Train Crash Scene 2/20 - H 2014
Wayne County Sheriff's OfficeMidnight Rider director Randall Miller is putting together a team to help deal with the fallout from the on-set death of camera operator Sarah Jones.
On Thursday, calls to Miller were being referred to Hiltzik Strategies, the public relations consulting firm of Matthew Hiltzik. The company and an unidentified law firm are helping Miller respond to the mounting media attention surrounding the fatal accident on the film’s Georgia set on Feb. 20. Jones, 27, was killed after being hit by an oncoming freight train while shooting on the tracks.
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Production of the Gregg Allman biopic, which stars William Hurt and is produced by Unclaimed Freight Productions, was suspended on Wednesday, and the investigation into the accident is ongoing.
In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Film Allman said: “In light of the tragic loss, we have decided to put the production of Midnight Rider on hold.”
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Hiltzik Strategies is no stranger to complicated cases, having represented former Notre Dame football player Manti Te’o following the revelation that his girlfriend — whom he thought had died — had never actually existed. Following a successful post-hoax media strategy, Te’o is currently a linebacker for the San Diego Chargers.
Hiltzik’s other past clients include Justin Bieber, Katie Couric and Alec Baldwin. Before opening his own firm, he was previously with British PR giant Freud Communications.
