Snake and Mongoo$e, a film that chronicles the coming of age of drag racing via the story of friends, competitors and legends Tom ‘The Mongoo$e’ McEwen and Don ‘The Snake’ Prudhomme, will hold two benefit premieres – in Los Angeles and Indianapolis – to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The premiere are being held in honor of McEwen who lost his son Jamie to leukemia at the height of his racing career.
Mongoo$e and Snake stars Grey’s Anatomy’s Jesse Williams as Prudhomme and Dragonball: Evolution’s Richard Blake as McEwen – and begins rolling out on a platform release on August 9th. Check out the press release, following the jump, for details.
‘Snake & Mongoo$e’ movie looks to supercharge fundraising for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Film chronicling drag racing’s coming of age announces premieres in Los Angeles and Indianapolis to benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and massive contest
(PR NewsChannel) / July 30, 2013 / LOS ANGELES/ In honor of drag racing legend Tom “the Mongoo$e” McEwen, who lost his son Jamie to leukemia at the height of his racing career, the producers of the upcoming feature film “Snake & Mongoo$e” have announced a fundraising campaign to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS).
The “Snake & Mongoo$e” film is a true story about the life and times of McEwen and four-time NHRA World Funny Car Champion and seven-time U.S. Nationals champion Don “the Snake” Prudhomme.
Called the “Snake and Mongoo$e for the Cure,” the campaign will include:
- Two benefit premieres — one on Monday, August 26th at The Egyptian, in Hollywood and one on Thursday, August 29th, at the Regal Shilo Crossing in Indianapolis, just prior the Chevrolet Performance U. S. Nationals at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis with the bulk of ticket sales going to help patients fighting blood cancers;
- LLS logo on a corner of the poster with a “Text-to-Donate” number below; (Click here to view and download the movie poster.)
- Material available about LLS at their Snake and Mongoo$e Movie booth as it tours the country over the next six weeks;
- Promotional material giveaway throughout the United States that include information about how to donate to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society; and,
- A special trailer that highlights this portion of the story for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to share with its constituents.
“It was impossible to make a film about Tom McEwen and not feel a little of the pain he endured when his son lost his battle with Leukemia,” says Robin Broidy, Chair of Entertainment Universe and “Snake & Mongoo$e” producer. “The cancer Tom’s son died from now has an 90% cure rate, thanks, in part, to Tom McEwen’s efforts over many years to bring awareness and funds to help cure it. But there are still more blood cancers out there that need funding for research so we’re extremely happy that we can help the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in its important work.”
Based on a true story set at the heyday of drag racing in the 1960’s and 70’s, “Snake & Mongoo$e” (www.snakeandmongoosemovie.com) uncovers for the first time on the big screen the compelling rivalry and breakthrough sports marketing accomplishments of Don “The Snake” Prudhomme (played by Jesse Williams) and Tom “The Mongoo$e” McEwen (Richard Blake), including a Hot Wheels partnership that proved game-changing for all parties.
(Watch and download the trailer online: http://www.snakeandmongoosemovie.com/)
“We are grateful that the producers of the film, ‘Snake and Mongoo$e,’ are raising funds to help LLS find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients and thereby help save more lives,” said Lisa Stockmon, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of LLS.
Premieres to benefit LLS
The premiere events will feature an exclusive screening of the movie and an after-party with Don “the Snake” Prudhomme, Tom “the Mongoo$e” McEwen and the stars of the film. LLS executives as well as ambassadors for LLS will walk the red carpet at the premieres!
Nationwide contest with NHRA
In addition to the benefit premieres, the “Snake and Mongoo$e” producers and NHRA are announcing a contest that will enable two lucky fans to win either “The Ultimate Hollywood-NHRA Experience in Los Angeles” or “The Ultimate Hollywood and NHRA Experience in Indianapolis.”
The lucky winner of “The Ultimate Hollywood-NHRA Experience in Los Angeles” will receive round trip airfare for two and a two night stay at the world famous W Hotel, two VIP tickets to the Los Angeles benefit screening at The Egyptian Theatre on August 26th and the after-party with NHRA legends, Prudhomme and McEwen as well as the stars of the film, a goodie bag filled with merchandise based on the film, as well as NHRA merchandise and two tickets to the NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series event of their choice.
The lucky winner of “The Ultimate Hollywood-NHRA Experience in Indianapolis” will receive round-trip airfare for two and a 4 night stay in Indianapolis, two VIP tickets to the Thursday, August 29th premiere and the after-party with the legends and stars, a goodie bag and two tickets to the Chevrolet Performance U.S. Nationals from August 28th – September 2nd at Lucas Oil Raceway in Indianapolis.
“Snake and Mongoo$e” stars Jesse Williams (Grey’s Anatomy) as Prudhomme and Richard Blake (Dragonball: Evolution) as McEwen. The film, also featuring Noah Wyle, Tim Blake Nelson, Fred Dryer, John Heard, Ashley Hinshaw, Ian Ziering, Leonardo Nam, Kim Shaw and Julie Mond.
The film was produced by Entertainment Universe in association with Rhino Films and NHRA and will open in select theaters beginning August 9th.
For more information on “Snake and Mongoo$e” or to view the trailer, please visit, www.snakeandmongoosemovie.com
About Entertainment Universe: Robin Broidy formed Entertainment Universe in 2011 to develop, produce, and finance motion pictures and television programming. The company developed 2012 action/thriller “Mayhem” among several other feature projects. Broidy is a longtime entertainment industry attorney and businesswoman who has held positions such as Senior Vice President of International Home Video and Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs/Acquisitions for Twentieth Century Fox.
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.
About Leukemia & Lymphoma Society: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary (nonprofit) health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. Since 1949, LLS has been dedicated to curing leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma while improving the quality of life for patients and their families. The key priority of LLS is to ensure that blood cancer patients live better, longer lives. To make a donation to the Leukemia &Lymphoma Society, please go to: www.lls.org