Sorority Boys (2002)

"There are all different kinds of drag comedies," says Larry Brezner, producer of Touchstone Pictures' hilarious new comedy, "Sorority Boys." "When I read the script, I immediately thought it combined the best elements of 'Animal House' and 'Tootsie,' and I thought that our combination - three chauvinists who get their comeuppance when they hide out as women in a sorority - was loaded with comic potential."

"There's a long comedy tradition of guys running around in dresses," notes Wally Wolodarsky, the director of the film. "I thought it would be fun to slap some women's shoes on a new generation of actors and see if they could walk without breaking an ankle."

The screenplay for "Sorority Boys" was written by Joe Jarvis & Greg Coolidge, two University of Oklahoma alumni who drew on their personal experience with OU's outstanding Greek system. "They're national champs," Coolidge notes. Though not in a fraternity themselves, Coolidge and Jarvis were able to enjoy the benefits of fraternity life through friends. "We didn't have to go to meetings, we didn't get hazed, but we went to the parties, heard every story, learned every handshake," Coolidge remembers. "As we looked back on that, we knew we had an interesting story."

Producer Walter Hamada adds that doesn't mean that only a certain audience will appreciate the film. "The thing about the script that caught me - the thing that made me want to make the movie - was watching the changes the characters go through," he says. "These are guys who clearly have something to learn, and we've found a way to show that without having the characters get preachy or make speeches. But as the boys see how the other half lives... well, anybody can hook into that. It's funny on any level - not just for teenagers, not just for frat boys, but funny for a wide audience."

"This is a comedy that takes a really good look at society's stereotypes," says Melissa Sagemiller, who plays Leah, the head of the D.O.G. sorority. "And not just what you might expect. My character has a lot of preconceived - and incorrect - notions about men; she's angry at them and lashes out at them. Even she can stand to learn a thing or two."

To direct the film, Brezner and Hamada tapped Wally Wolodarsky, a television writer with the energy and comic sensibilities that the film would need. "Wally was a head writer on 'The Simpsons,' and he'd written and directed an independent dark comedy called 'Coldblooded,' which I thought was very good. Ultimately, it was a leap of faith - he has a great sense of humor, he knows the difference between what's funny and what's not, and most importantly, he's very inclusive, encouraging improvisation from his actors. I couldn't be more pleased with the job he's done."

"Since I was 1 0 years old, all I wanted to do was make movies," Wolodarsky notes. "Woody Allen was a big influence. I became a writer because that was how he got into directing. I even took clarinet lessons.

---