Indie Feature "Piggy Duster" Finds Heart in the Space Between Childhood and Adulthood

Parenthood and adolescence are hard, but no time is more difficult for both parties than the summer between high school and college. Parents are caught between protecting and letting go and the kids are caught in the limbo of being not a child anymore, but not quite an adult either. Nine times out of ten this causes undeniable tension between both sides, it's easy to see why very few people look back on this time fondly. This pivotal moment in time is captured in the new indie feature, Piggy Duster, a movie that will transport both parent and child back to the most contentious period of their lives.

Piggy Duster centers around a step-father and daughter, Keith and Vivian as they embark on a remote camping trip to spend time together before Vivian goes off to college. After a surprise visit by a curious bear traps them inside their tent, the two are forced to let loose years of emotional baggage and family secrets as they attempt to repair their fractured relationship.

Written and directed by filmmaker, Jesse Stewart, Piggy Duster has already made the rounds at various festivals; winning Audience Choice at the Amarillo Film Festival as well as Visionary Director and Best First Feature at Puerto Aventuras International. It begins streaming exclusively on Apple beginning July 24th.

 Piggy Duster is a very bare bones film, allowing for all of the focus to be placed on the writing and performances of the character. In this case, the two actors carrying this entire film on their backs are Julia Ma and Brian Landis Folkins as Vivian and Keith. Their relationship is the lifeblood of Piggy Duster, the title itself coming from an old western the two used to enjoy together. At first they appear simply as father and daughter but the film rewards you by revealing more and more intimate details as the script progresses. Ma and Folkins both have a great dynamic with each other and you can tell the two really respect each other as actors. Unfortunately, some scenes feel unbalanced with the level of performance being given. Brian Landis Folkins is clearly the more experienced actor and at times it can make Ma look somewhat amateur. Piggy Duster is Julia Ma's first feature film and sadly, it shows during quite a few moments. There are a couple line deliveries where I thought "that definitely could've used another take", but her performance improves as the film progresses. Ma still has room to grow as an actor but with the right scripts I'd say she's in for a bright future.

Ultimately, Folkins and Ma play off each other nicely and they are totally believable assStep-father and daughter. You can really feel the strain in their relationship, the absence of what once was, it's all palpable from the very first scene. The script shines during intimate moments however I think the teen angst dialogue comes off as repetitive and unbelievable. There are three moments when Vivian expresses the same issue with very little change. That being said, as a writer and director Jesse Stewart is off to a very strong start if he can improve on his dialogue.

For a project with a really small budget, not only was the decision for a 2 person cast and largely one location cost effective, it also makes the film stronger. Without relying on A-list casting or flashy VFX as a crutch, Piggy Duster was forced to put all its creative energy into the script. With all this extra pressure, it's incredibly impressive that Jesse Stewart and company were able to put together something that works and works well. That doesn't mean this film isn't strong visually as well, cinematographer Laffey Witbrod did a fantastic job at shooting this film in a way that evokes such peace and nostalgia.

First and foremost Piggy Duster is a film for the parents of the world. Those with older children will find it touching and relatable while parents of young children will get emotional thinking of what's to come. Originally audiences are meant to identify with Vivian but as the story progresses I couldn't help but take Keith's side over and over again. He's a character who has tried time and time again to do right by his child but falls short one too many times. The way their relationship evolves as the script goes on is an absolute masterclass in character building. It's the kind of film that will mean something different to you when you rewatch it than when you first saw it. To the parents and children of the world, make sure you catch Piggy Duster streaming on Apple July 24th for something that'll make you hold one another a little tighter.