“Snake & Mongoo$e,” the feature film about how drag racing became famous and the rivalry and friendship between the sports’ two biggest stars, blazed into the heart of racing country for a red carpet premiere event that’s brought a part of Hollywood to The Brickyard.
The movie, which stars Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) as “The Snake” and Richard Blake (Dragonball; Evolution) as “The Mongoo$e” and features Noah Wyle, Tim Blake Nelson and Fred Dryer, opened in limited engagement in the U.S. and took Indianapolis by storm with the premiere event benefitting the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
At the premiere were Robin Broidy, producer of the movie, along with her executive producer husband Elliott Broidy and the stars of the film.
A legend in the automotive world, Indianapolis and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway have long been held as one of racing’s most historic sites and played a major role in the real-life rivalry of McEwan and Prudhomme.
“It doesn’t get much bigger for a racing film than to open in Indianapolis,” said Elliott Broidy, a car enthusiast and chairman of Event Solutions Inc. (ESI), a Troy, Mich.-based company that provides world-class logistics for new car introductions and vehicle launch activities. “This city’s history and passion for the sport will elevate ‘Snake & Mongoo$e’ to new heights.”
Elliott Broidy added: “On a personal note: My wife Robin has done an amazing job pulling all of it together. It’s been a tremendous amount of work but it’s really paying off. Robin is amazing,”
The premiere event featured a red carpet walk before the movie, an exclusive screening of the movie and an after-party with Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, Tom “the Mongoo$e” McEwen, Indy-born actor Ashley Hinshaw, who portrays Prudhomme’s wife, Lynn Prudhomme, and Richard Blake, who plays McEwen.
Also attending the film’s screening were LLS executives, as well as ambassadors for LLS.
Courtney Force – NHRA Rookie of the Year for 2012 who races for John Force Racing and Traxxas as a Ford Mustang Funny Car Driver, graciously posed for pictures with her rival, Alexis deJoria who races for Kalitta Motorsports and Tequila Patrón as a Toyota Camry Funny Car driver.
Also attending: NHRA Funny Car Champion for 2012, Fast Jack Beckman who races for Don Schumacher Racing, Valvoline, Maxlife/MTS as a Dodge Charger Funny Car Driver. ”I was on the set with my son during one of the days of filming and as a lymphoma survivor, this film has particular meaning for me.”
Ron Capps, a star on the Funny Car circuit who races for Don Schumacher Racing and Napa Auto Parts as a Dodge Charger Funny Car Driver, and has a cameo in the film playing famous owner/crew chief, Lou Baney, attended the Hollywood Premiere with his family. He says he was floored by the film.
“This was the first time I saw the whole thing and it was great,” said Capps. “The story is so fascinating. From the time I was 16 I was hanging around Snake, then working for him, then driving for him but I learned a lot about him that I didn’t know. The actors and the film really captured how different and how funny they were. The music from the 70s was fantastic and it just was a really fun film to watch.”
History was also made the Hollywood-style red carpet event as the iconic yellow and red haulers and the ‘Cuda and Duster Funny Cars raced by Prudhomme and McEwen were on display together at the Regal Shiloh Crossing Stadium 18 for the second time outside of California in more than 40 years. The cars will also be at the Lucas Oil Raceway during the U.S. Nationals.
The red carpet event was the kickoff to the Chevrolet Performance U. S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway, where the bulk of ticket sales will benefit patients fighting blood cancers.
“This was a fantastic event. I watched as the audience saw the movie for the first time,” said Robin Broidy. “They laughed and they cried. The movie moved them. As a filmmaker I could not be more proud of the movie or my team.
The film, which opens more widely on September 6, is set in the heyday of drag racing and based on a true story. “Snake & Mongoo$e” uncovers for the first time on the big screen the compelling rivalry and breakthrough sports marketing accomplishments of Don “the Snake” Prudhomme and Tom “the Mongoo$e” McEwen—including a Hot Wheels partnership that proved game-changing for all parties.
The film also features Noah Wyle, Tim Blake Nelson, Fred Dwyer, John Heard, Ashley Hinshaw, Ian Ziering, Leonardo Nam, Kim Shaw and Julie Mond.
For more on “Snake and Mongoo$e” or to view the trailer, please visit, http://www.snakeandmongoosemovie.com
About Rhino Films: Rhino Films is an independent film company that originated as a division of the iconoclastic record label, Rhino Records. The company was founded and is headed by producer Stephen Nemeth, who has produced more than 20 films, 2012 Sundance Audience Award-winning “The Surrogate,” starring Academy Award winner Helen Hunt and Academy Award nominee John Hawkes, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “Why Do Fools Fall in Love,” “Dogtown and Z Boys,” “What We Do Is Secret,” “Radio Free Albemuth,” and “You And I.” Nemeth also has extensive experience producing documentaries, including the Academy Award-nominated “War/Dance” and “Fuel,” which won the Audience Award at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, among others.
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SOURCE: Snake and Mongoose Movie
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