Racer McChaseHer Goes Hollywood

Posted on October 1, 2009

By Holly Hitsville

A large handful of Detroit Derby Girls (DDG) skaters have gone Hollywood.  Perhaps you’ve heard of a little film called Whip It, based off of the book Derby Girl written by Shauna Cross, that was partially filmed right here in Detroit, Rock City?  There’s a DDG skater in just about ever scene; blink and you might miss one.  Our multitalented Racer McChaseHer answers a few of my questions about her Hollywood debut, her other nickname and the acting lessons she’s going to give Juliette Lewis after Nationals.

Most roller derby players skated in Whip It under their chosen skater name.  You didn’t.  Why the name change, Princess Slaya?  How did it make you feel to have a fake skater name, an alias to an alias?

It wasn’t necessarily a name change.  I was cast for the role of Princess Slaya who was a character on the team the Holy Rollers.  There were a few other skaters cast as characters in the movie including Sarah Hipel as Mary Jane Pain and Sass Knuckles as Smother Theresa.I didn’t mind having a fake skater name since there is actually a “real” Princess Slay-ya from the Kansas City Warriors.  I actually met her shortly after I was cast for the role.  She was like, “Hey, you are going to be me?”  It was pretty funny.

Word on the track is that your real nickname is Princess.  Coincidence? How’d you get that nickname?

Not really a coincidence but a funny story nonetheless.  It started back in the Fall of 2007 when we were at WFTDA Nationals in Austin, Texas.  After having the airline hold the plane for me because I was running late (per usual), we had to go back to the airport the next day to pick up my luggage, which obviously didn’t make it on the plane since I barely did myself.  I was on the phone with my dad trying to get him to stop and pick up something before flying to Austin.  Rock Candy looked at me and said, “Are we all just pawns in your game of life, Princess?”  And it stuck!

Some DDG skaters previewed the movie and told me about the scene where Drew Barrymore’s character, Smashley Simpson, passes you and then waves.  Did the producers know that you’re actually a highly ranked speed skater at the national level?  Did you find that scene particularly comical?

Yeah, that was pretty funny.  They told me to skate fast but slow enough to let her pass me.  I tried to fake it the best I could but anyone that knows me at all knows that I wouldn’t have just let her skate by me.

You obviously couldn’t hit in the scenes like you normally do at practice and in bouts.  Did you secretly ever want to lay out one of the actress, just once, to let them know what it actually feels like when your spine cracks from a great hit?

Well…none of them did anything to make me want to hit them that bad.  But when they kept asking the roller derby skaters to hit them harder, we just kind of chuckled and tapped them a little harder.

You coached Juliette Lewis, Iron Maven, on how to be a roller derby captain.  What pointers did you specifically give her?

I just told her that she had to give us a little pep talk and pull the team together for huddles and stuff.  You know, the basic captain stuff.  By the end, she really did become like a captain and would get us drinks and snacks out in the middle of the track in between scenes.  She’s awesome!

I also jokingly told her that if she needed acting lessons, I could probably help her out.  A few of the girls couldn’t believe I said that to her but I just laughed because she knew I was kidding.  When she signed my copy of Derby Girl, she mentioned how maybe she’ll take me up on those acting lessons.  Ha ha!

If you had to give out a Rollie, that’s DDG’s equivalent of an Oscar or Grammy, for The Best Actress Skater, who would you give it to and why?

Ooo…that’s a toughie.  I would probably say Ellen Page because she really got into her derby character, Babe Ruthless.  From the very beginning when she was trying out to the time she makes it on the team to the Championship game, she did the part justice in showcasing what it’s really like to be a derby girl.  Plus, she always wanted to try her stunts herself.  My guess is that if you see her doing a stunt in the movie, it’s really her.

What do you hope the audience gets out of this movie regarding the sport of roller derby?

There are so many people out there that don’t even know that derby is going on in pretty much every major city across the country and everywhere in between.  Once they find out about it, they usually make their way to a bout eventually but I think the movie really helps convey what derby is all about.  Friendship, competition, confidence, and family.

Photos by Colin Johnson.

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