movies

The lean green skating machine movie “Whip It,” with actress Drew Barrymore in her first directorial role and starring Ellen Page as Bliss Cavender (Babe Ruthless) has cast a spell of sorts on the local film industry.

Based on the Shauna Cross novel “Derby Girl,” the roller derby story sparkles with its theme: Be your own hero.

The question is, will such movies be the heroes that help transform Michigan’s economy? With enough oomph, can movies made here create a whip-it effect on the local film industry, powering up the economy and bringing more and more jobs?