"Whip It!": Drew Barrymore-directed roller derby film
08-13-08, 07:24 PM
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"Whip It!": Drew Barrymore-directed roller derby film
Barrymore's directorial debut. Hopefully this will be superior to the films she stars in. Could be fun. Then again, it could be awful. Starring Ellen Page, Marcia Gay Harden, Kristen Wiig, Juliette Lewis and Zoe Bell. Justin Long was in the cast, but he got the boot after his breakup w/ Barrymore.
About.com article from January:
About.com article from January:
Drew Barrymore's appeared in 30+ movies over the course of her three decade-long career, but for the very first time she'll be taking a seat behind the camera as a director. Barrymore is set to helm the comedy movie Whip It with Juno's Ellen Page in the lead role.
Whip It is set in the world of roller derby and was written by Shauna Cross, a woman who knows her way around the rink. Barry Mendel and Barrymore's company Flower Films will be producing Whip It for Mandate Pictures.
Ellen Page will play a Texas girl stuck in a small town who sneaks off to skate in the Austin roller derby league. In a press release announcing the film, Page said, "I really admire how Drew constantly challenges herself as an artist. She's proven herself as an actress and a producer, and I have no doubt she'll bring great vision and creativity to the director's chair. I can't wait to kick ass on wheels!"
Barrymore was quoted as saying, "I’ve been working towards the goal of directing my entire life. Whip It is a story that really spoke to me, I feel like the heart and soul as well as the message is very true to me and yet it still has aspects that will challenge me. I couldn’t be more honored to work with the phenomenal Ellen Page, she’s so incredibly unique, it’s a privilege to get in the ring with her."
Filming is expected to begin in Austin this summer
Whip It is set in the world of roller derby and was written by Shauna Cross, a woman who knows her way around the rink. Barry Mendel and Barrymore's company Flower Films will be producing Whip It for Mandate Pictures.
Ellen Page will play a Texas girl stuck in a small town who sneaks off to skate in the Austin roller derby league. In a press release announcing the film, Page said, "I really admire how Drew constantly challenges herself as an artist. She's proven herself as an actress and a producer, and I have no doubt she'll bring great vision and creativity to the director's chair. I can't wait to kick ass on wheels!"
Barrymore was quoted as saying, "I’ve been working towards the goal of directing my entire life. Whip It is a story that really spoke to me, I feel like the heart and soul as well as the message is very true to me and yet it still has aspects that will challenge me. I couldn’t be more honored to work with the phenomenal Ellen Page, she’s so incredibly unique, it’s a privilege to get in the ring with her."
Filming is expected to begin in Austin this summer
08-14-08, 08:24 AM
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Originally Posted by NoirFan
Justin Long was in the cast, but he got the boot after his breakup w/ Barrymore.
Anyway, she's been in the movie biz for over 25 years. Hopefully she's learned enough about directing to make this interesting.
08-16-08, 12:42 PM
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My wife's a roller girl. We're looking forward to this.
09-04-08, 07:22 PM
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As I type, they are filming this a few blocks from my house. Drew is over there and, I think, Ellen Page. They are filming on the front lawn of a small house in the neighborhood. My wife and I watched for a few minutes and all they did was film a guy pounding a sign into the front lawn and a guy with a fro walking in the front door and yelling, "what the hell is going on here!". Not much but it was kind of fun watching Barrymore walk around the set yelling "Great!" and "Perfect!". 
09-04-08, 07:37 PM
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09-12-08, 12:09 PM
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I just finished working two days as an extra on Whip It. We filmed the beauty pageant scenes on Belle Isle at the Detroit Yacht Club. I was a Pageant Mom
Ellen Page and Marcia Gay Harden were in the scenes together. I had a few places where I should hopefully show up on screen. Me and another girl were picked to walk behind the truck where Ellen and Marcia were arguing in the parking lot. I am also at the first table during the beauty pageant scenes and they filmed a lot of crowd reaction scenes. I also drove my car while some of the skate doubles rolled past me.
I had a blast, it was so much fun! Drew was full of energy and seems like a very thorough director.
Ellen Page seemed very sweet and soft-spoken. There was a funny moment where she flubbed a line and immediately said "Fuck" then quickly apologized. It was cute. Hope it makes it onto the DVD extras.
Ellen Page and Marcia Gay Harden were in the scenes together. I had a few places where I should hopefully show up on screen. Me and another girl were picked to walk behind the truck where Ellen and Marcia were arguing in the parking lot. I am also at the first table during the beauty pageant scenes and they filmed a lot of crowd reaction scenes. I also drove my car while some of the skate doubles rolled past me.
I had a blast, it was so much fun! Drew was full of energy and seems like a very thorough director.
Ellen Page seemed very sweet and soft-spoken. There was a funny moment where she flubbed a line and immediately said "Fuck" then quickly apologized. It was cute. Hope it makes it onto the DVD extras.
09-12-08, 01:27 PM
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Looks like a fun ride. 
Marcia Gay Harden, Drew Barrymore, Jadzia, and Kristen Wiig.
Marcia Gay Harden, Drew Barrymore, Jadzia, and Kristen Wiig.
09-12-08, 02:36 PM
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09-12-08, 02:43 PM
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They are filming some of it here in Ann Arbor.
Some friends and I ran into her at a local diner at 5:30 in the morning. We were still pretty drunk and I thought it was pretty random because before she told us what she was doing in town I had no clue what she was doing here. We've seen her a few times since just partying downtown.
I don't know how excited I am for this movie, though.
Some friends and I ran into her at a local diner at 5:30 in the morning. We were still pretty drunk and I thought it was pretty random because before she told us what she was doing in town I had no clue what she was doing here. We've seen her a few times since just partying downtown.
I don't know how excited I am for this movie, though.
12-01-08, 09:35 PM
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05-01-09, 04:39 PM
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Re: "Whip It!": Drew Barrymore-directed roller derby film
05-02-09, 11:36 AM
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05-02-09, 08:27 PM
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Re: "Whip It!": Drew Barrymore-directed roller derby film
I have doubts for this movie but since it is her directorial debut I'll give it a chance. I LOVE Drew so this should be interesting to see.
07-09-09, 09:28 AM
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07-09-09, 09:37 AM
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Re: "Whip It!": Drew Barrymore-directed roller derby film
Alright maybe not
(she did have the knockers to go with that name, btw), wonder what ridiculous name dogmatica's wife picked.
07-09-09, 05:41 PM
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Re: "Whip It!": Drew Barrymore-directed roller derby film
Guess they are using Michigan for all the non-Austin shots because of tax issues...
There's been a huge debate here in Austin lately about incentives for film production dwindling and a LOT of productions set in Texas are going to Michigan (which can double for rural Texas apparently quite well). Michigan has something like... 15% tax incentive right now for film productions and Austin around 2% or so.
So I'm guessing whereas they would have shot in the surrounding rural areas 5-10 years ago they're saving $$$ shooting up in Michigan ... and shooting whatever establishing shots they need (and perhaps the roller derby scenes? there's a HUGE derby circuit here in Austin, obviously.) here.
There's been a huge debate here in Austin lately about incentives for film production dwindling and a LOT of productions set in Texas are going to Michigan (which can double for rural Texas apparently quite well). Michigan has something like... 15% tax incentive right now for film productions and Austin around 2% or so.
So I'm guessing whereas they would have shot in the surrounding rural areas 5-10 years ago they're saving $$$ shooting up in Michigan ... and shooting whatever establishing shots they need (and perhaps the roller derby scenes? there's a HUGE derby circuit here in Austin, obviously.) here.
07-15-09, 04:51 PM
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Re: "Whip It!": Drew Barrymore-directed roller derby film
I like Ellen Page and Zoe Bell, and I'm all for anything that keeps Drew Barrymore from getting on film.