When the
movie American Gangster
opens on Friday, November 2, it will mark the big screen debut
of one of Riverhead Raceway's own Blunderbust drivers. The
movie, which stars Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, includes
Tom Sullivan (aka "Fred") in its cast of extras.
Sullivan responded to an ad in the paper seeking people with
1960s cars, hoping to show off his silver 1966 Chevy Impala SS.
He spent three days in the Bronx shooting various scenes in the
car. "We spent three days doing all kinds of different shots,
and it will probably be about one minute in the movie," Sullivan
joked. "There were a couple of driving shots, but there was a
lot of just sitting in traffic too."
One of the
scenes Sullivan shot involved following a taxi carrying actor
Russell Crowe under some railroad tracks and for approximately
half a mile down the road. Sullivan also got to spend some time
in traffic on side streets in the Bronx, as well as on the
George Washington Bridge. "Some of it was going down a side
street and just sitting in traffic," noted Sullivan. "They
would tell you things like, 'put your arm out the window and
don't look in that direction.' It was fun."
Sullivan is
not the only Blunderbust driver to spend time in front of the
camera, either. Recently, Ron Langdon filmed a television
commercial for Provident Bank. The original concept would have
had Langdon driving one of four racecars, with the bank's
spokesperson - Mrs. P. - also driving one. "We were filming on
Tuesday," Langdon commented, "and they called me the Friday
before and said they didn't need the racecar, but that they had
a different part for me, and I should see if I could bring
anyone else."
Langdon
showed up for the taping, which took place at Riverhead Raceway,
with his nephew Justin. He spent the next seven hours in the
role of a gas man for a racecar, while his nephew acted as a
front tire changer. According to Langdon, it took roughly 60
takes before the producers of the commercial were satisfied.
"It's amazing," he said, "7 hours of filming for about 10
seconds worth of actual commercial time." The commercial is
shown in such areas as Rhode Island.
Langdon
has previous experience as well; he was part of an ESPN2
commercial that was shot in the mid-1990s in the former
Langdon's Automotive shop (which now serves as home to Langdon's
batting cage business). Langdon was an extra in the commercial,
which also had the Riverhead Raceway pace car in it.
Source: Tracy Chirico/LongIslandJam.com
Posted:
October 28, 2007
