Ford Shelby Mustang GT500 Breaks into the Movies

By Michael Collins, FCN

DEARBORN - December 6, 2007: Exactly one year after an all-new versionof the Ford Mondeo was introduced to James Bond fans in the movie CasinoRoyale, another Ford vehicle is about to get some major screen time in aholiday blockbuster.

"There is no doubt that the Shelby Mustang GT500 is the costar of thefirst part of this story," said Brian Daly of Ford Global BrandEntertainment (FGBE), which places Ford vehicles in movies, TV and othermedia. "Smith plays the sole survivor of an apocalypse who races around thedeserted, gray, empty streets in this fantastic bright red Mustang. Thesequences are incredible."

And Daly isn't the only one who thinks so. The movie is alreadygenerating buzz on a Los Angeles Times auto blog, where automotive reporterJosh Hancock says, "The shots of the Mustang blasting around totallytraffic-free New York will be the envy of every urban driver. I lost myselfin that dream just with the sound of that car growling through the citystreets."

Daly began talking with Warner Bros. about I Am Legend in the spring of2006. Thanks to a long working relationship with several studio executiveshe was able to get a "first look" at the script.

"The producers knew they wanted an American-made vehicle and the ShelbyMustang was perfect casting," he said. "But I also knew Chrysler and GMwere making pitches. I kept imagining the folks at Camaro piecing togetherall kinds of prototypes to get those scenes."

I Am Legend isn't the first movie version of Richard Matheson's classic1954 science fiction novel to feature a red Ford vehicle. A 1971 adaptationcalled The Omega Man put Charlton Heston behind the wheel of a bright red1970 Ford LTD.

But this time around, it's not just a Ford convertible that gets facetime. Smith also shares scenes with a Ford Expedition and a Ford EscapeHybrid.

"Getting Ford brand vehicles in movies like I Am Legend works in twoways," said Bob Witter, manager, FGBE. "First, producers know that as theaudience recognizes a vehicle they see in real life or have been thinkingabout, the story becomes more relatable. And second, when our products areon-screen they can engage the viewer in a totally different fashion andhelp enhance our commercial and marketing investments."

Ford vehicles had a busy year in the movies in 2007, and many of thesefilms are now in the process of being released on DVD. They include TheKingdom, which featured a Range Rover and starred Jamie Foxx; Dan in RealLife, with a Volvo and Steve Carell; Rush Hour 3, with a Jaguar XK andJackie Chan; and Nancy Drew, which included a Ford Escape and Land RoverLR3 and starred Emma Roberts.

And 2008 is shaping up as another strong year on-screen for Ford. Forexample, slated for release early next year is Nights in Rodanthe, whichpairs Richard Gere with a 2008 Jaguar XK that required some very specialattention.

"They wanted the car to match his hair," said Witter. "We delivered agray Jaguar, but it wasn't the right shade."

To give it just the perfect hue, Witter had the Jaguar XK coated inplastic and repainted. Peel coating is an old ploy in Hollywood, wherespecial colors for vehicles are not unusual requests. Once the project isover, the plastic is removed and the vehicle is back to its originalcondition.

"It's an amazing trick. Once the plastic is peeled off, you can nevertell the car was touched," said Witter. "Eventually those cars are sold atauction. Someone could be out there driving Richard Gere's costar right nowand never even know it."