10 Questions with R. Lee Fleming, Jr.

Not R. Lee Fleming, Jr.
R. Lee Fleming, Jr., is not Cesar Cedeno, but he asked us to use Cesar's photo when he didn't have any digitized photos of himself on the computer.
On March 9, Miramax is following up their biggest hit of 1999, "She's All That," with the follow-up, "Get Over It." How does a studio top one of the highest grossing teen films of all time? Hire the hottest young actress in Hollywood, Kirsten Dunst, and re-hire the writer of the first film: screenwriter R. Lee Fleming, Jr.

Having to follow up a hugely successful film would seem to be a daunting task, but by all accounts Fleming has succeeded by using the same mixture of sweet romance and belly-laugh humor to craft a story that everyone can relate to. (Add an amorous dog into the mix and you have the makings of another blockbuster!)

Fleming took time out before the opening of the film to discuss his latest work:


TEN QUESTIONS

Crazy Town
This isn't R. Lee, either. But he says he looks like the tattooed guy in Crazy Town. We have no idea which one.
SportsHollywood: Why do you think you connect so well with teenagers?

FLEMING: I don't know. Do I? Maybe it's because I still have a pretty good memory of what it was like to be that age. Then again, maybe it's because I buy them beer.

SportsHollywood: Are your stories related in any way to your own high school experiences?

FLEMING: Sure. "Get Over It" actually began as a script called "Getting Over Allison," which I started writing ten years ago -- not long after my high school girlfriend dumped me. The breakup actually kind of happened like it does in the movie. We were making out on her couch, then she just dropped the bomb. Painful stuff. She's in prison now.

SportsHollywood: After the success of "She's All That" and now "Get Over It," are you planning a teen-years trilogy?

FLEMING: You mean I only get to do three?

SportsHollywood: Why did you choose "A Midsummer Night's Dream" as the play in the film?

FLEMING: Actually, at first we wanted to do "Grease," but I think it was too expensive. Harvey Weinstein has obviously had a lot of success with things Shakespearean, so I was handed a book of plays and given my pick. I chose "Midsummer" because it had elements that roughly mirrored what was going on in the movie.

Dunst
SportsHollywood: Did you know you were writing for Kirsten Dunst, or was the part created before she came onboard? And as a follow-up, did you write the skimpy bikini scene as soon as you found out she was going to play Kelly?

FLEMING: The part of Kelly was first written when Kirsten was, like eight, I think... so no. The skimpy bikini scene was added during production. A different version of the same scene had been shot earlier in a bookstore, but we couldn't figure out how to explain what Kirsten was doing wearing a bikini in there.

SportsHollywood: What are your favorite teen films?

FLEMING: Hmmm... "Breakfast Club, "Some Kind of Wonderful," "Clueless." I know it wasn't technically a "teen" film, but "Caligula" was pretty terrific.

SportsHollywood: Who are your biggest influences as a writer?

FLEMING: Larry and Joel.

SportsHollywood: You get a lot of humor out of a basketball stud trying to study drama in the film: Are you a big basketball fan?

FLEMING: I'm a pretty big Rockets fan. I think Berke was originally a football player in the script. Zack was originally a football player in "She's All That." Unfortunately, football scenes are more expensive to film.

Martin Short
SportsHollywood: How do you write for an improvisational actor like Martin Short? DO you write for an improvisational actor like Martin Short?

FLEMING: You do write for him. He just changes a lot of it. I haven't figured it out, but I'd guess that sixty percent of Martin's lines are improvised. But come on, he's Martin Short! Every once in awhile on the set, I'd catch myself and think, "Ed Grimley is saying my words." Pretty cool.

SportsHollywood: Favorite sports movie:

FLEMING: "The Bad News Bears." Last summer, I got outbid on e-Bay for Tatum O'Neal's uniform from that movie. I was so bummed. I was going to wear it to the premiere.

SportsHollywood: Favorite sport:

FLEMING: Football!

SportsHollywood: Favorite team:

FLEMING: The Houston Texans.

SportsHollywood: Favorite sports moment:

FLEMING: Intercepting a screen pass against Ft. Worth Country Day and running it back 47 yards.

SportsHollywood: Least favorite sports moment:

FLEMING: Getting caught from behind on the same play by the quarterback on the eight yard line.

Martin Short
SportsHollywood: Tell the truth: Would anybody in your school really have called Rachael Lee Cook a nerd, even with the glasses?

FLEMING: Come on, she was heinous! With those glasses and the bohemian clothes and the... art and stuff? I'm making myself nauseous just talking about it!

SportsHollywood: Which would you rather have: A hit film or 200 hits in one season as a Houston Astro (or favorite team)?

FLEMING: Gotta go with the hit film.

SportsHollywood: Oscar or MVP trophy?

FLEMING: MVP.

SportsHollywood: Is there an athlete who you'd like to write a biopic of?

FLEMING: I think Sisqó would make one hell of a Cesar Cedeno.

SportsHollywood: What do you plan to do during the Writers' strike?

FLEMING: Rest, cook, laugh, dance, paint. Cry. Just be me, you know?

Interview by Jeff Hause

Get Over It

Get Over It
Shakespeare meets Sisqó in Get Over It, a new comedy by the people who brought you She's All That. It stars Kirsten Dunst and was written by SportsHollywood subscriber R. Lee Fleming Jr.
  • The Story
  • "Get Over It" Main Page

    Miramax PG-13


    Cesar

    R. Lee Fleming

    ... is not Cesar Cedeno, but he did write "She's All That" and "Get Over It." He was born in Texas, lives in L.A., and is having a GREAT time. In two months he'll be on strike, so forward all food service and retail job offers to SportsHollywood.

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