Barrymore gets behind ‘Whip It’

TORONTO (AP) — Drew Barrymore chose a real balancing act for her directing debut. She does it on wheels, directing and acting alongside “Juno” co-star Ellen Page in “Whip It,” a rowdy tale of roller-derby women.

Barrymore had never put on skates before shooting the movie, spending a month alongside cast mates learning the ropes in a roller-derby boot camp.

Her training as a director has been going on for years, since she began producing movies in the 1990s. Her credits include her “Charlie’s Angels” adventures and her Adam Sandler romance, “50 First Dates.”

Once they acquired the rights to roller-derby player Shauna Cross’ book “Whip It,” Barrymore and producing partner Nancy Juvonen began casting about for a director. Before long, Barrymore realized this was the one she had to direct herself.

“I’ve been producing for 15 years, and it’s all been preparing for the big test. I really care so much about what I do, and I love filmmaking so much,” Barrymore, 34, said in an interview at the Toronto International Film Festival, where “Whip It” premiered in advance of its Oct. 2 theatrical release.

“Whip It” stars Page as Texas teen Bliss Cavendar, who follows the path of her mom (Marcia Gay Harden), a former beauty queen overseeing her daughter’s rise on the pageant circuit. On a whim, Bliss tries out for a roller-derby team, discovering she’s a natural skater and soon leading her squad on an underdog quest for the championship. Kristen Wiig, singer Eve and Juliette Lewis co-star.