Finding Her Own Tribe

Director Drew Barrymore

By Stef Piermattei

With her smashing directorial debut Whip It getting rave reviews, superstar Drew Barrymore brought nothing but her signature smile and heartfelt gratitude to Farmington Hills Michigan, September 11, 2009. Barrymore had been touring university campuses and hangouts, spreading the love that was so clearly captured in her full-bodied film. And she wasn’t alone. The red-hot Detroit Derby Girls, fierce as ever, were right by her side showing off killer skates, tattoos and their passion for the sport.

Using ten Michigan locations, the film is fresh, and it really pops. It’s not just another coming of age whine-fest, but a powerful story of finding where you belong and rocking out with it. The characters are raw, the bruises are real and victories are definitely earned.

Michigan Movie Magazine had the pleasure of speaking with Drew Barrymore at the Bonaventure Roller Skating Center, one of her wildly anticipated public appearances where devoted fans swooned.

A haven for skating enthusiasts, this charming vintage rink tasted movie magic. People camped out the night before hoping to meet Drew, and get her autograph.

Whisking along the red carpet, the Detroit Derby Girls relayed their amazing adventure in making a major motion picture, and working with their hero director, Drew Barrymore. “She really tried to grab the essence of roller derby. She really researched this thing. She didn’t just read the book, grab the script and do it. She really fell in love with derby just like I did - just like everybody who plays derby does. I felt like she really tried to keep it genuine to what derby is,” Muffy Mafioso commented. When finding out about casting for Whip It, Muffy was still “fresh meat”, meaning she had not been drafted into a derby team yet and found solace in the instant camaraderie that came with shooting. “We were stuck in a tent for ten hours straight and became fast friends. Being in the movie for me personally helped the transition into the league.”

Drew demonstrated her directorial skills in orchestrating her blend of Hollywood film experience with Michigan’s expansive production services. Black Eyed Skeez, who joined the Detroit Derby in 2005, recalled her day-to-day experience in the rink during filming. “The only thing I can say over and over again is how high the level of respect was out there. We respect the filmmaker’s craft knowing that for sixteen hour long days you have to be all fired up, and the cast was incredible, but at the same time, they really respect what we do after getting jostled around and practicing for weeks and realizing that it’s high intensity, it is full contact and I think that level of respect just made it more fun. Nobody was on a different pedestal, nobody was better than anybody and to this day the Detroit Roller Derby girls are still getting all these great opportunities from it.”

Donning a classic schoolgirl blue and green plaid suit, Drew Barrymore was bubbly as always while hugging and catching up with the Detroit Derby Girls, now lifelong friends. When asked which scenes she looked forward to shooting in Michigan the most, Ms. Barrymore’s eyes widened and she said, “Oh, well I mean I love the derby warehouse. For me that sort of became the heart and soul, but I loved shooting all over the place. I was so grateful that it (Michigan) provided everything I needed in order to make the film that I saw in my head so that’s pretty miraculous.”

drewcover She then headed inside where she had a great time revving up the crowd and gushing about how much it rocks to make movies in Michigan. “Everyone is so cool here!” she shouted over a roaring crowd of skaters. “I’m so lucky that I made my film here. I wanted to make a film that was very personal to me and I was fortunate enough to develop it here. And so I wanted to come back and say my personal “thank you” but now that this movie - that is so meaningful and important for me - is now yours, I hope that you enjoy it because I made it for you. I hope it makes you laugh and I hope you think the derby girls are sexy because I think they are. It has emotionality in it and it’s about the things we go through in life and I really want you to see it. Thank you!”

Being so thrilled to be part of Whip It, the Detroit Derby Girls named Drew Barrymore an honorary lifetime derby girl with a customized jacket and necklace. “This is the coolest jacket ever! I will wear it with such pride. I love to skate, and skating with you guys everyday was a party.” Floating over the crowds skating to disco hits, Barrymore then gave autographs and posed for pictures with people from all over the county who have loved watching her grow up on the silver screen and newer fans that are fired up about her empowering work.

Racer McChaser (Princess Sla’ya on screen), in her fourth season of roller derby, emphasized the importance of getting that real production experience. “It was really interesting to see the inside workings, because I really don’t think anyone knows that until you’re on set and all that type of stuff. It was really cool to be working with the producer and the director, obviously because Drew was in the movie as well as working outside of the movie in that aspect, so it was pretty cool to know that she was involved.”

According to Ms. Barrymore, the pleasure was all hers. “I’m just so grateful that it’s all personal and I got to direct and it’s just been this amazing journey and I was so excited to come back here. I think that our personal connection is so important. There’s that old school side of me where there’s nothing like coming and personally saying thank you - thank you for being here. I’m the grateful one, I promise you.”

This rock solid, girl-powered blast of a flick, will surely continue to turn heads in the industry bringing more and more big names to the Michigan film scene.

Watch the video interview Here