2001 DVD Production Notes[]
Bring It On screenwriter Jessica Bendinger had been fascinated by the cheerleading world for years, becoming even more so while watching televised cheerleading championships in the mid-'80s.
Director Peyton Reed was intrigued by the script's originality. "It's not just another teen film about guys wanting to get laid, or who's going to be asked to the prom," he notes.
Reed continues, "It was a real challenge to take these characters, who have traditionally been portrayed as airheads or objects of derision, and to make real and likable people out of them. It's an affectionate look at the world of cheerleading, in all its competitive and catty glory."
Kirsten Dunst leads a cast of young, breakout talent as Torrance, the effervescent and eternally-optimistic captain of the Toros. "I've always watched the cheerleaders on ESPN with my friends, and one of them is a cheerleader, so when I heard about this film, I was intrigued," Dunst says.
Eliza Dushku co-stars as Missy, whose gymnastic talents and tart tongue spice up the Toros, while Gabrielle Union plays Isis, dedicated captain of the Toros' cross-town rivals, the Clovers.
Other members of the hip-hop Clovers squad include the popular singing group Blaque. Natina Reed, Shamari Fears and Brandi Williams make their big screen debuts in Bring It On.
Although many think of cheerleading as a female endeavor, the squads in Bring It On are coed.
"As we traveled around doing research," says Reed, "we discovered that coed cheerleading squads in college are the norm - and many high schools are beginning to learn that way as well."
Bring It On began shooting on July 7, 1999 in San Diego, California.
It was important to Reed and to the actors that they be able to perform the difficult routines required by the script, so the cast went through weeks of cheerleading camp where they worked with cheer and dance choreographers and veteran cheerleaders.
Reed explains that each cheerleading squad in the film is composed of 20 individuals, eight actors and 12 actual cheerleaders.
"It was really important to me that the entire squad be in sync and their moves seamless," explains Reed. "Even I am hard-pressed, watching the final film, to tell the actors from the real cheerleaders."
Bendinger intended Bring It On to be humorous but respectful of the characters.
"With any clique in high school, it would be easy to go the high comedy route, to use put-down humor for a quick laugh," explains Bendinger. "But, bottom line - I really have respect for these kids. As corny as that may sound, I think what they do is amazing."