Drew Barrymore - as we know, having watched her in films for the past thirty-years or so - is one talented lady. The actress and producer now adds a 'director' section to her curriculum vitae. Clint Morris and Ashley Hillard talk to up-and-coming 'director' Drew Barrymore about "Whip It".
You’re acting, producing and now directing. Sounds like you’ve been pushing yourself and it’s kinda working out for you. I’m trying to. I don’t want to just be comfortable and stick to things I know how to do, because they’re easier. I want to do those where I have to ask myself ‘I really don’t know if I can pull this off or not”. Living in that fear is very motivating – its very unsettling, but it’s very motivating. I chose for my twenties to be about different types of storytelling, and I didn’t want my thirties to emulate my twenties. I needed to know how to get into the fire – the way I felt when I started [my production company] Flower Films, which was just terrifying. I wanted to see if I could get doors and opportunities opened up for me that I had not yet opened up for myself.
The underwater love scene is so wonderful – though improbable – where did you get the idea? Well there was a loss of virginity scene, but having done Juno, I think seeing that scene play out with Ellen would’ve seemed, well, improbable. So I had to come up with something else for the love scene. There’s a great scene – it’s one shot - in Vicki Christina Barcelona where Scarlett Johansson and Javier Bardem are captured making out in this beautiful way, on a hand-held [camera], and it’s just very cinematic and intimate. That was a good place to start. I didn’t want to show them having sex and I also didn’t want to just have them making out, so I decided to do something more unorthodox and playful – which as an actor, I’d rather do anytime.
It’s like a water ballet! [Laughs] It was really fun!
Speaking of, the ‘action’ scenes on the Derby Track were captured beautifully. I was really drawn to the lower-light sort-of box-in-style arena setting… and of course the people. I really wanted to show that this was a city sitting in the bleachers. I really wanted it to make it so that you were right there in the middle of all the action. But I also wanted to do a lot of hand-held shots, so you could cut it in a very traditional way – sort of like a hockey movie. It was hard for me not to choose a sport where you’re like ‘just put the ball over there’ or ‘put the ball in the hoop’ because this is one that’s hard to follow visually. You also have the responsibility of keeping it fun, whilst trying to tell a little story along with each game that furthers the movie along. I just tried to combine all the elements and maintain action and comedy to keep it moving forward.
The movie is also the story of a mother-and-a-daughter. Yes. It’s an irreverent sports comedy, but it’s also a movie about trying to figure it out with your parents – which is something I could really relate to.
Has doing the movie helped you in your relationship with your mother? Not yet [Laughs].
WHIP IT commences Thursday
