Columbus native who became influential leader in Georgia film industry has died
Craig Miller, a Hardaway High School graduate who left Columbus to become one of the Georgia film industry’s most influential leaders but still helped his hometown develop into a movie production hub, has died.
The Atlanta-based company he founded and owned, Craig Miller Productions, announced his death Sunday on its Facebook page.
“His vision, faith, and kind spirit touched many,” the post says. “He will be deeply missed.”
The cause and location of his death, his age and obituary weren’t available before publication, but the funeral arrangements are set. The celebration of Miller’s life will be Oct. 19 at Roswell Presbyterian Church, 755 Mimosa Blvd., in Roswell, starting with visitation from 1:30-2:30 p.m., followed by the service from 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Craig Miller’s achievements in Georgia film industry
According to his LinkedIn page and bio on his company’s website, Miller was for eight years co-president of the Georgia Production Partnership, responsible for establishing and maintaining the Georgia Film Tax Credit, an incentive to attract productions to the state.
Miller founded Craig Miller Productions in 1985. He produced feature films, TV pilots, documentaries and award-winning presentations for Fortune 500 companies. Clients included Coca-Cola, UPS, U.S. Army, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Georgia Tourism, CNN, Georgia Department of Economic Development, McDonald’s, The Weather Channel and World Wildlife Fund. Served on Georgia Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.
And he was executive producer of “The Neon Highway,” a movie starring Beau Bridges and Rob Mayes that was filmed in the Columbus area in 2021 and released in 2024.
“It’s hard to put into words what Craig meant to me and so many others in Georgia’s entertainment industry,” Patricia Taylor, a producer, actress and past president of the Georgia Production Partnership, told the Ledger-Enquirer in an email. “He was a mentor in production, while I worked for him at Craig Miller Productions several years ago. Then an advisor and amazing friend as we collaborated through the years by producing projects and leading the board of Georgia Production Partnership.
“He championed the film industry for more than 30 years. Craig’s influence and wisdom were generously shared at every industry event or panel he spoke on. Craig was the kindest and most generous person, with a fierce love for his family. A one-of-a-kind person who was deeply admired. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten.”
On the Georgia Entertainment website, Randy Davidson, CEO and founder of the online publication, wrote in a tribute to Miller, “If it was not for Craig, Georgia Entertainment would not exist. In 2016, I met Craig for the first time. At the time, I owned a media company called GeorgiaCEO.com and he was an avid reader of our Atlanta business publication.
“He invited me to his office and told me that nobody was covering the film industry consistently. I recall him saying ‘It’s going to be huge and deserves an active, dedicated publication.’ A few months later we launched Georgia Film News which eventually evolved into Georgia Entertainment. Over the years he called me his son and I called him my father in this industry.”
Davidson called Miller “an icon of icons in Georgia’s film and entertainment industry, a true champion for creatives and a huge advocate of tourism and economic development in the state. Universally respected and endlessly compassionate.”
Craig Miller’s impact on Columbus film industry
Columbus Film Office commissioner Joel Slocumb described the impact Miller made locally.
“He was a fan of Columbus,” Slocumb told the Ledger-Enquirer on Wednesday. “He spoke on panels here. He spoke individually here. So he was a supporter of what we were doing.
Slocumb appreciated Miller for keeping Columbus in mind for filming opportunities.
“Craig would call me from time to time, looking for something in Columbus that pertained to something he was doing, and maybe it was a point of contact or whatever, and we would work closely with him,” Slocumb said. “He was just very knowledgeable of the industry, but he also was just a very friendly guy.”
Retired VisitColumbusGA president and CEO Peter Bowden, who also led the Columbus Film Office, noted Miller brought the first independent movie to be filmed in Columbus in 2018 after the Columbus Film Office and the Columbus Film Fund Board launched its package of incentives to bring productions to the Chattahoochee Valley.
“The movie was called “Still’ and has gone on to win numerous awards,” Bowden told the Ledger-Enquirer.
Bowden said Miller loved Georgia, loved Columbus and loved telling compelling stories on film — and used his long list of contacts to make that happen.
“I think he knew everyone or had connections everywhere,” Bowden said. “People just knew Craig.”
Miller did great work and was great to work with, Bowden said.
“He was admired by hundreds of people throughout the industry,” Bowden said. “I think the one thing I’ll never forget is that laugh of his, and he gave great bear hugs when he said hello.”
This story was originally published October 15, 2025 at 11:42 AM.
