Extol Sports September 2017 | Page 23

BOMB CITY my word we were going to tell his son’s story.” the audio of a speech Manson gave about Brian D eneke for potential investors without telling them who was speaking. After speaking with Mike Deneke, Dodge set out to finance Bomb City, driven by his ambition to keep his word and assisted by a visionary “look book” put together by Brooks. “They would always (guess it was) a politician or maybe a lawyer because he’s so well spoken,” Dodge said. “When I tell them it’s Marilyn Manson, their jaws drop to the floor. He’s so well spoken and articulate – and that’s the film. If I would have shown them who that was immediately, I would have lost half the audience because they would have been turned off by (Manson’s) appearance.” The film took three years (2013 to 2016) to produce f ro m s t a r t t o f i n i s h , production lasting 19 days. Bomb City’s premiere at the Dallas International Film Festival won the film Best Narrative Feature and Audience Choice Award, followed with another Audience Choice Award at the Nashville International Film Festival. Music for the film was provided almost entirely by Brian Deneke’s real-life favorite bands; the score was produced by Sheldon Chick and his brother Cody Chick. Some rap music was provided by another New Albany native and friend of Dodge’s, Rodney Brown, who goes by Young Zillion. The awards don’t end there either, with Dave Davis (True Detective, The Big Short) winning Best Actor in Nashville for his leading role as Brian Deneke. Competing against the likes of Burt Reynolds, this is a prolific win for Bomb City, but far from the peak of its profile. Richard Linklater (Dazed and Confused, B oyh o o d) p ers onally endorsed the film, and his daughter, Lorelei Linklater, plays a role as well. Rocker Marilyn Manson also appears in the film. “(Manson) is the film, in a nutshell,” Dodge said. He recounted playing “Bomb City,” the movie New Albany High School alumnus Major Dodge executive produced, has garnered major buzz in the film industry. “ T w o o f R o d n e y ’s original songs are in the film,” Dodge said. “What was crazy is I asked if he had anything that could pass as (90s rap) without telling him what the story is about, and he sends me this song about driving around in my Cadillac, (which was) the murder weapon (in Brian Deneke’s death).” No matter the odds, a 21