Shauna Cross

...her excitement about her new gig: director. Barrymore fell for Austin native Shauna Cross' novel "Derby Girl," based on Cross' experiences with the Austin Rollergirls, when she read it in galleys. She signed on to produce but found herself...

In this article: Drew Barrymore, Whip It, Juno, Ellen Page, Dallas, and Banana

...the idea that girls can do what boys do and still be attractive and humorous," she said. Barrymore was inspired by Shauna Cross' book "Derby Girls." "I knew nothing about roller derby, but Shauna had been a skater herself, and I soon got...

In this article: Drew Barrymore, Whip It, Ellen Page, Robert Downey Jr., Juno, Dog, Oscar, and MTV Video Music Awards

...narrative. "Whip It" (written by Shauna Cross, based on her book) is about Bliss Cavendar (Ellen Page of "Juno" -- PG-13, 2007), who is chafing under her mother's (Marcia Gay Harden) insistence that she compete in a beauty pageant. Bliss spies...

In this article: Wild Things, Chris Rock, Maurice Sendak, Anna Faris, Spike Jonze, and Juno

Plus: boys. Barrymore and Shauna Cross (who adapted her own novel) work the formulas for underdog sports flicks and black-sheep teen comedies with great skill but no great innovation, relying on the usual tropes and plot turns. Yet the...

In this article: Whip It, Ellen Page, Drew Barrymore, New Wave, Landon Pigg, Whip It, Zoe Bell, and Andrew Wilson

...something very likable about Whip It and its strong, sometimes goofily sweet female cast." But Barrymore receives special praise in her directing debut. "Drew Barrymore's first go at directing has all the grit and guts of a regulation sports...

In this article: Drew Barrymore, Whip It, All rights reserved, San Francisco Chronicle, Antidepressant, Boston Globe, Los Angeles Times, and Wesley Morris

...naturally fade in and out of the background as characters move from diners to parties. Inspired by the Shauna Cross novel "Derby Girl," Barrymore's film follows Page's Bliss as she discovers a world beyond middle-class suburbia, falling in...

In this article: Whip It, Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Kids, MGMT, No Surprises, and IPod

...Bluebonnet Pageant. Yes, you know exactly where this movie is going. But Barrymore and writer Shauna Cross give us plenty of reason to enjoy the journey, however familiar. "Whip It" is well cast, down to the smallest roles: Eulala Scheel...

In this article: Whip It, Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Kristin Wiig, Marcia Gay Harden, Juno, Seattle Times, and Jimmy Fallon

...Lewis tears it up as their nemesis. Barrymore and writer Shauna Cross (who adapted her novel, "Derby Girl") even have brutish skate sisters, a tribute to the great hockey comedy "Slap Shot." Advertisement As sporty coming-of-age...

In this article: Drew Barrymore, Ellen Page, Whip It, Marcia Gay Harden, Zoe Bell, Kristen Wiig, Barbie, Landon Pigg, and Juliette Lewis

...in this movie." Barrymore was introduced to the modern roller-derby world by Shauna Cross, an L.A. screenwriter who adapted her own novel about her experiences in the Austin derby scene into the script for "Whip It." Barrymore called...

In this article: Drew Barrymore, Whip It, Kristen Wiig, Juno's Ellen Page, Toronto International Film Festival, and Grind House