The film based on Shawna Cross’s novel ‘Derby girl’, Is about a small town teenage girl Bliss Cavendar, played by Ellen Paige who longs to escape her mothers wish to be a pageant queen and joins the women’s roller skating derby.

This début shines light on Drew Barrymore’s intentions as a producer, as she did not use her extensive film connections to make a blockbuster movie.

Her film company ‘Flower Films’ gives you an inkling that much like her personality, the films she is yet to direct and produce will have a hippy, care free, independent vibe. And after seeing Whip It, it’s clear she is coming into her own and set to blossom.

Although Whip It involved big stars such as Juliette Lewis and of course Drew Barrymore, she managed to create a somewhat laid back feel to the movie setting it in a sleepy town and involving what could be called a niche sport.

Laid back in this instance is a good thing as it lacks the usual dose of highly strung teenagers and materialistic needs in what is a coming of age comedy. Instead she scrapped any razzle dazzle to seemingly not overshadow the underlining messages and empathetic humour towards its characters.

Whip It is never too in your face, has an old school indie soundtrack and although the budget was a reported 15 million, this was probably put aside for the well established cast members, which, at the end of the day, got the film recognised.

These elements gave Whip It more of an independent feel, almost as if Ms Barrymore was an unknown independent film maker (with famous friends) who is just starting out. Thus making it effortlessly cool and a refreshing change from the predictable, glossy chick flicks we often see on the big screen.

Proving she is not messing about, Drew Barrymore is getting right back in to the directors chair to direct a modern sequel to the wizard of Oz called Surrender Dorothy which she was originally set to star in.

The story follows the original Dorothy’s great great granddaughter on a similar adventure written by Zach Helm (Stranger than Fiction). This remake is indeed following in the footsteps of recent remakes of old tales like Alice in Wonderland (Tim Burton) and fellow actors Leo Dicaprio’s Red riding hood along with a few more wizard of oz themed projects in the running.

It seems there is a trend of bringing these old favourites back to life and Drew Barrymore has followed suit. There’s no news on the grapevine of how Barrymore plans with this project, so it’s hard to determine how her second shot at directing is going to go.

It really depends whether she’s going to keep going on the same (yellow brick) road producing cool indie flicks which relates to modern day or whether she’s going to click her heels and rope her godfather and special effects wizard, Stephen Spielberg in to lend a helping hand!

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Independent Film Financing And Distribution by Tom Whelan talking about the feature film “The Art of Travel”.

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One of the most exciting talents working in the UK today, London to Brighton director Paul Andrew Williams gives an exclusive interview.

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Freestyle, a micro-budget film: read an inspiring and revealing interview with independent director Kolton Lee on the set of Freestyle, a micro-budget film.

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An excellent interview with the actor Sir Sean Connery speaking frankly about directors Alfred Hitchcock, John Huston, Sidney Lumet and Steven Spielberg.

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Here you will find various independent film-makers discussing how they put together their production and brought it to market. Check back regularly as we search the inner corners of the internet to find the very best in independent interviews.

He speaks openly about gaining rights, funding, casting, distribution, producing, directing and gives a full 360 degree video interview about making his début independent film feature. Truly insightful as Jeffrey educates us all, click play now!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

John August – Writer and Director moderates the expert panel with guest speakers: Eric Steelberg – Cinematographer, Dana E. Glauberman – Editor and Rolfe Kent – Composer.

Directors Close-Up with Jason Reitman discussing the creative collaboration with his team (1 of 5)

Directors Close-Up with Jason Reitman discussing film score with his composer Rolfe Kent (2 of 5)

Directors Close-Up with Jason Reitman discussing pre-production and post-production (3 of 5)

Directors Close-Up with Jason Reitman discussing finding a director’s voice (4 of 5)

Directors Close-Up with Jason Reitman discussing finding a director’s voice (5 of 5)

Film Director David Gordon Green discusses the making of his no-budget independent film masterpiece “George Washington” in this excerpt from No Budget Film School’s Oct. 22, 2006 class. Here he discusses how he shot the film and how he found his crew.