Speed Racer

From the Wachowski brothers and producer Joel Silver, creators of the
groundbreaking “The Matrix” trilogy, comes the high-octane family adventure “Speed
Racer.”

Hurtling down the track, careening around, over and through the competition,
Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) is a natural behind the wheel. Born to race cars, Speed is
aggressive, instinctive and, most of all, fearless. His only real competition is the memory
of the brother he idolized—the legendary Rex Racer, whose death in a race has left
behind a legacy that Speed is driven to fulfill.

Speed is loyal to the family racing business, led by his father, Pops Racer (John
Goodman), the designer of Speed’s thundering Mach 5. When Speed turns down a
lucrative and tempting offer from Royalton Industries, he not only infuriates the
company’s maniacal owner (Roger Allam) but uncovers a terrible secret—some of the
biggest races are being fixed by a handful of ruthless tycoons who manipulate the top
drivers to boost profits. If Speed won’t drive for Royalton, Royalton will see to it that
Speed never crosses another finish line.

The only way for Speed to save his family’s business and the sport he loves is to
beat Royalton at his own game. With the support of his family and his loyal girlfriend,
Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed teams with his one-time rival—the mysterious Racer X
(Matthew Fox)—to win the race that had taken his brother’s life: the death-defying,
cross-country rally known as The Crucible.

Yet, the ultimate test of Speed Racer’s true racing grit will be at the pinnacle
event of the World Racing League: the Grand Prix. But standing between Speed and
the checkered flag are the world’s best—and most cutthroat—competitors, fueled by a
million-dollar bounty from Royalton to the driver who takes Speed out once and for all.


“Speed Racer” marks the Wachowski brothers’ first writing/directing collaboration
since “The Matrix” movies. Joel Silver, who previously worked with the Wachowskis on
“The Matrix” movies and “V for Vendetta,” produced the film under his Silver Pictures
banner. Grant Hill, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski are also producers, with
David Lane Seltzer, Michael Lambert and Bruce Berman serving as executive
producers.

The behind-the-scenes creative team includes director of photography David
Tattersall, production designer Owen Paterson, editors Zach Staenberg and Roger
Barton, and costume designer Kym Barrett. The music is by Michael Giacchino. John
Gaeta and Dan Glass are the visual effects supervisors.

“Speed Racer” stars Emile Hirsch (“Into the Wild”) in the title role; Christina Ricci
(“The Opposite of Sex”) as Speed’s girlfriend Trixie; John Goodman (“The Big
Lebowski”) and Oscar winner Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”) as Pops Racer
and Mom Racer; Matthew Fox (TV’s “Lost”) as Racer X; Roger Allam (“The Queen,” “V
for Vendetta”) as Royalton; Paulie Litt (TV’s “Hope & Faith”) as Spritle; Benno Fürmann
(“The Mutant Chronicles”) as Inspector Detector; Hiroyuki Sanada (“The Last Samurai”)
as Mr. Musha; Asian pop superstar Rain, making his American feature film debut, as a
rival driver named Taejo Togokahn; Richard Roundtree (TV’s “Heroes,” “Shaft”) as Ben
Burns; and Kick Gurry (“Daltry Calhoun”) as Sparky.

Based on the classic series created by anime pioneer Tatsuo Yoshida, the live-
action “Speed Racer” showcases the kind of revolutionary visual effects and cutting-
edge storytelling that have become benchmarks of the Wachowski brothers’ films.

“Speed Racer” is a Warner Bros. Pictures presentation, in association with
Village Roadshow Pictures, of a Silver Pictures Production, in association with Anarchos
Productions.

 

Digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX
Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (digital re-mastering) technology, “Speed
Racer: The IMAX Experience” will debut concurrently with the nationwide 35mm release
in conventional theatres.

“Speed Racer” has been rated PG by the MPAA for sequences of action, some
violence and language.

www.speedracerthemovie.com

 

“To me, racing isn’t just a sport—it’s a way of life.”

-Speed Racer
REIGNITING THE MACH 5

Creators of “The Matrix” trilogy, writers/directors/producers Larry and Andy
Wachowski have helped redefine the action film genre with their unique brand of
filmmaking, which blends multi-layered storytelling with groundbreaking visual effects.

Bringing the classic cartoon series “Speed Racer” to the big screen was an
opportunity for the Wachowskis to re-envision an enduring classic and, at the same time,
reach a broader family audience.

“With ‘The Matrix,’ Larry and Andy created a visual style that altered your
consciousness as you watched the movie. You saw things that you could not imagine
happening on film,” says producer Joel Silver. “And with ‘Speed Racer,’ they wanted to
change the way you see movies again. They had a new concept in mind for telling the
story with cars flying along the most spectacular and challenging racetracks—fantastic
action sequences like nothing you’ve ever seen. It’s a new approach to combining CGI
with live action. The brothers love to break the mold; they love to push the envelope.”

Producer Grant Hill offers, “Besides being one of their favorite cartoons growing
up, one of the things that interested the Wachowskis most in adapting ‘Speed Racer’
was the strong family dynamic in the original series. Larry and Andy had a strong desire
to make a family film; they wanted to create a movie their nieces and nephews could
see.”

“They wrote a pure family movie, maintaining the essence of the original
centered on Speed and his family in a completely new adventure,” adds Silver. “‘Speed
Racer’ is for everybody. It’s got great characters, great action beats and, of course,
great visuals.”

The film centers on Speed Racer’s journey to become the best racecar driver in
the World Racing League (WRL). To Speed, the two most important aspects of his life
are car racing and his family. The story positions Speed and his family as one of the last
 

 

independent racing teams facing an increasingly uphill battle against fierce competition
from racers backed by mega-sponsors. The stakes are so high that the outcome of a
major race could determine the fate of a driver or an entire organization.

In creating the racing action, the Wachowskis tapped into their wildest
imaginations to conceive a style of auto racing beyond anything we know. Racecars in
“Speed Racer” are a perfect synergy of form and function, capable of performing gravity-
defying stunts on incredible courses at over 400 mph. Highly customized works of
automotive art, each racecar is wilder than the next and is designed to reflect the
persona of its driver.

The vibrant, candy-colored world of “Speed Racer” is one in which many eras
and styles co-exist, all intersecting in the dominant sport of racing. “You’re seeing
what’s past, present and future in the aesthetic of this film,” says Joel Silver. “The
society is car crazy, and Larry and Andy have been able to come up with designs for
cars that you have never seen before. We’ve seen fancy concept cars in magazines
and movies, but this film takes that to a totally new level. These cars can do anything,
making the races thrilling beyond anything you’ve ever seen.”

Grant Hill offers, “Larry and Andy are always looking for ways to take things to
the next level. We looked at some extreme sports like skateboarding and snowboarding,
which have a very fluid motion, and imagined how racecourses would need to look and
how fast cars would need to go in order for drivers to perform similar aerial maneuvers.”

Of course, no WRL race in “Speed Racer” would be complete without gladiator-
style battle tactics skirting the edge of what’s legal, involving spear hooks, tire shanks
and saw blades. Silver offers, “This vision of an extreme, full-contact motor sport, best
described as an acrobatic blend of martial arts and Formula 1, was dubbed by Larry and
Andy as ‘Car-Fu,’ automotive martial arts.

 

“The original ‘Speed Racer’ series was the Wachowski brothers’ introduction to
Japanese animation,” reveals Silver. “Larry and Andy were fascinated by the stories, the
action and the unique visual style of the series, all of which were so remarkably different
from that of the other cartoons on TV during that time. They went on to become big fans
of ‘Speed Racer,’ as well as of Japanese anime as a whole.”

In fact, fans of “Speed Racer” span multiple generations and many cultures. The
original “Speed Racer” cartoon series was born out of a Japanese manga (comic book)
series, created by anime pioneer Tastuo Yoshida, entitled “Pilot Ace.” In 1967, the


comic evolved into a Japanese television show named “Mach Go Go Go,” followed by
the English-dubbed, American adaptation, “Speed Racer,” six months later.

“Speed Racer” was an instant smash hit across the United States, capturing the
imaginations of young American audiences with its blend of exhilarating car action,
international intrigue, family values, teen romance and irreverent humor. Unlike anything
they had seen before, “Speed Racer” featured the young and determined hero who
triumphed against unscrupulous competitors while racing around the world in his
powerful and ultra sleek Mach 5.

Over 40 years and several television incarnations later, the story of Speed Racer
and his adventures in the Mach 5 has been re-imagined for the big screen by the
Wachowski brothers, employing not only spectacular visual effects and high-flying
action, but also cutting-edge photographic techniques and state-of-the-art computer-
generated imagery.

 

When the main cast of “Speed Racer” arrived at Babelsberg Studios in Berlin, the
Wachowski brothers gave the actors a first look at the world they would be entering,
including paintings, storyboards and artwork, as well as an extended pre-vis (3D
storyboard animation) of a race sequence.

“Watching the pre-vis sequence was humbling,” states Emile Hirsch, who stars in
the title role of Speed Racer. “It was amazing to see how much work had already been
done on this film before we even started shooting. It didn’t feel sci-fi, like ‘The Matrix’
films. It felt more magical. It’s more about colors than darkness.”

“There were 12 actors in the room, and I guarantee you, it’s a rare occasion
when so many actors are in a room together and completely speechless,” recalls
Matthew Fox, who plays Racer X. “Everyone was looking at each other, completely
blown away. It was pretty exciting. There are very few times in life when you’re part of a
project that is endeavoring to do something that’s never been done before, and this was
one of those times.”

THE RACER FAMILY, FRIENDS AND FOES

There are two elements at the center of “Speed Racer”—racing and the Racer
family, both of which are deeply intertwined. “Speed’s family eats, drinks, and breathes
car racing. After all, their last name is Racer,” smiles Emile Hirsch. “They work together
as a unit. It’s all about teamwork and doing the right thing. I think that’s what makes the
heart of the story appealing—everyone gets to participate in the adventure.”


The Racer family home is an idyllic suburban single-family house, where Pops
Racer builds racecars in the garage and their pride and joy, the Mach 5, is the
centerpiece of the living room. Mom Racer is the backbone of the Racer household,
providing comfort, support, and advice, not to mention delicious baked goods. Speed’s
wisecracking younger brother, Spritle, and their family pet chimpanzee, Chim-Chim,
have their own ways for staying close to the action by hitching rides in the trunk of
Speed’s Mach 5 or hiding in unexpected places. Speed’s faithful girlfriend, Trixie, shows
her dedication to the Racer family on, off and even above the track from her pink
helicopter. Sparky provides dependable service to Racer Motors as Pops’ trusty
mechanic.

For the title role, Hirsch held the pole position in the minds of filmmakers
throughout an exhaustive casting process that spanned three continents and involved
hundreds of actors. “I couldn’t believe it when I got the part,” Hirsch states. “I used to
watch the ‘Speed Racer’ cartoon at home in the mornings while eating my cereal. I’ve
watched every episode. I’m also a huge fan of ‘The Matrix’ trilogy, so I am really excited
to be in a movie directed by Larry and Andy.”

“When we first met Emile, we knew that he had the right look, youthful appeal
and talent necessary to play Speed Racer,” Joel Silver offers. “At the time, ‘Into the
Wild’ had not even come out, but we also felt strongly about his ability to carry the lead
role in our movie.”

Christina Ricci plays Trixie, Speed’s number-one crush, who has been his friend
and fan since grade school. Smart, stylish and strong-willed, Trixie can be found
cheering for Speed in the grandstand or helping him navigate treacherous racecourses
from her helicopter.

“Trixie is my kind of girl,” says Ricci. “She’s always up for adventure and does
everything the boys do without the film commenting on the fact she’s a girl. She does all
these things—strategizes with Speed, flies a helicopter and even does kung fu—but she
has a special super cute ensemble for each activity. Trixie is a tomboy and girly girl all
at the same time, which makes her really fun.”

Never one to discount the significance of personal style, Ricci recalls, “When I
went in for my meeting with the Wachowskis, I was intimidated to meet them because I
had been such a big fan of theirs for so long. I was a bit shy and couldn’t really speak,
but then I looked down and saw that we were all wearing the same black Chuck Taylor
Converse sneakers and I knew then that everything was going to be alright.”


Another steadfast supporter in Speed’s world is Mom Racer, played by Susan
Sarandon. The Oscar-winning actress was attracted to the project by the Wachowskis’
story, which emphasizes the importance of a cohesive family unit. “I liked the idea that
the Racer family lives in a timeless little pod, where they still sit down together to have
dinner every night,” she says. “Mom Racer is the glue that holds everybody together.”

“Mom Racer is definitely the rock of the Racer family,” adds John Goodman, who
stars as the head of the Racer family in the role of Pops Racer. “She’s the one
everybody goes to with problems.”

Pops Racer is a brilliant car designer and engineer who builds Speed’s racecars,
just as he had Rex Racer’s cars before him. “He’s been building cars since Speed was
an infant,” says Goodman. Staunchly independent and driven more by passion for the
sport than profit, “Pops is extremely wary of Royalton’s offer,” Goodman adds. “He
hopes that Speed will turn it down, but he’s willing to let Speed decide for himself.”

Goodman, who also grew up watching the “Speed Racer” cartoon series on TV,
recalls, “I had never seen anything like ‘Speed Racer’ when it first came out, so I
watched it all the time. When I heard that the Wachowskis were shooting a live-action
version, I jumped at the chance be a part of it.”

While Emile Hirsch, John Goodman and the Wachowski brothers enjoyed the
“Speed Racer” television series as kids, Matthew Fox, who plays the mysterious Racer
X, had a notably different experience. “I grew up on a farm in Wyoming without a
television, so I missed out on watching ‘Speed Racer’ as a kid.” Fox nevertheless did
his homework prior to his first meeting with the Wachowskis. “I did some research on
the cartoon series before I met with Larry and Andy, and when I saw how Racer X was
portrayed in the original show, I became even more eager to play the role.”

Fox did share some common ground with the Wachowskis, noting, “One of the
first things they said to me about their goal with this project was that they wanted to
make a movie their nieces and nephews could really enjoy. I have a ten-year-old
daughter and a five-and-a-half-year-old son, so knowing that my kids will see me as
Racer X in this movie is tremendously exciting.” On the role of Racer X, Fox states,
“This is not a guy that’s walking around in disguise because he wants to. He’s operating
at a really deep level of intelligence gathering and working with a secret law enforcement
organization to stop corruption in racing. The stakes are life-and-death for a lot of
people, which require his true identity remain concealed.”


Doing their own share of inconspicuous intelligence gathering are the offbeat
dynamic duo of Spritle, the youngest member of the Racer family, and his pet
chimpanzee, Chim-Chim. The two are always looking for adventure, but are usually left
behind by the adults, so they get creative in finding ways to join the fun, such as stowing
away in the trunk of Speed’s Mach 5.

“Spritle is a mischievous little boy who wants to be like the grownups,” says actor
Paulie Litt, who plays Spritle. “Everybody underestimates him. They wanna protect him
because he’s just a child, but what they don’t know is that even though he’s small, he’s
mighty. He’s chock-full of knowledge about racing and cars and wants to be part of
everything, so he finds ways to avoid being left out. If he had his way, he’d be in the
trunk of the Mach 5 for every race.”

Only 11 years old during production, Litt won the role of Spritle over 250 other
young hopefuls. “It was every kid’s dream,” Litt states. “I got to be on a movie set in
Germany for the summer and I got to hang out with a chimpanzee all day. How cool is
that?”

Chim-Chim was actually played by two chimps named Willy and Kenzie. “There
were really only two or three chimps in the world with the training to fit the role,” says
animal coordinator Sled Reynolds. Willy, who was three years old and had the benefit of
advanced training, was the lead chimp, while the younger Kenzie, at two, served as
Willy’s understudy and stand-in.

Since Spritle and Chim-Chim are never far apart onscreen, it was important that
they develop a bond. The process of building a relationship between Litt and the
chimpanzees took place over the course of eight weeks. “Paulie spent two or three
hours a day with Willy and Kenzie and gradually developed a rapport with them. He was
very respectful of the chimps and became a natural with them,” Reynolds remarks.

“I’m a big animal person, so I had a blast working with Willy and Kenzie,” Litt
attests. “They’re so lovable and intelligent, and they had very different personalities and
facial features, just like you and me.”

Recognizing Speed Racer as a real up-and-comer—and potential threat to his
dominance of the sport—billionaire tycoon E.P. Arnold Royalton, founder of the
multinational corporation Royalton Industries, offers Speed a lucrative sponsorship deal
that will give him access to Royalton’s state-of-the-art equipment and training facilities.

“Royalton offers Speed the deal of a lifetime, but with strings attached,” says
Hirsch. “He must choose between driving for Royalton for lots of money and continuing


to race as an independent against the most powerfully backed drivers on the circuit.
When Speed declines Royalton’s offer, Royalton threatens Speed, telling him that all of
the races are fixed and that he will never win another race without Royalton. From that
moment on, Speed sets out to prove Royalton wrong and to protect the sport that he
loves.”

For the role of the greed-driven founder of Royalton Industries, the Wachowskis
sought the talents of acclaimed British actor Roger Allam, with whom they had
previously worked on “V for Vendetta.” Allam offers, “It’s great to work with Larry and
Andy once again. The brothers are very relaxed on set and work great in tandem.”

Allam describes Royalton as “a self-made man. He’s not from a wealthy
background as one might assume for someone in his position. He is someone who
started out as an ambitious businessman who has worked hard for his success and, in
doing so, created a vast industrial empire. He is powerful to an extent where he thinks
he can influence the outcome of every race.”

Royalton’s latest plot involves manipulating two competing families on the WRL
circuit: Musha Motors and Togokahn Motors. The head of Musha Motors, Mr. Musha, is
played by acclaimed Japanese actor Hiroyuki Sanada.

“Mr. Musha is a pure businessman,” remarks Sanada. “He has wanted to control
his main rival, Togokahn Motors, for a long time. Royalton knows this and offers to
deliver Togokahn to Musha in exchange for Musha Motors’ transponder foundry. This
deal will allow Musha to dominate his competition and allow Royalton to corner the
transponder market.”

Sanada grew up watching the original Japanese version of “Mach Go Go Go” in
his native Japan. “I can still remember the opening song. ‘Speed Racer’ made history
for Japanese animation in the United States and the Wachowski brothers are always
making history with their films, so I am very happy to be a part of this movie.”

Making history in his own right is Korean pop sensation Rain, who was recently
named one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Most Influential People. Rain makes his
American feature debut in “Speed Racer” as Taejo Togokahn, the lead driver and heir
apparent of Togokahn Motors.

“I think people are going to be blown away by Rain in this film. He has a great
presence onscreen that just commands your attention,” Silver states.

Rain’s character Taejo is forced to defend his family name when they are
threatened by Royalton’s plot. “Togokahn Motors has been in Taejo’s family for five


generations,” notes Rain. “Racing in the WRL has changed a great deal over the
generations since Taejo’s family started the business. There used to be a certain
nobility about the sport and the drivers, but now everything seems to be about image,
branding and profits. Like Speed, my character is out to protect the family business.”

Hot on the tracks of Royalton’s plot to take over Togokahn Motors is Inspector
Detector, played by German actor Benno Fürmann. “Inspector Detector has been
investigating corruption in the World Racing League for many years,” Fürmann states.
“Now he is teamed with Racer X and they are getting close to uncovering Royalton’s
scheme, but they need the help of Speed Racer to make it happen.”

Completing the main cast in “Speed Racer” are Australian actor Kick Gurry, who
plays Sparky, Racer Motors’ indispensable gearhead and a member of the extended
Racer family; and Richard Roundtree, who plays Ben Burns, a legendary WRL racer and
former champion of the Grand Prix.

Fans of the original series may remember Speed’s longtime nemeses Snake
Oiler, Cruncher Block and the Gray Ghost—played by Christian Oliver, John Benfield
and Moritz Bleibtreu, respectively. The Wachowskis have also introduced new rivals,
including Jack “Cannonball” Taylor, one of the most celebrated drivers in the WRL circuit
and star member of Royalton’s team, played by Ralph Herforth; Prince Kabala, a driver
whose car is completely encrusted in precious jewels and worth an estimated $22
million, played by Ashley Walters; Delila, leader of the Flying Foxes Freight team, whose
devious racing tactics may deflate Speed’s chances of finishing a race, played by Jana
Pallaske; and Grand Prix competitor Kellie “Gearbox” Kalinkov, played by Venezuelan-
born Indy-car driver Milka Duno.

Though the process of assembling the internationally diverse cast of “Speed
Racer” was no easy feat, producer Grant Hill offers, “I think Larry and Andy did a
wonderful job populating the world of ‘Speed Racer.’ It was cool to hear so many
different languages being used on set, and an international project like ‘Speed Racer’
deserves a truly international cast.”

“We really had an amazingly diverse cast, but everyone fit their roles perfectly,”
agrees Joel Silver. “And it was great to watch the dynamic between Susan and John
with the younger actors like Emile and Christina and Paulie. They really did become like
a family on the set.”


THE CARS, THE RACETRACKS AND THE BIRTH OF “CAR-FU”

Speed Racer’s thundering Mach 5 is perhaps one of the world’s most
recognizable cars onscreen. Its aggressive profile, complemented by a glossy, white
finish with a red ‘M’ emblazoned across the hood, is firmly etched in the minds of “Speed
Racer” fans around the world. While the updated design of the Mach 5 could have gone
in a number of directions, “we eventually came back to a semi-retro look with very sleek
lines,” says production designer Owen Paterson.

“After exploring several possibilities, Larry and Andy looked at the original Mach
5’s iconic profile and decided to retain the essence of the original because its look is
truly timeless and unique,” says Joel Silver.

While the Mach 5 will always be the car most closely associated with Speed
Racer in the minds of diehard fans, the Wachowskis upped the ante by introducing a
new generation of the Mach series—the Mach 6.

“As can be expected with Larry and Andy, they also wanted to break new ground
here,” says Paterson. “For the Mach 6, which is used strictly for track racing in the
World Racing League, we went for a very bold-yet-refined profile, and maintained the
color scheme and overall ‘M’ shape of the Mach 5.”

Furthermore, “Larry and Andy coined a term to describe the Mach 6 and cars in
its class in the film,” continues the production designer. “They called these types of cars
‘T180s’ for their ability to turn their wheels 180 degrees and drift across banks sideways,
generating several Gs of lateral acceleration.”

Paterson and his team began work nearly a year in advance of principal
photography to create more than 100 individual car designs. “In our world we have
architects, but in the world of ‘Speed Racer’ people hire ‘carchitects’ to custom build their
vehicles,” Paterson states.

“We brought together some of the most talented artists in the field, from
storyboard artists to top designers within the automotive industry. We wanted to have
fun with them and let everyone bounce ideas off of one another,” says Hill.

Once the car designs were approved, they were modeled and painted in a digital
environment. Additionally, Speed’s Mach 5 and Racer X’s Shooting Star were physically
constructed in full-scale for use in certain scenes. And while you could sit in the cockpit
of each car, these full-size replicas weren’t actually going anywhere as no power trains
were installed. All of the high-flying, hard-hitting car action in the film was rendered
digitally with CGI.


The filmmakers initially contemplated the possibility of shooting race sequences
in the film using real cars on practical racetracks. However, Paterson notes, “Given the
style of our cars and the high-impact action that we wanted to achieve, it made much
more sense to create it digitally.”

“At the speeds they’re driving and with the combative techniques they use, there
are a lot of precarious moments on the track,” says visual effects supervisor Dan Glass.
“It’s an extremely dangerous-looking sport, but no one gets seriously hurt, because
we’ve developed a special device that protects the driver.”

Visual effects supervisor John Gaeta adds, “Larry and Andy came up with a
safety feature they call ‘Kwiksave Foam,’ which is like a big rubber ball that inflates
around the driver to protect them in the event of a crash. This is standard equipment on
all of the cars that compete in the World Racing League.”

As impressive as the cars are, they needed an equally dramatic place to show off
their moves. “The Wachowski brothers’ first directive was, ‘Our racetracks should be a
cross between a giant ski slalom and a skateboard park,’” recalls Paterson.

“Larry and Andy felt strongly about making sure that each of the races looked
very different from each other,” says Silver. “Since we have the freedom to build tracks
and backgrounds digitally, we really put our imaginations into overdrive. You’re going to
see things that are fantastic and thrilling; the races will keep you on the edge of your
seat.”

Four racetracks were created, each with unique characteristics. Not only do the
racetracks feature gut-challenging loop-the-loops, winding spirals and breathtaking
jumps, but they also take place against exotic-looking environs.

Speed Racer’s hometown track is Thunderhead, where his late brother, Rex, still
holds the track record. While Thunderhead is a world-class track, it is not one of the
majors on the WRL circuit. Paterson notes, “Thunderhead is a track that’s definitely
seen better days. Still, it holds a special place in Speed’s heart because of Rex Racer’s
legacy. It has all of the excitement our other tracks bring, including spirals, banks,
butterflies and giant drops.”

The second track in “Speed Racer,” the Fuji Helexicon, a big-league track on the
WRL circuit, is set on a tropical archipelago against a backdrop of natural volcanoes and
ultramodern buildings inspired by the designs of internationally renowned architects.
The track weaves in and out of the atoll and over the glittering sea with awe-inspiring
twists and turns.


The Casa Cristo 5000 is the death-defying road rally race where Rex Racer lost
his life. This perilous course, so dangerous that it has been nicknamed “The Crucible,”
spans several continents and crosses every imaginable terrain. Drivers must endure
extreme climates, from the blistering desert heat in the Zunubian Desert to the narrow
Glacier Cliffs and icy Maltese Ice Caves. One wrong turn could send a driver
plummeting thousands of feet to his or her demise. Though the WRL has made an effort
to clean up the style of racing in this event, underhanded driving tricks, including spear
hooks, tire shanks and catapults, make the Casa Cristo 5000 the most brutal test of
endurance in “Speed Racer.”

“The Casa Cristo 5000 is the most treacherous cross-country race in the world,
and competitors will use whatever means to get ahead,” Paterson explains. “We
developed what I called the Roman chariot kind of racing, where we have big swords
coming out of the cars and shields to protect the wheels.”

There is intense pressure to win the Casa Cristo 5000 because the champion will
gain entry to compete in the most highly regarded event in the WRL, the Grand Prix. A
victory at the Grand Prix will not only garner fame and fortune for the winner, but also
make him or her an instant legend in the World Racing League.

“Imagine an event bigger than the Daytona 500, the Indy 500 and the World Cup
combined,” says Joel Silver. “The WRL’s Grand Prix is this event in the world of ‘Speed
Racer.’”

“The Grand Prix racecourse is built right into the city of Cosmopolis,” Paterson
states. “It’s enormous. It is a fantastical high-rise track with giant dips, loops and
butterfly turns that enable the cars to accelerate at breakneck speeds.”

The inspiration for the design and setting of the Grand Prix comes from the
Wachowski brothers, “who grew up in Chicago and had always enjoyed the idea of being
able to watch a baseball game at Wrigley Field from the rooftops of its surrounding
buildings,” Paterson continues. “They had this idea that we could take whole
skyscrapers and turn them into grandstands. As a result, the city itself became a
grandstand for the biggest race of the year.”

Another feature of the Grand Prix racetrack was a visual illusion added by the
Wachowskis to pay homage to Eadweard Muybridge, a 19th-century photographer
known for pioneering instantaneous motion picture capture with multiple cameras, the
principles of which were an influence in the development of creating the “Bullet time”
effect in “The Matrix.”


Along one straightaway of the Grand Prix racetrack, the filmmakers placed a
series of zebra images along the wall in the background, and as Speed Racer and his
racing competitors accelerate across the screen, the combined set of images viewed in
rapid succession simulate the effect of the zebra running in motion, akin to Muybridge’s
series of photographs known as “The Horse in Motion.”

“We love to give nods to our inspirations, and so the zebra zoetrope is essentially
a wink to the inspiration of ‘Bullet time’ in a literal sense,” says Gaeta. “We planted a lot
of illusions in the backgrounds of this film, and among them is this homage to
Muybridgean photography in the veil of an advertisement on the Grand Prix track.”

Meticulous attention was also paid to covering the many camera angles required
to capture each actor’s close-ups and reactions during the fast-paced action sequences
in “Speed Racer.” While the exterior of the cars were composed digitally, full-size
cockpits—replete with steering wheels, gas and brake pedals and back-lit instrument
panels—were fabricated and mounted on hydraulically powered gimbals controlled by a
virtual-reality driving program to simulate vehicle dynamics of actual racecars.

Second unit director James McTeigue, director of “V for Vendetta,” worked with
his team to shoot the film’s four major racing sequences, staged against a 200 x 40-foot
green screen. The gimbals were designed to simulate the movement of the various cars
in each race as they made their way around the tracks. The powerful, hydraulically
operated platform enabled the cockpits to move in a three-dimensional space, precisely
mimicking a driver’s commands over a custom-designed track.

“The gimbals’ base is controlled by software that ties the movement of the car
cockpit to the pre-visualized scene. We also threw in live elements like wind to help the
actors feel as though they were actually driving instead of being driven,” says Owen
Paterson.

From an actor’s perspective, Rain offers, “Riding the gimbal was pretty intense.
It’s probably the closest thing I’ll come to driving a Formula 1 car, but much less
dangerous.”

“Working with a gimbal was a fun, new challenge for me,” recalls Emile Hirsch.
“You really get thrown around in there, so you don’t have to pretend like you’re being
tossed around in a scene. It’s more realistic than pretending to drive something
stationary.”

Matthew Fox adds, “The gimbal is wild and requires a good amount of focus. It’s
important for the action to look convincing, since the racing in ‘Speed Racer’ is a full



contact sport. James and his team had total control of the gimbal and they adjusted the
levels and manipulated that thing however they wanted. I was always telling them to
‘Crank it up!’”

THE HYPER-STYLIZED WORLD OF “SPEED RACER”

Speed’s quest for racing glory takes him around the world, from the Thunderhead
racetrack in his hometown to the multi-continent Casa Cristo 5000 road rally to the
Grand Prix in Cosmopolis. To create the varied settings and action sequences, the
Wachowskis called on the expertise of some of the most innovative designers, visual
effects artists and digital photographers in the field, many of whom they’d worked with in
the past. The directors handed the critical task of overseeing the creation of the film’s
2000-plus visual effects shots to visual effects supervisors Dan Glass and Oscar winner
John Gaeta.

“We wanted to have locations from around the world that would normally be
impossible to shoot, like exotic foreign cities, arid deserts or icy mountain roads,”
explains Owen Paterson. “Places where most directors wish to shoot but couldn’t
because it’s either too remote or can’t accommodate a film crew. Instead, the decision
was made to take the best of those rare and exotic locations and ‘virtualize’ them,
allowing the visual effects department to incorporate them into scenes.”

The final imagery in “Speed Racer” was created using actors against green
screens joined with high-definition digital image captures of far-reaching locations,
including Italy, Morocco, Austria, Turkey and Death Valley. These images were
captured by a small camera team using ultrahigh resolution digital still cameras and later
pieced together to create 360-degree panoramic backgrounds known as QuickTime
Virtual Reality (QTVR) spheres, also informally referred to by the “Speed Racer” team as
“bubble photography.”

Dan Glass notes, “Because the bubble photography unit is made up of only a few
people and requires considerably less equipment than a full-scale production team, we
were able to use exotic locations that typically don’t give access to large film crews.”

“The idea is to get freer and freer with our creative process,” offers Gaeta.
“When the images captured were tiled together, it created a panoramic view in which
you could put the camera where you want in postproduction, and see what you want to
see at pretty much any focal length. We expanded on our ‘Bullet time’ concept from


‘The Matrix’ with ‘Racer time,’ which is similar to ‘Bullet time’ but includes attention to
planes of depth.”

The Wachowskis were the first filmmakers to utilize Sony’s F-23 HD camera,
which had not yet been released to the public when principal photography began.

“We used the first five F-23 cameras that Sony made, and the cameras
performed beautifully,” says director of photography David Tatersall, who had worked on
“Star Wars: Episodes II and III,” both shot in HD. “This was a perfect choice for the look
that Larry and Andy were aiming for. We composed our shots to look very sharp, super
saturated and very glossy.”

“We pushed the colors beyond the usual limits to produce what we called ‘poptimistic’
or ‘techno-color’ imagery,” adds Glass.

To render the film’s myriad of visual effects shots, the Wachowskis achieved
what they called a “live-action anime look” using a visual-layering technique that allows
the foreground, mid-ground and background to stay in focus, much like that of traditional
2D animation. This technique came to be called by the filmmakers “2½D technology.”
Glass explains, “In the film, each layer—the foregrounds, mid-grounds and
backgrounds—were created separately. The way these planes move against one
another has a quality we’ve all grown up seeing in cartoons; it’s like a second language
to children.” Intentionally striving for emotion over realism and blurring lines of
perspective, for instance, was quite liberating for the visual effects team. “We’re playing
against perspective and creating images that deliberately break the rules.”

“Anime is such an expressive format,” states Gaeta. “In the cartoon series,
which was of course hand drawn, there are unrealistic perspectives deliberately created
to spark emotions. It’s less about what’s real and more about what the artist wants you
to feel. Translating this into live action involved a process that is, in the simplest terms,
like creating moving collages.”

While many of the sets and locations in “Speed Racer” were virtual versions of
the locations or computer generated, a handful of practical sets were also built.
Production designer Owen Paterson describes the world of “Speed Racer” as “taking
place in a fusion retro-futuristic era, a parallel reality where the optimism and fashion of
the 1960s is juxtaposed with the hyper-competitiveness and technology of the future.
Larry and Andy didn’t want the world of ‘Speed Racer’ to be confined to a specific era.”

Two contrasting milieus are presented in “Speed Racer”: one that the Racer
family inhabits, which is safe and suburban, and another that is sleek, ultramodern and


overrun by corporate advertising. “The Racer family lives in an uncomplicated suburban

landscape where the colors are warm, bright and very saturated,” says Paterson. “We

did a lot of the concept work in Los Angeles and were influenced by the mid-century

modern style of homes there.”

In contrast, Royalton Industries is based in the ultramodern city of Cosmopolis, a

colder reality that is lit artificially by outdoor billboards and corporate logos. Paterson

states, “We’ve taken the skyline of a bustling, modern city like Shanghai or Hong Kong,

both architecturally and from an advertising sense, and then applied that to the very

multinational conglomerate-driven world run by Royalton. It’s global branding and

marketing on steroids.” Inside, Royalton’s office is a spacious but sterile environment,

largely silver grey, but accented with shades of purple to convey a sense of power,

wealth and extravagance.

As the Racer family is the heart of the film’s story, so too was the Racer family

house the heart of the production’s shoot. It was on this set that many of the film’s most

endearing family moments unfolded. Additionally, unlike a typical suburban home, the

focal point of the Racer family living room was the Mach 5, parked right in the middle of

house.

Coordination between Owen Paterson and costume designer Kym Barrett was

essential. Says Barrett, “All the characters have a color palette: Pops and Mom are red

and green, respectively; Speed wears blue and white. To set off those costume colors,

we used a lot of orange, turquoise and fuchsia pink in the house. We tied it all together

with red floors, ‘Racer Red’ as we called it.” For sequences shot against green screen,

Barrett had to find alternative color schemes as anything green would disappear

onscreen.

“In my first meeting with Larry and Andy, they told me they wanted rich primary
colors,” continues Barrett. “Instead of getting into too many specifics right away, they
started the process by describing their concept of creating a live-action cartoon for all
ages. Once that was established, they left me to my own devices.”

In referencing the original cartoon, Barrett found a stylized pop Americana of the
1960s, in which her Racer family costumes would find their root. Barrett used primary
colored fabrics, at times patterned, to achieve a retro-futuristic look. Speed Racer’s outfit
in the cartoon series remained the same in every episode: the trademark blue polo shirt
with white collar, white trousers and tan racing gloves, as well as a red kerchief and red
socks. When initially creating the “Mach Go Go Go” hero in the 1960s, Tatsuo Yoshida


was inspired by Elvis Presley’s look in “Viva Las Vegas.” Barrett took creative license to
update the appearance of Speed, but gave a nod to the original series by outfitting Emile
Hirsch in Speed’s classic outfit for the Casa Cristo 5000 rally race.

Trixie’s color palette was candy-colored pink, matching her zippy helicopter and
spirited personality. “I loved my outfits,” says Christina Ricci. “My character’s very girly,
but also a little bit of a tomboy.”

Barrett had Spritle and Chim-Chim in mind when she approached Los Angeles-
based designer Paul Frank, whose monkey face graphic graces the wildly popular line of
apparel and accessories for children and adults. Frank invited Barrett to visit his
company’s warehouse, where she found the famous monkey-faced pajamas and thought
they’d be perfect for Spritle.

Barrett recalls, “As Paul and I talked, we thought, ‘Why not give Chim-Chim the
same pajamas but in reverse?’ So Paul agreed to design a graphic of a boy’s face for us,
from which we created Chim-Chim’s pajamas. Everyone got a kick out of them.”

For the look of the various racecar drivers, including Snake Oiler and Gray
Ghost, Barrett aimed to create outfits that reflected the established car designs. “Since
the cars were designed in advance, I sat down with Owen and discussed the motifs,
colors and textures for each driver,” explains Barrett. Snake Oiler’s scaly, rock star-
inspired costume and the Norseman-inspired attire of the Thor-Axine Inc. team were
Barrett’s personal favorites. “I was fortunate because many of the drivers were stunt men
who were game for anything and not worried about looking silly. We had a great time
with the costumes.”

To design and handcraft the leather racing jumpsuits used in the film, Barrett
sought the help of two skilled leather makers from London with whom she had worked on
“Eragon,” Patrick Whitaker and Keir Malem.

For Racer X, says Barrett, “We wanted to retain the Masked Racer’s imposing
physical presence from the cartoon. Racer X is a superhero, but not the caped kind, so
we came up with a look that combines the essence of a superhero and motorbike racer.
We decided to create a leather suit that was more everyday, one you could walk around
in that didn’t need a lot of maintenance, and didn’t feel as though it was pulled out only to
fight crime.”

“One of the first things Larry and Andy said after giving me the part was, ‘The
suit’s gonna be pretty tight,’ which was probably their way of saying, ‘Get in shape,’”
laughs Matthew Fox.


Once on set, the leather jumpsuit presented a unique physical challenge for Fox.
“The suit heats up really fast. I was only able to do short takes at a time during the fight
sequences before I had to cool off.”

By far the most challenging fight scene was staged on the set created for an
overnight pit stop during the Casa Cristo 5000 road race. Ninjas hired by Royalton’s fixer
Cruncher Block invade the hotel rooms of Speed Racer and Racer X for a late night
assassination attempt.

“The fight sequence involving Racer X, Speed and the ninjas was a lot of fun to
create,” says supervising stunt coordinator Chad Stahelski. “The tone for each of the
fights was decidedly different. The ninja that fights Racer X is pretty serious, so he gives
Racer X a run for his money, but the ninja that fights Speed is actually more of a ‘nonja,’
because we wanted it to be a little more comedic.”

“When Racer X throws a punch you can expect some bone crunching,” asserts
Fox. “His blocks are very efficient and have a real rhythm to them.” Fox enjoyed the
benefit of extensive martial arts training prior to working on “Speed Racer.” “I’ve
practiced Tae Kwon Do for a couple of years and competed in tournaments in the past,
so the martial arts stunts in this movie gave me a chance to revisit those techniques.”

However, training for fight sequences was a new experience for Emile Hirsch.

“Working with the stunt team was pretty challenging. I mastered a little bit of Kung Fu

and really enjoyed it. I liked learning the different sequences, and came to appreciate

how much commitment and focus it takes to be a good stuntman.”

“We gave Emile the basic building blocks for becoming a stuntman. He is a fast

learner,” adds Stahelski. “Speed Racer” marks Stahelski’s fifth collaboration with the

Wachowskis, having worked on all three “The Matrix” films and “V for Vendetta.”

“The brothers love working with the same people over and over,” comments Joel

Silver about the Wachowski brothers’ repeated collaborations with such behind-the


scenes artists as Owen Paterson, John Gaeta, Dan Glass and Kym Barrett. “It gives

them a familiar shorthand, which is key on any film set and especially on a project of this

scope.”

On his first experience working with the Wachowskis, Hirsch offers, “I had no

idea that they would be so funny. You see ‘The Matrix’ trilogy and think, ‘Those are

pretty serious guys.’ But they’re both fun-loving people. I think they’re just kids at heart;

that’s why they were the perfect directors for this project. They really love what they’re

doing and it shows.”


Fox says, “Working with Larry and Andy and such an incredible cast and crew
was amazing. There were moments when the entire cast was assembled, and you’d
look around at everybody in costume and you could hardly believe you were there. We
had an awesome time.”

“It was an honor to work with the Wachowskis,” Rain remarks. “What I love most
about this project is that the story is about hopes and dreams. So when kids see this
movie, the story might give them hope that if you try very hard, you can accomplish
amazing things.”

Silver concludes, “We have wanted to make this movie for a long time, and we’re
fortunate enough to have had such a great team of actors, artisans and technicians
working together to drive this 20th-century classic into the new millennium. We’re thrilled
to have the chance to introduce ‘Speed Racer’ to a new generation and very proud to
make a family film that audiences of all ages can enjoy.”

# # #


ABOUT THE CAST

EMILE HIRSCH (Speed Racer) was most recently seen in writer-director Sean
Penn’s critically acclaimed drama “Into the Wild,” based on the best-selling book by Jon
Krakauer. Hirsch starred as Christopher McCandless, the idealistic college graduate
who abandoned civilization for the Alaskan wilderness. For his work in the film, Hirsch
won the National Board of Review Award for Breakthrough Performance by an Actor and
received the Rising Star Award at this year’s Palm Springs International Film Festival.
He was also nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards, a Critics Choice Award and
a Gotham Award.

Previously, Hirsch starred in Nick Cassavetes’ true-life crime drama “Alpha Dog,”
along with an ensemble cast which also featured Justin Timberlake, Sharon Stone and
Bruce Willis. The film premiered to rave reviews at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival.

Hirsch’s additional credits include Catherine Hardwicke’s “Lords of Dogtown,”
with Heath Ledger; “Imaginary Heroes,” directed by Dan Harris and also starring
Sigourney Weaver and Jeff Daniels; “The Girl Next Door,” with Elisha Cuthbert; the film
festival favorite “The Mudge Boy”; “The Emperor’s Club,” with Kevin Kline and Embeth
Davidtz; and “The Dangerous Lives of Altar Boys,” co-starring Kieran Culkin and Jodie
Foster.

Hirsch is currently in production in San Francisco on Gus Van Sant’s biopic
“Milk,” in which he stars with Sean Penn, Josh Brolin and James Franco. The film
chronicles the life of Harvey Milk, a San Francisco city supervisor and the country’s first
openly gay elected official, who was assassinated in 1978. Hirsch is portraying gay
rights activist Cleve Jones, a Milk ally who went on to found the NAMES Project AIDS
Memorial Quilt.

Born in Los Angeles, Hirsch grew up in Los Angeles and Santa Fe, New Mexico.

CHRISTINA RICCI (Trixie) most recently starred in this February’s offbeat,
contemporary fable “Penelope,” co-starring Reese Witherspoon and James McAvoy.

Ricci was last seen in “Black Snake Moan,” from director Craig Brewer, starring
opposite Samuel L. Jackson. Prior to that, she co-starred in the critically acclaimed film
“Monster,” opposite Academy Award winner Charlize Theron, and earned an Emmy
Award nomination for her guest role on the hit ABC show “Grey’s Anatomy.”


Ricci won over audiences and critics as a child actor, beginning with her debut in
“Mermaids,” opposite Cher and Winona Ryder. Especially memorable is her portrayal of
the strangely adorable Wednesday Addams in Barry Sonnenfeld’s “The Addams Family”
and its sequel, “Addams Family Values.” She starred in the summer ‘95 hit “Casper,”
which, like “The Addams Family,” grossed over $100 million at the domestic box office.
Ricci received the prestigious NATO ShowEast Star of the Year Award and the Star of
Tomorrow Award from the Motion Picture Booker’s Club for her work in those films.

Making a seamless transition to more mature roles in 1997, Ricci received
acclaim in Ang Lee’s ensemble film “The Ice Storm,” co-starring Kevin Kline, Sigourney
Weaver, Joan Allen and Elijah Wood; then starred in Don Roos’ scathing comedy “The
Opposite of Sex,” for which she received the Best Actress Award at the Seattle Film
Festival, as well as Best Actress nominations for a Golden Globe Award, American
Comedy Award and Independent Spirit Award. She appeared opposite filmmaker
Vincent Gallo in his “Buffalo 66,” earning a National Board of Review Best Supporting
Actress Award for her combined efforts in that film, “The Opposite of Sex” and John
Waters’ “Pecker.” Ricci’s other projects include Wes Craven’s “Cursed,” Woody Allen’s
romantic comedy “Anything Else,” Sally Potter’s “The Man Who Cried” and Tim Burton’s
“Sleepy Hollow,” opposite Johnny Depp, in addition to a memorable cameo in Terry
Gilliam’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.”

Beyond her acting career, Ricci serves as the National Spokesperson for the
Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and is a member of the organization’s
National Leadership Council.

JOHN GOODMAN (Pops Racer) is one of the entertainment industry’s most
respected actors. He earned a Golden Globe nomination in 1992 for his chilling
performance in the Coen brothers’ heralded “Barton Fink,” after delivering a
breakthrough motion picture performance in the Coen brothers’ earlier “Raising Arizona.”
He has since teamed with them in “The Big Lebowski” and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”

Goodman was most recently seen starring opposite Steve Carrell in the comedy
“Evan Almighty,” the highly anticipated sequel to “Bruce Almighty.” Last year, he also
appeared in “Death Sentence,” with Kevin Bacon, and “Drunkboat,” opposite John
Malkovich. Previously, he starred with Marisa Tomei and Danny DeVito in the romantic
comedy drama “Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School.”


He has lent his voice to numerous animated characters as well, with voiceover
credits including “Monsters, Inc.,” “The Emperor’s New Groove,” “Tales of the Rat Fink,”
“The Jungle Book 2” and, most recently, the Jerry Seinfeld-penned and produced “Bee
Movie,” opposite Seinfeld and Renee Zellweger. He also voiced one of the main
characters in NBC’s animated primetime series “Father of the Pride.”

Goodman’s many additional film credits include “Beyond the Sea,” “Masked and
Anonymous,” “Storytelling,” “One Night at McCool’s,” “Coyote Ugly,” “What Planet Are
You From?,” “Bringing Out the Dead,” “The Runner,” “Blues Brothers 2000,” “Fallen,”
“The Borrowers,” “Mother Night,” “Pie in the Sky,” “The Flintstones,” “Born Yesterday,”
“Matinee,” “The Babe,” “King Ralph,” “Arachnophobia,” “Stella,” “Always,” “Sea of Love,”
“Everybody’s All-American,” “Punchline,” “The Wrong Guys,” “The Big Easy,” “Burglar,”
“True Stories,” “Sweet Dreams,” “Maria’s Lovers,” “C.H.U.D.,” “Revenge of the Nerds”
and “Eddie Macon’s Run.”

A St. Louis native, Goodman studied drama (with fellow students Kathleen
Turner and Tess Harper) at Southwest Missouri State, graduating in 1975 with a B.F.A.
degree in Theatre. His stage credits include regional theatre productions of “Henry IV,
Parts I and II,” “Antony and Cleopatra” and “As You Like It.” He performed in a touring
production of “The Robber Bridegroom” and starred in three Broadway shows: “Loose
Ends” in 1979, “Big River” in 1985 and “The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui” in 2002. In
2001, he starred with Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline in the Shakespeare-in-the-Park
production of “The Seagull.”

Goodman will next be seen onscreen in the drama “In the Electric Mist,” opposite
Tommy Lee Jones and Peter Sarsgaard. He is currently in production on two films:
director P.J. Hogan’s “Confessions of a Shopaholic,” based on Sophie Kinsella’s
acclaimed novel, and the indie romantic comedy “Gigantic,” with Paul Dano and Zooey
Deschanel.

SUSAN SARANDON (Mom Racer) brings her own brand of fierce intelligence to
every role she plays, from her acclaimed, fearless portrayal in “Bull Durham” to her
Academy Award-nominated performances in “Atlantic City,” “Thelma and Louise,”
“Lorenzo’s Oil” and “The Client,” and her Oscar-winning and SAG Award-winning work in
“Dead Man Walking.”

Sarandon was recently seen as the villainous queen in the blockbuster live
action-animated hit “Enchanted” and in director John Turturro’s musical comedy


“Romance and Cigarettes,” opposite James Gandolfini, Kate Winslet and Steve
Buscemi. Her other recent credits include the drama “In the Valley of Elah,” opposite
Tommy Lee Jones, and the comedy “Mr. Woodcock,” with Billy Bob Thornton.

Sarandon made her acting debut in the movie “Joe,” which she followed with a
continuing role in the daytime drama series “A World Apart.” Her early film credits
include “The Great Waldo Pepper,” “Lovin’ Molly,” “The Front Page,” the 1975 cult
classic musical “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” and Louis Malle’s controversial 1978
film “Pretty Baby.”

Among Sarandon’s many other film credits are “Elizabethtown,” written and
directed by Cameron Crowe; “Alfie,” opposite Jude Law; “Shall We Dance?,” with
Richard Gere; “Noel,” with Robin Williams and Penelope Cruz; Brad Silberling’s drama
“Moonlight Mile,” opposite Dustin Hoffman and Jake Gyllenhaal; “The Banger Sisters,”
with Goldie Hawn; the comedy “Igby Goes Down”; Stanley Tucci’s “Joe Gould’s Secret”;
Wayne Wang’s “Anywhere But Here,” with Natalie Portman; Tim Robbins’ drama “Cradle
Will Rock”; the poignant comedy “Stepmom,” with Julia Roberts; the erotic farce
“Illuminata,” directed by John Turturro; and “Twilight,” opposite Paul Newman and Gene
Hackman.

In addition to her many on-screen credits, she has lent her vocal talents to the
animated features “Rugrats in Paris,” “James and the Giant Peach” and “Cats & Dogs,”
and served as narrator for Laleh Khadivi’s documentary “900 Women,” which dealt with
female prison inmates. Her additional feature credits include “King of the Gypsies,” “The
Hunger,” “The Buddy System,” “Compromising Positions,” “The Witches of Eastwick,”
“Sweet Hearts Dance,” “The January Man,” “A Dry White Season,” “White Palace,” “Light
Sleeper,” “Bob Roberts,” “Little Women” and “Safe Passage.”

For television, Sarandon starred as Dr. Jerri Nielson in the 2003 CBS movie “Ice
Bound” and as Princess Wensicia Corrino in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries “Children of
Dune.” She appeared in the telefilm “The Exonerated,” directed by Bob Balaban, and
starred in HBO’s “Earthly Possessions,” based on Anne Tyler’s novel and directed by
James Lapine, as well as in the CBS movie “Women of Valor” and the HBO miniseries
“Mussolini and I,” opposite Bob Hoskins and Anthony Hopkins.

On Broadway, Sarandon appeared in Gore Vidal’s “An Evening with Richard
Nixon” and received critical acclaim for her performances off-Broadway in “A Coupla
White Chicks Sitting Around Talking” and the thriller “Extremities.” She also appeared
off-off-Broadway in the moving post-9/11 play “The Guys.”


Sarandon can currently be seen starring opposite Ralph Fiennes in the highly
acclaimed HBO biographical telefilm “Bernard and Doris,” which premiered on HBO in
February.

MATTHEW FOX (Racer X) currently stars as the conflicted, heroic Dr. Jack
Shepherd on the hit ABC series “Lost.” For his work on the Emmy-winning Best Drama,
Fox shared the 2005 Screen Actors Guild Ensemble Award and was also nominated for
Golden Globe and Television Critics Association Awards.

Fox was most recently seen in the February release “Vantage Point,” a political
thriller in which he starred opposite Dennis Quaid, Sigourney Weaver, Forest Whitaker
and William Hurt. Previously, he starred with Matthew McConaughey in the sports
drama “We Are Marshall,” playing a football coach in the inspiring story, based on true
events, of a small town’s struggle with devastating loss. His feature credits also include
writer-director Joe Carnahan’s crime thriller “Smokin’ Aces,” in which he joined an
ensemble cast featuring Ben Affleck, Ray Liotta and Ryan Reynolds.

In 1999, he appeared in a touching turn opposite Donald Sutherland in the made-
for-television drama “Behind the Mask.” In 2002, he starred as a private investigator
whose near-death experience bridges a gap to the spirit world in the UPN series
“Haunted.”

Fox first came to national prominence and received critical acclaim as Charlie
Salinger, eldest of five orphaned siblings, in the hugely popular “Party of Five,” which ran
on the FOX Network from 1994 to 2000. The series received Golden Globe Award
nominations as Best Drama for two years in a row, winning the award in 1996.

ROGER ALLAM (Royalton) recently played Sir Robin Janvrin opposite Helen
Mirren’s Oscar-winning performance in Stephen Frears’ acclaimed biopic “The Queen.”
His screen credits also include the wartime Irish drama “The Wind That Shakes the
Barley,” Michael Winterbottom’s “Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story” and the
comedy caper “The Misadventures of Mr. Wilt.” “Speed Racer” reunites him with
filmmakers the Wachowski brothers and producer Joel Silver, with whom he previously
worked on the action thriller “V for Vendetta.”

Allam’s extensive work in British and American television includes appearances
in such series as “The Thick of It,” “MI-5,” “The Catherine Tate Show,” “Waking the
Dead” and “Between the Lines.” His telefilm credits include Showtime’s “The Roman


Spring of Mrs. Stone,” with Helen Mirren; HBO’s “RKO 281,” in which he played Walt
Disney; Hallmark Entertainment’s “Stranded”; the BBC’s “A Landing on the Sun”; and
HBO’s “The Investigation: Inside a Terrorist Bombing.” He can currently be seen in the
biographical drama “The Curse of Steptoe,” which premiered on the BBC in March.

Allam is also a distinguished stage actor, best known for his work with the Royal
Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre. He is the recipient of two
Laurence Olivier Theatre Awards: Best Supporting Actor for “Money,” in 2000 at the
Royal National Theatre, and Best Actor for “Privates on Parade,” in 2002 at the Donmar
Warehouse. He originated the role of Javert in the long-running hit musical “Les
Misérables,” and recently received acclaim in the West End for his role opposite Jodhi
May in David Harrower’s dark psychological drama “Blackbird.”

PAULIE LITT (Spritle) has appeared in the feature films “Eternal Sunshine of the
Spotless Mind,” starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet, and “Jersey Girl,” with Ben Affleck
and Jennifer Lopez.

Litt is perhaps best known as the quirky little brother in the popular ABC sitcom
“Hope and Faith,” for which he received a 2006 Young Artist Award for Best Supporting
Young Actor in a TV Comedy Series. Previously, Litt appeared on the NBC drama
“Third Watch” and had a recurring role on “Sesame Street” for two years. He teamed up
with Regis Philbin to sing on “Live with Regis & Kelly’s 2004 Christmas Eve Special.”

Additionally, Litt has appeared in more than 20 national TV commercials and
PSA’s.

He has appeared as a featured vocalist on “Showtime at the Apollo,” and is a
featured artist on Radio Disney’s “Incubator” program. He has performed at various
Radio Disney shows and enjoyed more than 16 weeks of top ten chart success with a
song on XM Kids Radio.

BENNO FÜRMANN (Inspector Detector) is an acclaimed German actor who has
appeared in several international English-language film and television productions,
including “The Order,” opposite Heath Ledger and directed by Brian Helgeland; HBO’s
acclaimed “My House in Umbria, starring Maggie Smith and directed by Richard
Loncraine; the miniseries “Ring of the Nibelungs/Dark Kingdom: The Dragon King”;
“Merry Christmas,” with Diane Kruger; “Crusade in Jeans”; and, most recently, “The
Mutant Chronicles,” starring Thomas Jane and John Malkovich; Marc Rothemund’s


“Pornorama”; and Leander Haußmann’s “Warum Männer nicht zuhören und Frauen
nicht einparken können.”

In 2005, Fürmann, with actress Nina Hoss and writer-director Christian Petzold,
received the coveted Adolf Grimme Prize for “Wolfsburg.” In 2001, the Berlin
International Film Festival honored him as a Shooting Star. For his performance in
“Freunde” (Friends) he won the 2000 Bavarian Film Award.

Following his feature debut in “Einfach nur Liebe” (Simply Love), Fürmann
appeared in director Til Schweiger’s feature debut “Der Eisbär” (The Polar Bear).
Among his other film credits are Caroline Link’s “Pünktchen und Anton” (Annaluise and
Anton), based on Erich Kästner’s novel; Sönke Wortmann’s “St. Pauli Nacht” (St. Pauli
Night); Stefan Ruzowitzky’s “Anatomie” (Anatomy); Doris Dörrie’s “Nackt” (Naked); Tom
Tykwer’s “Der Krieger und die Kaiserin” (The Princess and the Warrior); and “Kanack
Attack.”

Fürmann began his career in 1991, appearing on German television in Edgar
Reitz’ miniseries “Die zweite Heimat” (2nd Heimat) and the telefilm “Schuld war nur der
Bossanova” (Blame It on the Bossanova). His other television credits include the RTL
series “Und Tschüss!” (Bye Now); his starring role as German boxing legend Bubi
Scholz in Roland Suso Richter’s miniseries “Die Bubi Scholz Story” (The Bubi Scholz
Story), for which he received the German TV Award as Best Actor in a telefilm; and the
popular miniseries “Die Sturmflut” (Storm Tide).

Fürmann will next be seen in writer-director Philipp Stölzl’s upcoming feature
“Nordwand.”

HIROYUKI SANADA (Mr. Musha) has impressed international audiences with
his versatility in such acclaimed films as “The Last Samurai,” with Tom Cruise, Yoji
Yamada’s 2004 Oscar-nominated film “The Twilight Samurai” and “Sharaku,” an official
selection at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival. Sanada also starred in the original
Japanese version of the modern horror-classic “The Ring.”

Most recently, Sanada was seen in the science fiction adventure film “Sunshine,”
directed by Danny Boyle, opposite Cillian Murphy, Chris Evans and Michelle Yeoh, and
in “Rush Hour 3” as the lead villain, opposite Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker. Previously,
he starred in Chen Kaige’s epic fantasy romance “The Promise,” a role which required
him to learn Mandarin phonetically, and in 2005 made his English language film debut in


the Merchant Ivory film “The White Countess,” opposite Ralph Fiennes and Natasha
Richardson.

He will next be seen starring opposite Anthony Hopkins in the drama “The City of
Your Final Destination,” which reunites Sanada with director James Ivory.

Also an internationally celebrated stage actor, Sanada starred as Romeo in an
acclaimed Japanese production of “Romeo & Juliet,” after which he starred as the title
character in an acclaimed production of “Hamlet.” On the London stage, he starred as
the Fool, alongside Nigel Hawthorne, in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s millennium
production of “King Lear,” for which he was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE)
by Queen Elizabeth II.

RAIN (Taejo Togokahn) is a top Korean R&B/pop singer whom TIME Magazine
named one of the “100 Most Influential People Who Shape Our World” in 2006; in 2007
PEOPLE Magazine included him in their annual “Most Beautiful People” issue.

After debuting with the 2002 album “Rain,” which spawned the hit single “Bad
Guy,” Rain starred in the 2003 drama series “Sang Doo! Let’s Go To School.” His
second album, “How to Avoid the Sun,” followed, and scored a hit single with the title
track.

He subsequently starred in the 2004 drama series “Full House,” which became
one of the highest-rated Korean dramas of all time, enjoyed broadcast exposure in many
countries and brought him the Best Actor Award at that year’s KBS Acting Awards.
While shooting the 2005 miniseries “A Love To Kill,” Rain’s headstrong approach to the
challenging role made him a more versatile actor.

Rain’s third album, “It’s Raining,” sold over one million copies in Asia, making it
his most successful album to date both domestically and internationally, and the
subsequent “Rainy Day” concert tour was a success in Korea, Japan, China, Taiwan and
the United States, featuring two shows at New York City’s Madison Square Garden.
“Rain’s World,” the performer’s fourth album, was released in 2006 and led to the highly
acclaimed “Rain’s Coming” World Tour.

In 2005, Rain became the first Asian performing artist invited to perform at the
MTV Video Music Awards. His other music industry honors include the MTV Asia Grand
Slam. He was named Favorite Korean Artist at the 2005 MTV Asia Aid, held in
Bangkok, and won the Most Popular Asian Artist Award from Channel [V] Thailand, as


well as the Best Buzz Asia Award at the 2005 MTV Japan Video Music Awards and the
Best Korean Singer Award at the MTV-CCTV Mandarin Music Honors in Beijing.

Rain made his feature film debut in “I’m a Cyborg, But That’s OK,” directed by
Chan-wook Park. The film and its director won the Alfred Bauer prize at the 2007 Berlin
Film Festival, and Rain was named Best New Actor at the 43rd Baeksang Arts Awards.

Rain is currently shooting the action film “Ninja Assassin,” which re-teams him
with producers Joel Silver, Andy Wachowski and Larry Wachowski.

RICHARD ROUNDTREE (Ben Burns) has been a leading actor for more than
thirty years. He recently won a Peabody Award for his narration of the PBS
documentary “The Rise and Fall of Jim Crow.”

Roundtree is perhaps best known to audiences for his starring role in Gordon
Parks’ 1971 action film “Shaft.” The film catapulted him into the world arena, and he
continued the franchise with the features “Shaft’s Big Score!” and “Shaft in Africa” and
the television series “Shaft.”

Roundtree has starred opposite some of Hollywood’s most well-known actors,
including Clint Eastwood, Robert Shaw, Peter O’Toole, Richard Harris, David Niven,
Tony Curtis and Laurence Olivier. Among the more than 70 feature films in which he
has appeared are the smash hit thriller “Se7en”; the critically acclaimed “Once Upon a
Time…When We Were Colored”; the 2000 remake of “Shaft,” in which he reprised his
star-making role; “Steel,” with basketball superstar Shaquile O’Neal; “George of the
Jungle,” with Brendan Fraiser; and “Corky Romano,” with Chris Kattan.

Roundtree’s television credits have included regular roles on the CBS series
“Outlaws”; “413 Hope Street,” for which he garnered an NAACP Image Award
nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Series; and ABC’s “Buddies,” with Dave Chappel.
He has also appeared in many television movies, including the top-rated “Having Our
Say,” in which he portrayed Booker T. Washington; “Christmas in Connecticut,” directed
by Arnold Schwarzenegger; and the Starz! production of “Joe and Max.”

Roundtree began his career as a model before joining New York’s acclaimed
Negro Ensemble Company. A succession of off-Broadway performances followed,
leading to his starring role as Jack Johnson in “The Great White Hope.”

A dedicated advocate for the fight against breast cancer, Roundtree remains
active on the lecture circuit and consistently takes part in events to help raise awareness
and funds towards finding a cure for the disease.


KICK GURRY (Sparky) began his film career in Australia by starring in the
Australian Film Institute’s Best Film of 2000, “Looking for Alibrandi,” opposite Anthony
Lapaglia.

Gurry has subsequently worked alongside some of the most acclaimed directors
and actors working in film today, with feature credits including Terrence Malick’s “The
Thin Red Line”; “Buffalo Soldiers,” with Joaquin Phoenix; David Mamet’s “Spartan”; and
executive producer Quentin Tarantino’s “Daltry Calhoun.”

Back in Australia, Gurry shot the lead role in acclaimed director Alex Proyas’s
“Garage Days,” as well as Rachel Ward’s AFI Award-winning “The Big House.”

ABOUT THE FILMMAKERS

THE WACHOWSKI BROTHERS (Writers / Directors / Producers) were born and
raised in Chicago and have been working together for more than 30 years. Prior to
writing, directing and producing “Speed Racer,” they wrote and produced “V for
Vendetta,” directed by James McTeigue and starring Natalie Portman and Hugo
Weaving. The Wachowskis also wrote, directed and executive produced “The Matrix”
trilogy, starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. In 1996, they wrote and
directed their first feature film, “Bound,” a thriller starring Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly
and Joe Pantoliano.

JOEL SILVER (Producer), one of the most prolific and successful producers in
the history of motion pictures, has produced over 50 films, including the groundbreaking
“The Matrix” trilogy, the blockbuster four-part “Lethal Weapon” franchise, and the
seminal action films “Die Hard” and “Predator.” To date, Silver’s catalog of films have
earned more than $10 billion in worldwide revenue from all sources.

He recently produced the holiday comedy “Fred Claus,” starring Vince Vaughn
and Paul Giamatti, and the critically acclaimed psychological thriller “The Brave One,”
starring Jodie Foster and Terrence Howard under the direction of Neil Jordan.

Silver recently structured a deal for his Dark Castle Entertainment production
company, which gives him green-lighting power and creative control of all films produced
under the banner. The next Dark Castle film to be released will be “RocknRolla,”


directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Gerard Butler, Tom Wilkinson, Thandie Newton,
Chris “Ludacris” Bridges and Jeremy Piven. The film is slated to open on October 31,
2008. Upcoming Dark Castle films also include “Whiteout,” a thriller directed by Dominic
Sena and starring Kate Beckinsale; the horror film “The Factory,” starring John Cusack;
the horror thriller “Orphan”; and James McTeigue’s actioner “Ninja Assassin,” which
Silver is producing with the Wachowski brothers.

Formed by Silver and Robert Zemeckis, in the spirit of the late horror impresario
William Castle, Dark Castle previously produced a string of hit films beginning with the
record-breaking 1999 release of “House on Haunted Hill,” followed by “Thir13en Ghosts”
in 2001, “Ghost Ship” in 2002, “Gothika” in 2003 and “House of Wax” in 2005. In 2007,
Dark Castle released “The Reaping,” starring Hilary Swank.

Silver’s 1999 production “The Matrix” grossed over $456 million globally, earning
more than any other Warner Bros. Pictures film in the studio’s history at the time of its
release. Universally acclaimed for its innovative storytelling and visuals, “The Matrix”
won four Academy Awards, including Best Visual Effects. The first DVD release to sell
one million units, “The Matrix” DVD was instrumental in powering the initial sale of
consumer DVD machines.

The second installment of the epic “Matrix” trilogy, “The Matrix Reloaded,” earned
over $739 million at the worldwide box office, making it the highest-grossing R-rated film
of all time. The opening weekend box office receipts for “The Matrix Revolutions,” the
final explosive chapter in the trilogy, totaled a staggering $203 million worldwide. To
date, “The Matrix” franchise has grossed $3 billion from all sources worldwide.

While overseeing production on “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix
Revolutions,” Silver produced the integral video game “Enter the Matrix,” which features
one hour of additional film footage written and directed by the Wachowski brothers and
starring Jada Pinkett Smith and Anthony Wong, who reprised their roles from the films.
He also executive produced “The Animatrix,” a groundbreaking collection of nine short
anime films inspired by the visionary action and storytelling that power “The Matrix.”

Silver later produced the action thriller “V for Vendetta,” starring Natalie Portman,
and the action comedy thriller “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang,” written and directed by “Lethal
Weapon” screenwriter Shane Black and starring Robert Downey Jr., Val Kilmer and
Michelle Monaghan. He also produced the hit films “Romeo Must Die,” starring Jet Li
and Aaliyah; “Exit Wounds,” starring Steven Seagal and DMX; and “Swordfish,” starring
John Travolta, Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry.


A successful television producer as well, Silver is currently executive producing
the CBS Friday night series “Moonlight,” a romantic thriller with a twist on the vampire
legend, which emerged as a hit last season, winning the People’s Choice Award for
Favorite New TV Drama. He previously executive produced the critically acclaimed UPN
television series “Veronica Mars,” starring Kristen Bell. Silver also executive produced,
with Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill and Robert Zemeckis, eight seasons of the
award-winning HBO series “Tales from the Crypt,” as well as two “Tales from the Crypt”
films.

Silver began his career at Lawrence Gordon Productions, where he ultimately
ascended to President of Motion Pictures. During his tenure, he also served as
associate producer on “The Warriors” and, with Gordon, produced “48 HRS.,” “Streets of
Fire” and “Brewster’s Millions.”

In 1985, Silver launched his Silver Pictures production banner with the breakout
hit “Commando,” followed by “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” and “Predator.” Silver Pictures
solidified its status as one of the industry’s leading production companies with the
release of the “Lethal Weapon” series and the action blockbusters “Die Hard” and “Die
Hard 2: Die Harder.” Silver also went on to produce “The Last Boy Scout,” “Demolition
Man,” “Richie Rich,” “Executive Decision” and “Conspiracy Theory.”

Long before starting his producing career, as a student at Columbia High School
in Maplewood, New Jersey, in 1967, Silver and a group of his friends developed a game
called Ultimate Frisbee. The fast-moving team sport has since become a global
phenomenon supported by tournaments in 50 countries.

GRANT HILL (Producer) recently served as producer on “V for Vendetta,” and
executive producer and unit production manager on “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The
Matrix Revolutions.” Previously, he produced Terrence Malick’s “The Thin Red Line”
and was co-producer on James Cameron’s “Titanic.” He is currently producing Terrence
Malick’s “Tree of Life” and “Ninja Assasin” with Joel Silver, Andy Wachowski and Larry
Wachowski.

DAVID LANE SELTZER (Executive Producer) is a founding partner of
Management 360, one of Hollywood’s leading management/production companies. He
began working on bringing “Speed Racer” to the big screen in 1986 when, at the age of
21, he optioned the motion picture rights to the original animated TV series. Seltzer has
been actively involved in the development of the project over the past 20 years.


Seltzer began his career in talent management at Industry Entertainment, where,
over the course of a decade, he began to represent numerous film and television clients,
many of whom he continues to work with today. In addition, Seltzer also represented the
late screen legend Jack Lemmon, for whom he executive produced the award-winning
Showtime film “Inherit the Wind.”

Seltzer studied history and literature at Harvard University, graduating in 1987.
After a stint a Columbia Pictures, he earned an MBA from the Wharton School of
Business in 1991.

MICHAEL LAMBERT (Executive Producer) has been working with filmed
entertainment since 1974, when he began his career at Viacom in New York City. He
was involved in the start-up of Showtime and Lifetime cable networks, and was
responsible for the acquisition and sale of motion pictures for theatrical distribution,
broadcast and cable television, eventually rising to the helm of the television division at
age 27. He then joined HBO, where he was responsible for the international coproduction
of HBO filmed entertainment, including HBO Premiere Films and Original
Television Series. Lambert is credited with establishing HBO Video and numerous
production and distribution joint ventures worldwide.

In 1985, Lambert moved to Los Angeles and joined 20th Century Fox Film
Corporation as President of Domestic Television. He oversaw the company’s television
production and distribution activities, including such scripted shows as “21 Jump Street,”
“In Living Color,” “L.A. Law,” “M.A.S.H.,” “Mr. Belvedere,” “Mr. President,” “The
Simpsons” and “The Tracey Ullman Show,” along with some of television’s first reality
series, including “A Current Affair,” “Studs,” “America’s Most Wanted” and “COPS.”
Lambert was also responsible for the distribution of all 20th Century Fox motion picture
product to cable and broadcast television. He was instrumental in the acquisition of the
Metromedia Television Station Group, which became the foundation of the Fox
Broadcast Network.

In 1992, Lambert Television, Inc. was formed as a media investment, holding and
management company with interests in broadcasting, technology, programming and
distribution. The company owns and operates television stations in the U.S. and
produces and distributes first-run syndicated television programs. Lambert joined with
his longtime friends and business partners Hal Gaba and Norman Lear in the formation
of Crescent Entertainment, which, through its relationship with Village Roadshow


Pictures, has been involved in the production of such motion pictures as “Charlie and the
Chocolate Factory,” “Ocean’s Thirteen,” the Academy Award-winning “Happy Feet,”
“Unaccompanied Minors” and “I am Legend.”

BRUCE BERMAN (Executive Producer) is Chairman and CEO of Village
Roadshow Pictures. The company will co-produce 65 theatrical features in a joint
partnership with Warner Bros. through 2008, with all films distributed worldwide by
Warner Bros. Pictures and in select territories by Village Roadshow Pictures.

The initial slate of films produced under the pact included such hits as “Practical
Magic,” starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman; “Analyze This,” teaming Robert De
Niro and Billy Crystal; “The Matrix,” starring Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne;
“Three Kings,” starring George Clooney; “Space Cowboys,” directed by and starring Clint
Eastwood; and “Miss Congeniality,” starring Sandra Bullock and Benjamin Bratt.

Under the Village Roadshow Pictures banner, Berman has subsequently
executive produced such wide-ranging successes as “Training Day,” for which Denzel
Washington won an Academy Award; “Ocean’s Eleven,” starring George Clooney, Brad
Pitt and Julia Roberts; its sequels “Ocean’s Twelve” and “Ocean’s Thirteen”; “Two
Weeks’ Notice,” pairing Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant; “Mystic River,” starring Sean
Penn and Tim Robbins in Oscar-winning performances; the second and third
installments of “The Matrix” trilogy, “The Matrix Reloaded” and “The Matrix Revolutions”;
Tim Burton’s “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” starring Johnny Depp; the Oscar-
winning animated comedy adventure “Happy Feet”; Neil Jordan’s “The Brave One,”
starring Jodie Foster; and, most recently, the blockbuster “I Am Legend,” starring Will
Smith.

Village Roadshow’s next release is the action comedy “Get Smart,” teaming
Steve Carell and Anne Hathaway. The company’s upcoming projects also include the
romantic drama “Nights in Rodanthe,” reuniting Richard Gere and Diane Lane; the
comedy “Yes Man,” starring Jim Carrey; and “Gran Torino,” directed by and starring Clint
Eastwood.

Berman got his start in the motion picture business working with Jack Valenti at
the MPAA while attending Georgetown Law School in Washington, DC. After earning
his law degree, he landed a job at Casablanca Films in 1978. Moving to Universal, he
worked his way up to a production Vice President in 1982.


In 1984, Berman joined Warner Bros. as a production Vice President, and was
promoted to Senior Vice President of Production four years later. He was appointed
President of Theatrical Production in September 1989 and, in 1991, was named
President of Worldwide Theatrical Production, where he served through May 1996.
Under his aegis, Warner Bros. Pictures produced and distributed such films as
“Presumed Innocent,” “GoodFellas,” “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” the Oscar-winning
Best Picture “Driving Miss Daisy,” “Batman Forever,” “Under Siege,” “Malcolm X,” “The
Bodyguard,” “JFK,” “The Fugitive,” “Dave,” “Disclosure,” “The Pelican Brief,” “Outbreak,”
“The Client,” “A Time to Kill” and “Twister.”

In May of 1996, Berman started Plan B Entertainment, an independent motion
picture company at Warner Bros. Pictures. He was named Chairman and CEO of
Village Roadshow Pictures in February 1998.

DAVID TATTERSALL (Director of Photography) was born and raised in the
beautiful Lake District of northern England. He later attended Goldsmith’s University of
London, where he graduated with a first class (Honors) Fine Arts Degree. He then
studied at Britain’s National Film and Television School, where he specialized in camera
and lighting.

Tattersall’s highly regarded student films include “King’s Christmas,” which
received a 1987 BAFTA nomination for Best Short; “Caprice,” which was selected for the
Edinburgh and Milan Film Festivals; and “Metropolis Apocalypse,” which screened at
Cannes in 1988.

Tattersall is adept at switching between film and the very latest in digital
photography, including big budget, large scale, effects-laden, action-packed adrenalin
rides, as well as smaller films which require a “fine art” touch. He has enjoyed
employing both talents in movies such as “Radioland Murders,” “Con Air,” “The
Majestic,” “The Green Mile,” “The Vertical Limit,” “Die Another Day,” “Lara Croft Tomb
Raider: The Cradle of Life,” “Star Wars: Episodes I, II, III,” “XXX2,” “Next,” “Matador”
and “The Hunting Party.” Tattersall’s television credits include “Yellowthread Street” and
“The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles,” for which he won an Emmy Award and received

A.S.C. nominations for Best Cinematography.
He is currently working on the remake of “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

OWEN PATERSON (Production Designer) recently designed “V for Vendetta”
and both “The Matrix Revolutions” and “The Matrix Reloaded,” having also served as
production designer on Andy and Larry Wachowski’s first installment of “The Matrix”
trilogy. He is currently working in Australia on George Miller’s “Justice League of
America.”

Paterson won an Australian Film Institute Award for Best Production Design for
Stephan Elliot’s “The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert.” Among his other
credits are “Red Planet,” Stephan Elliot’s “Welcome to Woop Woop,” “Race the Sun,”
“Minnamurra,” “The Place at the Coast” and “Travelling North.” Paterson also served as
art director on the Australian features “Bliss” and “The Coolangatta Gold.”

Paterson’s television credits include “Noriega: God’s Favorite,” “The Beast,”
“Shout! The Story of Johnny O’Keefe” and “The Riddle of the Stinson.”

ZACH STAENBERG (Editor) is an Academy Award-winning editor best-known
for his work on the groundbreaking “The Matrix” trilogy, the first of which brought him an
Oscar in 2000. Staenberg’s relationship with writer-directors the Wachowski brothers
dates back to 1996, when he edited the neo-noir crime thriller “Bound,” starring Gina
Gershon and Jennifer Tilly. “Speed Racer” marks his fifth collaboration with the
Wachowskis.

Staenberg, a University of Wisconsin graduate in Communications, started out as
a production assistant on Brian De Palma’s “The Fury” before jump-starting his editing
career on “Damien: Omen II” as an apprentice editor. In 1996, Staenberg won the first
of his two ACE Eddie Awards for his work on the HBO telefilm “Gotti,” and also garnered
his first Emmy nomination for Outstanding Editing.

Staenberg’s other feature and television credits include the compelling “Lord of
War” for Andrew Niccol; Peter Howitt’s “Antitrust”; A&E’s “The Crossing”; and the
comedy classic “Police Academy.” Most recently, he edited “Mongol,” which received an
Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film this year.

ROGER BARTON (Editor) served as editor and co-producer on the recent
blockbuster “Eragon.” Previously, he edited director Jim Sheridan’s “Get Rich or Die
Tryin’” and director Michael Bay’s remake of “The Amityville Horror,” and was an
additional editor on Bay’s “The Island.”


In 2004, Barton relocated to Northern California to edit “Star Wars: Episode III –
Revenge of the Sith” for George Lucas. Prior to that, he cut four pictures for producer
Jerry Bruckheimer: “Bad Boys 2,” “Pearl Harbor,” “Gone in Sixty Seconds” and, as
associate editor, “Armageddon.”

He served as associate editor on James Cameron’s “Titanic,” which won 11
Academy Awards, including Best Editing. Barton’s other notable editing credits include
“Ghost Ship” and the remake of the family comedy “That Darn Cat.” He was an
additional editor on the comedy “Detroit Rock City,” and a first assistant on “Needful
Things,” “Rough Magic” and “Alaska.”

Barton began his editing career as a first assistant in long-form television shows.
His early credits include “Love, Honor & Obey” for CBS, “Not Without My Children” for
ABC and HBO’s “Indictment: The McMartin Trial,” which won an Emmy Award for Best
Achievement in Editing for a Miniseries or Special.

Barton graduated from Cal State Long Beach in 1989 after moving to Los
Angeles from the Pacific Northwest. He currently lives in Pacific Palisades with his wife,
child and Chocolate Lab, Buddy.

KYM BARRETT (Costume Designer) began her career in theater, where she
gained eight years of experience as a costume designer. For her first film, Baz
Luhrmann’s “Romeo + Juliet,” she received a Saturn Award nomination from the
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. Extensive work in commercials
followed, and led to director Jake Kasdan’s film “Zero Effect,” on which her work
specifically impressed cinematographer Bill Pope. When Pope insisted she meet with
the directors of his next film, “The Matrix,” Barrett’s fruitful collaboration with the
Wachowski brothers began.

After “The Matrix,” which became a phenomenon and earned Barrett both a
Costume Designers Guild Award nomination and her second Saturn Award nomination,
she went on to design the Persian Gulf War film “Three Kings,” the technically
demanding sci-fi actioner “Red Planet” and the Victorian Era London-set thriller “From
Hell,” which earned her a Golden Satellite nomination as well as her third Saturn Award
nomination. Her subsequent credits include “The Matrix Reloaded”; “The Matrix
Revolutions,” which brought her a fourth Saturn Award nomination; the horror thriller
“Gothika,” starring Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jr.; and the romantic comedies
“Monster-in-Law,” starring Jane Fonda, and “Rumor Has It…,” with Jennifer Aniston. In


2007, Barrett received her second Costume Designers Guild Award nomination, for her
work on the fantasy action film “Eragon.”

Barrett’s designs will next be seen in two upcoming films: the historical drama
“The Children of Huang Shi,” with Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Radha Mitchell, and the
sci-fi remake “The Day the Earth Stood Still,” on which she designed for principal cast
members Keanu Reeves, Jennifer Connelly and Jaden Smith.

MICHAEL GIACCHINO (Composer) was nominated for an Academy Award this
year for his score to the animated blockbuster “Ratatouille,” which went on to win the
Oscar for Best Animated Film. He made his feature film composing breakthrough with
his acclaimed score for “The Incredibles,” and went on to compose music for the live-
action superhero film “Sky High,” the comedy-drama “The Family Stone,” Albert Brooks’
“Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World” and the thriller “Mission: Impossible III.”

His next feature score will be heard in “Star Trek,” the highly anticipated sci-fi
actioner from filmmaker J.J. Abrams.

In addition to his work in feature films, Giacchino has composed for many genres
in other media, including television shows, animated shorts, video games, and standalone
symphonies, with themes running the gamut from driving to melancholic,
suspenseful to serene. Fans of the hit ABC shows “Lost” and “Alias” have been enjoying
his compositions for several seasons. Previously, Giacchino scored the PlayStation
video game based on Steven Spielberg’s summer box office hit “The Lost World,”
featuring the first original live orchestral score written for a PlayStation console game,
which was recorded with the Seattle Symphony. He went on to compose many
orchestral scores for interactive media, including the highly successful “Medal of Honor”
series, a World War II simulation game created by Spielberg.

On May 13th, 2000, the Haddonfield Symphony premiered Giacchino’s first
Symphony, “Camden 2000.” The concert took place at the Sony E-Center in Camden,
New Jersey, with proceeds benefiting the Heart of Camden, an organization dedicated to
rebuilding inner-city housing.

Giacchino studied film production at the School of Visual Arts in New York City,
and subsequently pursued composition studies at the prestigious Juilliard School.

JOHN GAETA (Visual Effects Supervisor) won an Academy Award and a BAFTA
Award for his work pioneering “Bullet Time” and other groundbreaking effects for “The


Matrix.” He then continued his collaboration with the Wachowski brothers overseeing
effects on the second and third films in the cinematic trilogy. For “The Matrix Reloaded,”
he won two Visual Effects Society Awards: for Best Single Visual Effect and for
Outstanding Visual Effects. For “The Matrix Revolutions,” he again received a VES
Award nomination for Outstanding Visual Effects.

Gaeta is active in advocating next-generation hybrid entertainment, fusing stateof-
the-art film storytelling and interactive game design. Beyond his film role for “Speed
Racer,” he assisted the Wachowskis additionally by advising on the look and play
objectives of the Wii game console and other video game counterparts.

DAN GLASS (Visual Effects Supervisor) won a Visual Effects Society Award for
his groundbreaking work in the Wachowski brothers’ “The Matrix Reloaded.” Marking
his fourth collaboration with the visionary filmmakers on “Speed Racer,” Glass also
served as visual effects supervisor on “The Matrix Revolutions” and “V for Vendetta,” for
which he received a Satellite Award nomination for Best Visual Effects. In 2006, he
received BAFTA and Saturn Award nominations for Best Visual Effects for Christopher
Nolan’s “Batman Begins.” He was also visual effects supervisor on the horror thriller
“Thir13en Ghosts.”

Glass began his career in visual effects in 1995 and went on to serve in various
capacities as a designer, compositer and animator. Among his many credits are
“Mission: Impossible,” “Mission: Impossible II,” “The Beach,” “Sleepy Hollow,” “The Bone
Collector,” “Notting Hill,” “Tomorrow Never Dies” and “Muppet Treasure Island.”

# # #


 

Los hermanos Wachowski y el productor Joel Silver creadores de la
revolucionaria trilogía “The Matrix” ofrecen ahora la aventura de altos octanos,
“Speed Racer”, para toda la familia.

Ya sea volando a alta velocidad por toda la pista o tomando peligrosas
curvas a lo largo de toda la carrera, Speed Racer (Emile Hirsch) está en sus
aguas detrás del volante. El nació para las carreras de autos: es agresivo y tiene
instinto, pero sobre todas las cosas no le tiene miedo a nada. La única persona
que podía hacerle competencia era su hermano, el legendario Rex Racer, a
quien él idolatraba. Pero Rex murió en una carrera de autos, y en su memoria
Speed quiere seguir ahora su legado.

Speed es leal a la escudería de autos de su familia. Su padre, Pops Racer
(John Goodman), es la cabeza de la empresa, y fue él quien diseñó el rugiente
auto de Speed, el Mach 5.

Un día, Speed rechaza una oferta muy lucrativa y tentadora que le
ofrece la empresa Industrias Royalton. Eso no solo enfurece al maníaco dueño
de la compañía (Roger Allam), sino que devela un terrible secreto: el resultado
final de algunas de las más importantes carreras está arreglado de antemano.
Un grupo de inescrupulosos magnates, maneja a su capricho a los más grandes
corredores, con el fin de obtener grandes ganancias. Ahora, si Speed no
acepta ser piloto de los autos de Royalton, Royalton se va a encargar de que
Speed ya nunca jamás cruce una meta.


La única forma en que Speed puede salvar la escudería de su familia, y
al mismo tiempo las carreras que tanto ama, es venciendo a Royalton en sus
propios términos. Contando con el apoyo de su familia, y con el de su leal novia
Trixie (Christina Ricci), Speed forma equipo con alguien que alguna vez había
sido su rival: el misterioso Racer X (Matthew Fox). Con su ayuda, Speed quiere
ganar la carrera que, en el pasado, había cobrado la vida de su hermano: la
carrera todo terreno que desafía la muerte, conocida como The Crucible.

La verdadera y más difícil prueba para Speed Racer como corredor, es el
Grand Prix de la Liga de Carreras Mundiales. Para que Speed pueda ver la
bandera a cuadritos de la meta final marcándolo como ganador, deberá
vencer a los mejores y más empedernidos corredores del mundo. Algunos de
ellos están muy incentivados por el premio de un millón de dólares ofrecido por
Royalton, si logran sacar - a cualquier costo y definitivamente- a Speed de la
carrera.

La película “Speed Racer” es el primer trabajo de los hermanos
Wachowski como escritores y directores, luego de la trilogía de filmes “The
Matrix”. Joel Silver, ya había trabajado con ellos, no sólo con todos los filmes
“The Matrix” sino también en “V for Vendetta”. Es él quien produce “Speed
Racer” bajo el nombre de su compañía productora Silver Pictures. Grant Hill,
Andy Wachowski y Larry Wachowski fueron también productores, y David Lane
Seltzer, Michael Lambert y Bruce Berman fueron productores ejecutivos.

Tras las imágenes, el equipo creativo estuvo compuesto por: el director
de fotografía David Tattersall, el diseñador de producción Owen Paterson, los
editores Zach Staenberg y Roger Barton, y la diseñadora de vestuario Kym
Barrett. Música de Michael Giacchino. John Gaeta y Dan Glass fueron los
supervisores de efectos visuales.

Los protagonistas de “Speed Racer” son: Emile Hirsch (“Into the Wild”) en
el papel principal; Christina Ricci (“The Opposite of Sex”) como la novia de
Speed, Trixie; John Goodman (“The Big Lebowski”) y la actriz ganadora del
Oscar Susan Sarandon (“Dead Man Walking”) respectivamente como Mom y
Pops Racer; Matthew Fox (“Lost” en televisión) interpreta a Racer X; Roger Allam
(“The Queen”, “V for Vendetta”) es Royalton; Paulie Litt (“Hope & Faith” en


televisión) es Spritle; Benno Fürmann (“The Mutant Chronicles”) es el Inspector
Detector; Hiroyuki Sanada (“The Last Samurai”) es el Señor Musha; Rain, la súper
estrella del pop asiático, en su gran debut en el cine americano, es el corredor
rival llamado Taejo Togokahn; Richard Roundtree (“Heroes” en televisión,
“Shaft”) es Ben Burns; y Kick Gurry (“Daltry Calhoun”) es Sparky.

“Speed Racer” está basada en la serie clásica creada por el pionero de
animación en Japón, Tatsuo Yoshida. Narrando la maravillosa historia por medio
de actuación en vivo, la película muestra el tipo de efectos visuales
revolucionarios, ya característicos en las películas de los hermanos Wachowski.

“Speed Racer” es una presentación de Warner Bros. Pictures en sociedad
con Village Roadshow Pictures, una producción Silver Pictures, en sociedad con
Anarchos Productions.

La película fue arreglada digitalmente para tener una imagen y
definición sin igual y la calidad de sonido The IMAX Experience® a través de
tecnología patentada IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-Mastering). Al mismo tiempo que
“Speed Racer”: THE IMAX Experience”, la película se estrenará nacionalmente
en los cines comunes de proyección tradicional de películas de 35mm.

“Speed Racer” ha sido clasificada “PG” (Parental Guidance Suggested
=Supervisión de los padres recomendada – parte del material puede ser poco
adecuado para niños) por la MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), por
la acción de algunas escenas, por su violencia y su lenguaje.



www.speedracerthemovie.com.com



Para descargar información general de prensa y fotos de

SPEED RACER, del Internet, por favor visite:

http://press.warnerbros.com



.......... .......... ..........








“Para mí correr no es sólo un deporte—es mi manera de vivir”.

- Speed Racer



DANDO ARRANQUE AL MACH 5



Larry y Andy Wachowski, escritores, directores y productores fueron
quienes crearon la revolucionaria trilogía “The Matrix”. Ellos dieron nueva
definición a las películas de acción con su estilo de filmación único, el cual
mezcla varias capas de narrativa con increíbles efectos visuales.

“Speed Racer” era ya una clásica serie de dibujos animados de la TV. Al
llevarla a la pantalla grande, los Wachowski pudieron darle una nueva
perspectiva a este clásico probado, y al mismo tiempo, alcanzar el amplio
público que vé películas para la familia.

-“Con “The Matrix”, Larry y Andy crearon un estilo visual que cambió la
consciencia de los que ven cine. Ahora, uno puede ver cosas inimaginables en
un filme” – dice el productor Joel Silver- “Con “Speed Racer”, una vez más, los
hermanos se propusieron cambiar el modo en que uno vé las películas. Ellos ya
tenían un nuevo concepto en mente para relatar la historia de autos volando
para la pista más espectacular y arriesgada del mundo. El film tiene escenas
que uno no vio nunca jamás. Es un nuevo y distinto uso de técnicas, que
combina imágenes creadas por ordenador (CGI), y acción en vivo. A los
hermanos les gusta romper moldes pre-existentes, y llevar las cosas a su
extremo”.

El productor Grant Hill dice: -“Cuando yo era chico, esos dibujos
animados eran unos de mis favoritos. Pero al margen de eso, lo que me
interesaba a mí de esta nueva versión de “Speed Racer” de los hermanos
Wachowski, era la gran dinámica de familia que imita a la de la película
original. Ellos quisieron crear una película que sus sobrinas y sobrinos pudieran
ver”.

-“Crearon una película para que la pudiera ver toda la familia, siempre
manteniendo la esencia del tema original, el cual se centra en Speed y su
familia. Pero esta es una nueva versión”- explica Silver - “Todos pueden ver


“Speed Racer”. Tiene buenos personajes, mucha acción y por supuesto,
imágenes increíbles”.

El argumento trata de las tribulaciones de Speed Racer para llegar a ser
el mejor corredor de autos de la Liga de Carreras Mundiales (World Racing
League ~WRL). Para Speed, las dos cosas más importantes de su vida son las
carreras y su familia. Todos ellos forman parte de uno de los pocos equipos de
corredores independientes que quedan. Ahora, deben competir contra
corredores que tienen mega-sponsors, y las cosas se ponen cada vez más
difíciles. Todo queda en juego al lanzarse una de estas grandes carreras, pues el
resultado bien podría determinar el futuro de cada una de las organizaciones
participantes, o la de sus corredores.

Los hermanos Wachowski, idearon un tipo de carrera más audaz de lo
que cualquier imaginación pueda concebir. Los autos de carrera de la película
“Speed Racer” son un diseño de perfecto equilibrio de forma y función,
capaces de desafiar la gravedad y realizar increíbles piruetas a más de 400
mph. Cada uno de estos inventivos autos, uno más poderoso que el otro, casi
como una obra de arte, fueron diseñados para reflejar la personalidad de su
piloto hasta el último detalle.

En el mundo colorido de “Speed Racer” conviven muchos estilos de
distintas eras, teniendo en común el deporte de carreras. -“Uno puede ver el
pasado, el presente y el futuro en la estética de esta película” – dice Joel Silver -
“A la gente le gustan los autos, y Larry y Andy incluyeron diseños de autos nunca
antes vistos. Uno puede ver modelos raros de autos en revistas y películas, sin
embargo, este film lleva eso a un nuevo nivel, más alto. Estas máquinas pueden
hacer cualquier cosa, y por eso estas carreras son mucho más emocionantes
que cualquier otra cosa que uno haya visto en el pasado”.

Grant Hill comenta: -“Larry y Andy siempre están buscando formas de
hacer cosas nuevas, mejores que cualquier cosa conocida. Miramos deportes
audaces, como acrobacia en patinetas, y monopatines para nieve, pues ellos
se caracterizan por la gracia de sus movimientos. Entonces tratamos de
imaginamos cómo serían las carreras y qué velocidad necesitarían los autos, si


los pilotos pudieran hacer el mismo tipo de maniobras aéreas con sus
máquinas”.

Claro, ninguna de las carreras en las que participa “Speed Racer” –
como por ejemplo las carreras de la Liga Western Racing (WRL)- estaría
completa si no tuviera una lucha casi a muerte por alcanzar el primer puesto. En
ellas utilizan tácticas casi ilegales, como alambres de púa, clavos miguelito, y
ruedas aserradas. Silver agrega: -“Larry y Andy, llamaron a este deporte de
carrera, mezcla de acrobacia con artes marciales “Car-Fu”, artes marciales
automovilísticas”.

-“Cuando los hermanos Wachowski vieron la serie original “Speed Racer”
fue cuando conocieron ese tipo de animación japonesa”- detalla Silver -“A
Larry y a Andy les fascinaban esas historias, su acción y las imágenes de la serie,
porque eran notablemente distintas de todos los otros dibujitos animados que
había en la televisión de aquella época. Se volvieron fanáticos de “Speed
Racer”, y de las animaciones japonesas en general”.

De hecho, los fanáticos de “Speed Racer” se extienden a lo largo de
muchas generaciones y culturas. Los dibujos originales de la serie “Speed
Racer”, salieron de las revistas de cómic japonesas, o manga. Las mismas,
fueron creadas por el pionero de animación Tatsuo Yoshida, y salieron con el
título “Pilot Ace”. En 1967, llevaron la historieta japonesa a la televisión, con un
show que se llamó “Mach Go Go Go”. Seis meses después, su adaptación
doblada el inglés, se llamó en América “Speed Racer”.

“Speed Racer” fue todo un éxito a lo largo y ancho de los Estados Unidos.
Inmediatamente se ganó la fidelidad de los jóvenes televidentes, cautivando su
imaginación por medio de la gran acción de los autos, de las intrigas
internacionales, de los valores de familia, del romance adolescente y de su
humor irreverente. A diferencia de todo lo que hubieran visto antes, “Sped
Racer” presentaba un héroe joven y determinado, que triunfaba en su lucha
contra competidores inescrupulosos. El muchacho, competía alrededor del
mundo con su poderoso y brillante auto, el Mach 5.

Más de 40 años más tarde, y luego de varias y diferentes versiones en
televisión, la historia de las aventuras de Speed Racer con su auto el Mach 5,


toma una nueva imagen, esta vez en la pantalla grande. Esta nueva visión de
los hermanos Wachowski utiliza no sólo espectaculares efectos visuales y acción
de alto vuelo, sino también técnicas de filmación súper avanzadas, e imágenes
creadas por ordenador de alta tecnología.

Cuando el reparto de actores seleccionados para actuar en “Speed
Racer” llegó a los estudios Babelsberg de filmación, en Berlín, los hermanos
Wachowski les mostraron el mundo en el que entrarían en el film, a través de
dibujos, storyboards y pinturas, y con una breve demostración en animación
tridimensional de cómo serían las carreras.

-“Ver esa demostración fue impresionante”- confiesa Emile Hirsch, quien
interpreta el papel protagónico de Speed Racer -“Yo no podía creer todo el
trabajo que ya habían realizado para esta película antes que siquiera
comenzáramos a filmar. No parecía de ciencia-ficción, como los filmes “The
Matrix”, sino más bien algo mágico. Esta película es más bien toda color que
toda oscuridad”.

-“Había 12 actores en la sala, y en verdad, es muy extraña la ocasión en
la que tantos actores juntos en una habitación, se quedan completamente sin
palabras”- recuerda Matthew Fox, quien interpretó el papel de Racer X -“Todos
se miraban los unos a los otros, completamente impresionados, Fue muy
emocionante. No son muchas las ocasiones en la que uno es llamado para ser
parte de un intento de hacer algo nunca antes visto. Pero esta fue una de esas
pocas veces”.



AMIGOS Y ENEMIGOS DE LA FAMILIA RACER



Hay dos elementos centrales en el núcleo de la carrera de “Speed
Racer”: la carrera misma y la familia Racer, y ambos están profundamente
entremezclados.-“La familia de Speed come, bebe y respira carreras. Después
de todo, su apellido es Racer, que quiere decir corredor”- dice sonriendo Emile
Hirsch -“Juntos funcionan como una unidad. Ellos trabajan en equipo y se
preocupan por que las cosas se hagan bien. Creo que es eso lo atractivo de la
historia: todo el mundo participa en la aventura”.


El hogar de los Racer, es una casa en un idílico barrio suburbano, en
donde Pops Racer construye autos de carrera en su garaje. Allí nace el Mach 5,
su orgullo y alegría. El auto está estacionado en el centro de la sala de estar.
Mom Racer es el eje principal de la familia Racer, pues ella les da apoyo, los
cuida, los aconseja y además, les cocina cosas deliciosas. El travieso hermano
menor de Speed, Spritle, y el chimpancé Chim Chim, mascota de la familia,
tienen sus propios métodos para mantenerse incluidos en la acción. Por ejemplo
se meten en el baúl del Mach 5 de Speed o se esconden en los lugares menos
esperados. Luego está Trixie, la leal novia de Speed. Ella muestra su dedicación
a la familia Racer dentro y fuera de la pista de carreras, y aún por encima de
ella, en su helicóptero rosa. Sparky, el mecánico de confianza de Pops, provee
por su parte esmerado servicio a los autos Racer Motors.

A lo largo de la selección de actores – que se llevó a cabo en tres
continentes, en los que se presentaron cientos de actores - Hirsch estaba en la
lista principal en la mente de los cineastas. -“Cuando me dieron el papel no lo
podía creer”- confiesa Hirsch -“Yo siempre miraba los dibujitos de “Speed Racer”
en casa cuando era niño, mientras comía mi cereal. No me perdía ni un
episodio. También soy fanático de la trilogía “The Matrix”, por e o me encanta
poder estar en una película dirigida por Larry y Andy”.

-“La primera vez que nos encontramos con Emile, nos dimos cuenta de
que él tenia el aspecto deseado, era joven atractivo, y tenía talento como para
interpretar Speed Racer” – detalla Joel Silver -“Entonces, la película “Into the
Wild” todavía no había salido, pero teníamos mucha confianza en su habilidad
para interpretar el papel en nuestra película”.

Christina Ricci hace las veces de Trixie, por quien Speed viene muerto. Ella
era su amiga y fanática desde la escuela elemental. Es inteligente, tiene estilo y
mucha fuerza de voluntad. Trixie siempre viva a Speed desde la tribuna y, desde
su helicóptero, lo ayuda a atravesar tramos peligrosos de la carrera.

-“Trixie es una chica de mi estilo”- dice Ricci -“Le encantan las aventuras
y puede hacer todo lo que hacen los muchachos sin que en la película se
comente el hecho de que ella es una chica. Ella crea estrategias junto con
Speed, vuela en helicóptero y hasta practica kung-fu, y pese a todas sus


actividades, tiene un conjunto especial de ropa súper lindo. –”Trixie hace cosas
de varón y a la vez es muy femenina, lo que la hace muy graciosa”.

El estilo personal es importante para Ricci, que recuerda: -“Cuando fui a
mi primer encuentro con los hermanos Wachowski, me sentía un tanto
intimidada, porque yo había sido gran admiradora suya por mucho tiempo.
Tenía un poco de vergüenza y no me salía hablar. Pero luego me dí cuenta que
los tres estábamos usando el mismo tipo de zapatillas tenis, Chuck Tylor
Converse color negro. Entonces supe que todo iba a salir bien”.

Mom Racer es otro gran pilar de apoyo para Speed, y es la actriz Susan
Sarandon quien interpreta este papel. A Sarandon, artista ganadora del Oscar,
le atrajo mucho la historia que los hermanos Wachowski habían escrito, porque
enfatiza la importancia de la unión familiar. -“Me gustó la idea de que la familia
Racer viva en un espacio atemporal, en el cual siempre pueden sentarse para
cenar juntos cada noche”.- dice ella – “Mom Racer es la que mantiene a todos
unidos”.

-“No hay duda alguna que Mom Racer es el pilar de la familia”- dice
John Goodman, quien hace el papel del jefe de la familia Racer, interpretando
a Pops Racer -“Es a ella a quien todos cuentan sus problemas”.

Pops Racer es un ingeniero brillante en diseño. El construye los autos que
Speed corre. Antes, también había diseñado los autos que corría Rex Racer. -
“Pops construía autos desde que Speed era un niño”- dice Goodman –“Es
irreversiblemente independiente, y construye autos más por pasión que por la
ganancia que le dan. Pops tiene mucho cuidado y cautela cuando Royalton
hace su oferta” – sigue diciendo Goodman -“El espera que Speed la rechace,
pero prefiere que Speed tome sus propias decisiones”.

Goodman, también creció viendo los dibujitos de “Speed Racer” en la
televisión, y comenta: -“Cuando “Speed Racer” salió, yo nunca antes había
visto algo semejante, por eso lo veía siempre. Cuando me enteré de que los
hermanos Wachowski estaban filmando una versión en vivo, inmediatamente
aproveché la ocasión de ser parte de ello”.

Emile Hirsch, John Goodman y los hermanos Wachowski , todos miraban
la serie de televisión “Speed Racer” cuando eran chicos, pero para Matthew


Fox, que hace el papel del misterioso Racer X, la historia es totalmente distinta.
“Crecí en una granja de Wyoming, y no teníamos televisión. Por eso me perdí
“Speed Racer”, y no lo pude ver de niño”. Pero Fox hizo su tarea antes de
entrevistarse con los Wachowski. -“Busqué información sobre la serie de dibujos
animados antes de encontrarme con Larry y con Andy. Cuando ví el Racer X en
el show original, me interesó todavía más interpretar el personaje”.

Fox y los hermanos Wachowski tenían algo en común. Cuenta el actor: -
“Una de las primeras cosas que me dijeron, era que querían hacer una película
que pudieran ver sus sobrinas y sobrinos. Por mi lado, yo tengo una hija de diez
años y un hijo de cinco años y medio. Por eso, para mí es maravilloso que ellos
me puedan ver en esta película haciendo el papel de Racer X”. Fox dice sobre
su personaje Racer X: - “No es un tipo que va por todos lados disfrazado porque
quiere. El en verdad está operando como agente secreto para el servicio de
inteligencia, investigando la corrupción organizada de las carreras. La vida de
mucha gente está en peligro, por eso él debe mantener su verdadera
personalidad en secreto”.

También está el dinámico dúo formado por Spritle, el benjamín de la
familia Racer, y su chimpancé Chim-Chim. Ellos hacen sus propias
investigaciones. Los dos siempre buscan aventuras, pero los adultos nunca los
dejan participar. Por eso deben encontrar su propia manera de divertirse, y
para ello, a veces van de colados en el baúl del Mach 5 de Speed.

-“Spritle es un chiquillo travieso que quiere ser igual que los grandes” –
dice el actor Paulie Litt, que hace el papel de Spritle -“Todos los subestiman, en
verdad quieren protegerlo, porque él están solo un niño. Pero ellos no saben
que, aunque Spritle es chico es poderoso. Sabe mucho de carreras y de autos, y
quiere ser parte de todas las cosas. Entonces encuentra la forma de no quedar
afuera. Si pudiera estar en el baúl del Mach 5 en todas las carreras, lo haría”.

Litt, tenía tan solo 11 años durante la filmación. El obtuvo el papel de
Spritle en una competencia con 250 niños que se presentaron con muchas
esperanzas para la selección. -“Todos soñaban con ser elegidos”- dice Litt –
“Con sólo pensar en estar filmando en Alemania durante el verano, y hacer dúo
con un chimpancé, ¿quién no querría ser elegido?”


Chim-Chim en realidad fue actuado por dos distintos chimpancés
llamados Willy y Kenzie. -“Solamente había dos ó tres chimpancés en el mundo
entrenados suficientemente para el papel”- comenta el coordinador de
animales Sled Reynolds. Willy, de tres años de edad, que ya tenía entrenamiento
avanzado, era el chimpancé líder. Kenzie, el menor servía para reemplazar a
Willy, y para algunas otras escenas.

Como Spritle y Chim-Chim siempre están juntos en la pantalla, era
necesario que entre el niño y el anima