John P. Brackin - Freelance Writer - Articles

Local Engineer Keeping Hollywood on Track

Alabaster Newsletter, November 2007

When it comes to movies, everyone loves watching a big, climactic train scene, with the runaway train hurtling down the tracks and the film’s hero trying desperately to save the day. But few realize that many of those scenes have their origins right here in Alabaster.

Dr. Art Miller, an Alabaster resident for almost seven years now, runs Rail Transportation Management Specialists, Inc., a consulting business that organizes and coordinates train scenes for major motion pictures.

Dr. Art Miller (left) on set of the George Clooney film Leatherheads. Among his many film credits are October Sky, The Ty Cobb Story, Courage Under Fire, and the recently-wrapped George Clooney project Leatherheads.

The idea for the company originated when Miller was in graduate school at the University of Tennessee. While working on his dissertation, he happened upon a Mel McDaniel music video that was being filmed on a local railroad.

“It was in graduate school that I realized that railroads didn’t speak the language of production very well and film companies didn’t speak the language of railroads very well. And I thought there was a need for an interpreter,” Miller said.

Miller’s background in television broadcasting, as well as his practical railroad experience, allowed him the opportunity to speak to both industries. He soon consulted on the Danny DeVito project Throw Momma From the Train, and the business took off from there.

“It was during the late ’80s that I put the business together and began to understand how difficult it was to bring two dissimilar industries together. Railroads work very hard at doing their business the same way day after day. The film business is somewhat different. It’s very collaborative. Plans change at the last minute. The film company works to get the director’s visual concepts on the film,” Miller said.

Miller (left) working to keep things safe One value that Miller has been able to instill in both is that of safety. His company has accrued a remarkable safety record, supervising over 100,000 hours of injury-free work. The achievement was recently honored in the state Legislature by Rep. Cam Ward and Sen. Hank Erwin.

“Safety has been one of our primary missions,” Miller said. “We’ve got two. One is to get the best possible on-screen production value. If you can’t do that safely, then you may as well pack up and go home.”

Miller grew up in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He moved to Alabaster after marrying Dr. Charlotte Draper, an administrator with the Shelby County Schools. And even though this isn’t exactly the heart of Hollywood, he thinks it has potential for future filmmakers.

“Alabaster’s a great place to be based. You’re close enough to transportation. You’re in the heart of Alabama and Georgia and Mississippi, which hasn’t had a lot of film use. And the railroads here particularly are untouched. So this area has a lot to offer,” he said.