Director Randall Miller, who remains on probation for a fatal accident on the set of “Midnight Rider,” has been awarded $1.5 million in tax incentives from the state of California to produce his next independent film.
Miller and his team got the tax break to make “Supercrip,” a story about a quadriplegic Uber driver whose life changes when he meets a “selfish movie star,” according to the description.
Miller is not allowed to direct films during his probationary period. In an interview, he said he wrote the script, but is not directing. No director has been hired.
He said filming is expected to begin on March 1, though he is still working to raise the necessary funds. His probation is scheduled to end on March 9, after which he will face no court-imposed restrictions on his activities.
Miller pleaded guilty in 2015 to manslaughter in the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones. He was convicted of planning to shoot up a train bridge near Jesup, Georgia, without permission from the railroad. A freight train killed Jones and injured six others.
Miller served a year in prison and was also sentenced to 10 years of probation. Since agreeing to plead guilty, Miller has sought to have his sentence reduced on five separate occasions, most recently in April.
Under the terms of his probation, Miller is prohibited from working as a director or first assistant director, or taking on other roles in which he is responsible for safety on set.
In 2020, government officials sought to revoke his probation and return him to prison because he directed a film in Serbia. The film, originally titled “Higher Grounds,” was eventually released on streaming platforms under the title “Coffee Wars” in 2023.
Miller and his lawyers claimed they believed he was allowed to make the films, as long as someone else was responsible for safety. At a probation revocation hearing, Miller apologized for the misunderstanding.
Judge Anthony L. Harrison decided to give Miller a severe warning rather than send him to prison.
“You don't get to act like a director, period,” Harrison said at the time.
Since then, Miller has twice sought to end his probation, once asking that a different judge hear his petition, arguing that Harrison was “biased.” Harrison denied both requests.
Jones' father, Richard Jones, opposed early termination of his sentence, telling the judge that Miller was suffering from “buyer's remorse” over his plea agreement. He expressed hope that Miller would “accept the sentence.”
In a ruling in June, Harrison sided with Jones.
“Miller is serving the agreed-upon sentence,” the judge wrote.
Miller's wife, Judy Savin, is producing the film, which is set to shoot in Orange County and San Diego. Toby Forrest, a relative of Miller's on his wife's side, is set to play the quadriplegic Uber driver.
“As an actor with disabilities and a Christopher Reeve Award recipient, I know the challenges and rewards of inclusion in the entertainment industry,” Forrest said in a press release from the California Film Commission on Tuesday. “As a Californian and a wheelchair user, I am incredibly proud to be part of the California Film and Television Tax Credit program and its commitment to creating opportunities for diversity. This tax credit will allow us to create inclusive jobs and build authentic casts, while also engaging in education and outreach that can motivate entertainment companies to integrate diverse hiring at every level of production.”
The film is expected to have a cast of 85 people, and filming is expected to last 30 days, with a total cost of around $5.7 million.
