L.A. Derby Dolls help out on 'Whip It'

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30 (UPI) -- Members of the L.A. Derby Dolls served as consultants, actresses and trainers on the new movie "Whip It," the all-female roller derby league said.

Drew Barrymore's feature film directorial debut co-stars Ellen Page, Kristen Wiig and Juliette Lewis. It is set to open Friday.

Screenwriter Shauna Cross adapted her book from and based much of the film on her experiences with the L.A. Derby Dolls, with whom she skated for three years as "Maggie Mayhem," an original member of the Sirens.

"Whip It" also features appearances by LADD skaters Kristen "Krissy Krash" Adolfi and Rachel "Iron Maiven" Piplica as the silent but deadly Manson Sisters, teammates on Page's character's team, the Hurl Scouts, the league said in a news release.

Adolfi and Piplica are teammates on LADD's Tough Cookies, on whom the film's fictionalized Hurl Scouts are based.

The film's actresses were trained by Alex "Axles of Evil" Cohen, a popular KPCC radio host and LADD skater who also acted as a consultant for the film.

Other trainers for the film include Jennifer "Kasey Bomber" Barbee and Erin "Myna Threat" Smith, both former LADD skaters.