howard Archives | AutoDepot

Read This: A look into how Ron Howard’s Rush got financed

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Celebrities, TV/Movies

Rush movie

Producing the upcoming 1970s Formula 1 movie Rush wasn’t like the old days, when a mid-budget film could be pitched with a good chance it would be financed by a major production company. No, even after famed director Ron Howard jumped on board the F1 biopic of legendary drivers James Hunt and Niki Lauda, he couldn’t use his clout at Universal Studios to persuade the company to finance it, Variety reports. Universal cited the film’s biopic elements and F1’s low profile in the US as reasons not to produce it, but the company did agree to handle US distribution.

So how did Rush get an injection of $50 million when the heavy hitters wouldn’t touch it? You’ll have to read Variety‘s article, which details British screenwriter Peter Morgan’s convoluted quest to fund the movie – a pioneering example of how mid-budget films increasingly could be funded as major production companies look the other way.

When you’re done reading, be sure to check out the behind-the-scenes featurette of Rush to hold you over until its September 27 release.

A look into how Ron Howard’s Rush got financed originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Aug 2013 14:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Read This: A look into how Ron Howard’s Rush got financed”

Video: Ron Howard’s Rush gets new featurette

Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Celebrities, Racing, TV/Movies

Ron Howard's Rush

As you’re likely aware by now, the classic 1976 Formula 1 season is being immortalized courtesy of the movie Rush, showcasing the rivalry between the British James Hunt, driving for McLaren, and the Austrian Niki Lauda, driving for Ferrari. In the film, the fun-loving Hunt is played by Chris Hemsworth and the super-serious Lauda by Daniel Brühl.

Both of the actors can be seen front and center in the video below, a featurette on the upcoming film, with commentary from director Ron Howard. You’ll see some of the racing action from the movie, a few shots of Brühl playing Lauda before and after his terrible accident and a sense of why Howard was so drawn to document this particular racing season.

Scroll down below to watch the video.

Continue reading Ron Howard’s Rush gets new featurette

Ron Howard’s Rush gets new featurette originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 26 Jun 2013 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Ron Howard’s Rush gets new featurette”

Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]

Filed under: Safety, Technology, Ford

Ford MyKey 2011

Ford’s upgraded MyKey for 2011 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Modern technology means that parental controls are now spreading to cars as factory equipment, and the automaker leading the charge is Ford. Using the latest version of the company’s MyKey system, parents can now block their children from listening to certain radio stations – say, for instance, Howard Stern or Playboy Radio on satellite. In fact, there are a dozen stations listed as explicit by Sirius, and all of them can be blocked using MyKey starting in 2011.

Also seeing an upgrade for 2011 is MyKey’s speed-limiting technology. Previously, the top speed of a properly equipped Ford vehicle could be capped at 80 miles per hour (with chimes sounding at 45, 55 and 65). Now, users can preset a desired speed limit at any of four different settings – 65, 70, 75 or 80 mph. While an obvious safety feature, the technology can also dramatically improve fuel efficiency.

Already, Ford’s MyKey allows parents to limit audio volume, encourage seatbelt usage by muting the radio until front occupants buckle up and provide earlier low-fuel warnings. All of these could be considered important safety features, considering that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that teens are more likely to speed (a contributing factor in 30 percent of fatal accidents) and are less likely to use their safety-belts.

Ford contracted the firm Penn, Schoen & Berland to conduct a survey regarding its new MyKey features, and the results aren’t terribly surprising: 85 percent of parents believe the speed limiting controls are important and 60 percent say the same regarding the radio content controls. Even 45 percent of teen drivers themselves say they approve of the technology… just as long as it means they get extended driving privileges from their parents. Of course, said teens can also simply circumvent the MyKey safety leash by listening to CDs or their MP3 players, but we digress.

Check out a video and full press release after the break to learn more about how the system works.

Gallery: Ford’s upgraded MyKey for 2011

Ford's upgraded MyKey for 2011

[Source: Ford]

Continue reading Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]

Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 29 Dec 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Ford MyKey now allows parents to block Howard Stern, Playboy Radio [w/video]”