Drew Barrymore, in plain and simple terms, is a sweetheart. From her soft yet confident tone of voice to her bubbly personality, the 34-year-old actress is a delight to be around, transmitting her joy to those in her company.
On Sept. 9, she visited the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston to meet with admirers, sign autographs, take pictures, and share her new movie, “Whip It”, with a select group of fans at a special sneak preview and question and answer session.
She spoke with the audience about the film, a comedic and honest look at a young girl (played by Ellen Page) breaking out of the beauty pageant shell her traditional mother (Marcia Gay Harden) has locked her into, and joining an nontraditional roller derby team consisting of unique members played by such actresses as Kristen Wiig, Eve, and Barrymore herself.Throughout the session, the actress offered enthusiastic responses to her fans’ eager questioning, even pausing mid-question to say “Bless You” to one audience member who had sneezed.
The following day, Barrymore, sweet as ever, sat down for a one-on-one interview about “Whip It”, along with the joys and struggles of being a first-time director, her personal cinematic idols, and just how difficult it is to direct and star in a film about such a dangerous sport.
The Eagle Tribune: So why this film for a directorial debut? What makes “Whip It” so unique?
Drew Barrymore: I have been working and dreaming in this world of cinema my whole life. And I, unfortunately, dropped out of school, but it made me become a much more voracious student of life. I just wanted to put everything into this piggy bank, so to speak, and take everything that I had learned and experienced, and hopefully find this venue where I could take the piggy bank and break it on the floor.
When I found this script, it was like I had that moment from “Clueless” where she’s sitting on the fountain and is like, “Wait… I love Josh!” Why am I fighting so passionately for this film? Why am I taking it all so personally? I feel like it was really personal and… perfect.
ET: Were you originally set to just star, and you found yourself loving the script so much that you wanted to direct? Or was this just a directorial project from the beginning, in which you also decided to star?
DB: I always knew that I wanted to direct. I used to hand Steven Spielberg scripts when I was 6 years old, and one of them was called “Kim” and it was about a mother/daughter relationship. So I hooked into that because, I don’t care if you’ve never met your mother, it’s still the most unique relationship you’re going to have.
There were just a lot of things in this movie that I really cared about and I grew up watching these movies by John Hughes or a film called “Breaking Away”. I was like “Thank you for not talking down to me. Thank you for making me feel like my problems are as important as adults, or they seem and feel as big. Thank you for giving me some comedy along the way.” They have these great timeless tones and they treated kids respectfully, and I really loved that.
I was originally producing, yet some of the tones were starting to get really modern, and poppy, and they wanted to give a girl an eating disorder and I was like “Oh God.” I mean, I like a good fart joke better than that. I just felt differently. This is about a mother and a daughter; this is painful and real for this girl. Don’t modernize it; don’t make it tacky and bitter and cheap. And I was going bowling with my friend and I was gripping my ball with fierceness and just… “I love Josh! I have to direct this movie!” And it was then that I started this amazing love affair I have with this film.
ET: Just to mention, I thought your character in the film was really badass. Was it hard to star in a fairly prominent role while also directing the film?
DB: I was so into her. Smashley Simpson, a hippie with anger issues? Like, yeah! And I liked starring in it, and I really wanted to play Smashley because she was my favorite character on the team.
As a director, I don’t work from a monitor, and I don’t want to be watching a movie while I’m making it. Because your human eye can see something that’s going on in a performance that you can’t through that piece of glass in the camera and that weird wire mechanism and whatever is popping out at you. I believe in my heart that something gets lost in that translation, and this magical thing is unveiling itself right in front of you and you should be there to watch it and to not only let it unfold but then also start to play with it, and improvise.
ET: Was it great working with such a diverse group of talent?
DB: I can’t believe I got to work with the caliber of people that I did in this movie, but I feel that everyone was so right for who they were playing. And we just talked about performance, which is important, as is everything.
ET: What was filming the derby scenes like?
DB: It’s scary, I have to admit. Your brain is telling you “I shouldn’t be doing this,” but something in your body when you learn it makes you want to go out there and do it.
ET: Were there any injuries that occurred on the set?
DB: We all had like a “Wall of Bruises” in the makeup trailer that everyone was really proud of. You wear your bruises like badges, and people have like “bruise envy”, which is weird, I know. And even though it was scary and tough, we made it really fun and safe for each other.
And then we started a female fight club one night. That we ended up using in the movie. I threw it into the end credits, and we’re all just punching each other, going for it and having a good time. Girls do act like little boys sometimes, and it’s wonderfully empowering to work with such an incredible group of people.
ET: You’ve essentially been around cinema your entire life. Growing up with such a prominent background in film, did you use any influences from past films or directors when you made your directorial debut with “Whip It”? And do you hope to influence young female directors with this debut?
DB: I’ve loved movies my whole life, and I think it’s a great thing to study, especially if you want to be any type of filmmaker, it’s only going to enable you to do better things. To know other people’s work, you get inspired, you get references, and you see what you don’t like, and learn to stay away from that.
I just think persevere and figure out what type of filmmaker you want to be. Take from your inspirations but don’t imitate them, become your own individual. And I can only hope to encourage young women to get out there and direct; it’s the most phenomenal thing in the world. But you better do your homework or you’re going to be in big trouble.
ET: On the posters for “Whip It”, you’ve chosen the taglines “Be Your Own Hero” and “Find Your Tribe.” How did you transfer those themes into the film?
DB: The thing that I love about derby is that it’s a perfect forum for both of those things. We all have a chance as individuals to make our dreams come true. It’s just so important to empower yourself, whether it’s on the tiniest or the largest scale.
I just think in this world, the thing that makes us the happiest is like the little eclectic group of people that we meet up with at the end of the day. And derby is so understanding of those themes. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it, because you can. I just thought that derby was a really beautiful metaphor, both physically and spiritually for “Go out there and do it”, and it’s just fantastic.
ET: Wrapping things up, how do you feel about the response you received from your fans at the autograph and photo session, and the Q&A at the screening? And why did you make this choice to travel and personally share “Whip It” with your fans? Especially since you don’t see that many celebrities doing things like this regularly.
DB: I hate that word celebrity. I’m an actor. In the ’70s and ’80s, we were called actors, and now we’re called celebrities, and it sucks.
But that’s why I’m here. This film is the most personal thing I’ve ever done in my life, truly. And I think that I usually tend to do things very personally. I believe in being human, I believe in being grateful, I believe in not losing perspective… and I believe in doing an honest day’s work and celebrating at night, when you’re done with that hard day’s work, with your friends.
This is very personal to me, and I wanted to go around the country, and we’re going to several cities, because I want to personally bring it to people instead of going on a talk show in L.A. or New York. I did this with my heart, and I want to show it to everyone with my heart. I think that personal connection is so important in this life. I live for those experiences, so the minute you lose touch with that, goodbye.
Drew Barrymore, in plain and simple terms, is a sweetheart. From her soft yet confident tone of voice to her bubbly personality, the 34-year-old actress is a delight to be around, transmitting her joy to those in her company.
On Sept. 9, she visited the Artists for Humanity Epicenter in Boston to meet with admirers, sign autographs, take pictures, and share her new movie, “Whip It”, with a select group of fans at a special sneak preview and question and answer session.
She spoke with the audience about the film, a comedic and honest look at a young girl (played by Ellen Page) breaking out of the beauty pageant shell her traditional mother (Marcia Gay Harden) has locked her into, and joining an nontraditional roller derby team consisting of unique members played by such actresses as Kristen Wiig, Eve, and Barrymore herself.
Throughout the session, the actress offered enthusiastic responses to her fans’ eager questioning, even pausing mid-question to say “Bless You” to one audience member who had sneezed.
The following day, Barrymore, sweet as ever, sat down for a one-on-one interview about “Whip It”, along with the joys and struggles of being a first-time director, her personal cinematic idols, and just how difficult it is to direct and star in a film about such a dangerous sport.
The Eagle Tribune: So why this film for a directorial debut? What makes “Whip It” so unique?
Drew Barrymore: I have been working and dreaming in this world of cinema my whole life. And I, unfortunately, dropped out of school, but it made me become a much more voracious student of life. I just wanted to put everything into this piggy bank, so to speak, and take everything that I had learned and experienced, and hopefully find this venue where I could take the piggy bank and break it on the floor.
When I found this script, it was like I had that moment from “Clueless” where she’s sitting on the fountain and is like, “Wait… I love Josh!” Why am I fighting so passionately for this film? Why am I taking it all so personally? I feel like it was really personal and… perfect.
ET: Were you originally set to just star, and you found yourself loving the script so much that you wanted to direct? Or was this just a directorial project from the beginning, in which you also decided to star?
DB: I always knew that I wanted to direct. I used to hand Steven Spielberg scripts when I was 6 years old, and one of them was called “Kim” and it was about a mother/daughter relationship. So I hooked into that because, I don’t care if you’ve never met your mother, it’s still the most unique relationship you’re going to have.
There were just a lot of things in this movie that I really cared about and I grew up watching these movies by John Hughes or a film called “Breaking Away”. I was like “Thank you for not talking down to me. Thank you for making me feel like my problems are as important as adults, or they seem and feel as big. Thank you for giving me some comedy along the way.” They have these great timeless tones and they treated kids respectfully, and I really loved that.
I was originally producing, yet some of the tones were starting to get really modern, and poppy, and they wanted to give a girl an eating disorder and I was like “Oh God.” I mean, I like a good fart joke better than that. I just felt differently. This is about a mother and a daughter; this is painful and real for this girl. Don’t modernize it; don’t make it tacky and bitter and cheap. And I was going bowling with my friend and I was gripping my ball with fierceness and just… “I love Josh! I have to direct this movie!” And it was then that I started this amazing love affair I have with this film.
ET: Just to mention, I thought your character in the film was really badass. Was it hard to star in a fairly prominent role while also directing the film?
DB: I was so into her. Smashley Simpson, a hippie with anger issues? Like, yeah! And I liked starring in it, and I really wanted to play Smashley because she was my favorite character on the team.
As a director, I don’t work from a monitor, and I don’t want to be watching a movie while I’m making it. Because your human eye can see something that’s going on in a performance that you can’t through that piece of glass in the camera and that weird wire mechanism and whatever is popping out at you. I believe in my heart that something gets lost in that translation, and this magical thing is unveiling itself right in front of you and you should be there to watch it and to not only let it unfold but then also start to play with it, and improvise.
ET: Was it great working with such a diverse group of talent?
DB: I can’t believe I got to work with the caliber of people that I did in this movie, but I feel that everyone was so right for who they were playing. And we just talked about performance, which is important, as is everything.
ET: What was filming the derby scenes like?
DB: It’s scary, I have to admit. Your brain is telling you “I shouldn’t be doing this,” but something in your body when you learn it makes you want to go out there and do it.
ET: Were there any injuries that occurred on the set?
DB: We all had like a “Wall of Bruises” in the makeup trailer that everyone was really proud of. You wear your bruises like badges, and people have like “bruise envy”, which is weird, I know. And even though it was scary and tough, we made it really fun and safe for each other.
And then we started a female fight club one night. That we ended up using in the movie. I threw it into the end credits, and we’re all just punching each other, going for it and having a good time. Girls do act like little boys sometimes, and it’s wonderfully empowering to work with such an incredible group of people.
ET: You’ve essentially been around cinema your entire life. Growing up with such a prominent background in film, did you use any influences from past films or directors when you made your directorial debut with “Whip It”? And do you hope to influence young female directors with this debut?
DB: I’ve loved movies my whole life, and I think it’s a great thing to study, especially if you want to be any type of filmmaker, it’s only going to enable you to do better things. To know other people’s work, you get inspired, you get references, and you see what you don’t like, and learn to stay away from that.
I just think persevere and figure out what type of filmmaker you want to be. Take from your inspirations but don’t imitate them, become your own individual. And I can only hope to encourage young women to get out there and direct; it’s the most phenomenal thing in the world. But you better do your homework or you’re going to be in big trouble.
ET: On the posters for “Whip It”, you’ve chosen the taglines “Be Your Own Hero” and “Find Your Tribe.” How did you transfer those themes into the film?
DB: The thing that I love about derby is that it’s a perfect forum for both of those things. We all have a chance as individuals to make our dreams come true. It’s just so important to empower yourself, whether it’s on the tiniest or the largest scale.
I just think in this world, the thing that makes us the happiest is like the little eclectic group of people that we meet up with at the end of the day. And derby is so understanding of those themes. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it, because you can. I just thought that derby was a really beautiful metaphor, both physically and spiritually for “Go out there and do it”, and it’s just fantastic.
ET: Wrapping things up, how do you feel about the response you received from your fans at the autograph and photo session, and the Q&A at the screening? And why did you make this choice to travel and personally share “Whip It” with your fans? Especially since you don’t see that many celebrities doing things like this regularly.
DB: I hate that word celebrity. I’m an actor. In the ’70s and ’80s, we were called actors, and now we’re called celebrities, and it sucks.
But that’s why I’m here. This film is the most personal thing I’ve ever done in my life, truly. And I think that I usually tend to do things very personally. I believe in being human, I believe in being grateful, I believe in not losing perspective… and I believe in doing an honest day’s work and celebrating at night, when you’re done with that hard day’s work, with your friends.
This is very personal to me, and I wanted to go around the country, and we’re going to several cities, because I want to personally bring it to people instead of going on a talk show in L.A. or New York. I did this with my heart, and I want to show it to everyone with my heart. I think that personal connection is so important in this life. I live for those experiences, so the minute you lose touch with that, goodbye.
Source: Eagle Tribune
