Bring IT On (film) - Production

Production

Bring It On was produced by Marc Abraham, Thomas Bliss, and Jeff Gittle. It was the debut film of director Peyton Reed. His major concern with the film was pushing the sexual aspects of cheerleading without losing a PG-13 rating. Roger Ebert from the The Chicago Sun-Times argued that this agenda followed a trend of films at the time that watered down material in order to avoid an R rating and increase box office gross.

Prior to auditioning for the film, actors were expected to have a cheer prepared. In order to avoid the use of stunt doubles, Reed required all the actors to undergo a four week cheerleading camp. Reed and Gabrielle Union met numerous times to discuss the best way to approach her character. "I think she was able to find what was cool about that character that in a way I doubt other actresses could have," Reed explained in an interview, "Whenever she's on the screen she has this charisma." When editing the film, Reed and editor Larry Bock watched cheerleading exploition films from the 1970s.

The film included a short glimpse of actual national champions Bishop Blanchet High School Saints (from Seattle) in the scenes at the regional competition and at the nationals.