not who I am, because I definitely have a rebellious side along with my more conservative side, but I would never show that through the way I dress. I can be rebellious through other ways than ‘wearing less clothes.’ It doesn’t prove that I’m more rebellious just because I wear less clothes and feel the need to walk around like that.

JONATHAN: What do you want to be known for?

HAYDEN: I’d like to be known as classy.

JONATHAN: What do you NOT want to be known for?

HAYDEN: I don’t want to be known as a party animal, or dressing trashy or . . .

JONATHAN: You want to be remembered for your talents and abilities rather than, “Hey, she’s the one that got caught on video doing . . . whatever!”

HAYDEN: Absolutely.

Catch the rest of this interview on Jonathan’s interview page!
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Conversation Starter
Three Simple Questions (with Answers You May Be Looking for):

1. What are some of the messages or themes you observed in this movie?
2. How do you suppose we—as serious Christ-followers—should react to this movie?
3. How can we move from healthy, Bible-based opinions about this movie to actually living out those opinions?