Movie Magic

By Grace Huseth

With the film industry booming in Georgia, prop warehouses in Atlanta are getting extra attention, especially if they have thousands of unique military-, medical- and sci-fi-ready props.

Atlanta prop expert Rich “RJ” Rappaport says that if filmmakers need a prop, RJR Props has it. Inside their warehouse, props ranging from aircraft interiors to X-ray machines have provided unique props to nearly 150 feature films, television, commercials and music videos for more than eight years.

Rappaport created the cockpit electronics in the drama “Sully,” out Sept 9. This biographical film recounts the heroic landing of US Airways Flight 1549 in New York’s Hudson River, also known as “Miracle on the Hudson.” The feature stars Tom Hanks, Aaron Eckhart and Laura Linney, and is directed by Clint Eastwood.

“We collaborated with the very talented set decorator and lead man team to come up with an amazing cockpit set,” Rappaport said. “We re-engineered a variety of electronics to come alive and look realistic by experimenting with the right colors and luminosity. That set is essential in the film, and it looked great!”

Chances are if you seen some of the latest movies including “Captain America,” “Containment,” “Allegiant,” “Passengers,” “Miracles from Heaven,” and “Fast and Furious 8,” then you’ve seen items provided by RJR Props. Other popular TV shows and Netflix series including “NCIS,” “House of Cards,”

“Rectify,” “Sleepy Hollow 3” and “The Walking Dead” used set equipment as well.

While Rappaport is proud of his futuristic props – especially for “Captain America” – he can’t disclose any details, as many of the props were placed in scenes crucial to the storyline.

Rappaport’s widely varied background includes 26 years in the military, medical, computers and engineering field. The RJR crew has even more diverse skills, making them leaders in the technical prop industry.

“In this industry we need to be experts in many fields,” he said. “Having a medical background helps us provide the right looking medical props, engineering helps us design the props, and military helps with planning military props, including our airplane.”

Rappaport enjoys creating props for all genres, but has a specialty in computers. RJR custom-built a Huey helicopter cockpit for “The Walking Dead” season 3 premiere and custom-designed electronic props for a number of major sets in “Ant-Man.”

“I really love the challenges of making computers look right on film and making hightech security gear that amazes viewers. We provide computers from any era, from the earliest days to the latest super computers,” Rappaport said.

Those interested in the film industry or fans who want to catch a glimpse of their favorite movie’s set design can sign up for RJR Prop’s monthly newsletter. Each month RJR Props announces new props, ideas and projects.

For more information, visit rjrprops.com.

Business Briefs

Tecton Builders and Cross-Town Realty have broken ground on The Willoughby, a 60,000-square-foot office building, on Willoughby Way in the Old Fourth Ward. The building will be adjacent to the Atlanta BeltLine’s Eastside Trail and Historic 4th Ward Skate Park. The Willoughby will have four floors of creative office suites ranging from 2,100 square feet to entire floors of 13,000 to 15,000 square feet. There will also be a 3,800-square-foot covered rooftop patio with a bar/kitchenette for entertaining, skyline views, a communal break-room space, gigabyte connectivity, private bathrooms with a shower and free, underground tenant parking. The Willoughby is now leasing and set to open June, 2017. Visit willoughbyoffice.com for more details. Developers have unveiled plans for a largescale, mixed-income village near MercedesBenz Stadium, according to Curbed Atlanta. The $150-million project would include 700 new housing units with commercial facilities, communal spaces, fitness center and retail offerings throughout. The village would rise along Northside Drive – on the 12-acre site of the former Herndon Homes public housing project –about mile north of the new stadium.

WOULD YOU GET A LUNG CANCER SCREENING IF WE CALLED IT A “LUNG-OGRAM”?

Comet Pub & Lanes is now open in Decatur’s Suburban Plaza featuring bowling, shuffleboard, a chef-driven food menu and a large selection of beer. The 32-lane bowling alley, created by the folks who created Twain’s, took over the spot once occupied by Suburban Lanes at 2619 North Decatur Road. For more information, visit cometpubandlanes.com.

New York City-based Posner Books plans to open shop at Ponce City Market in September. The 2,000-square-foot shop will have fiction, non-fiction and a large children’s books section. There will also be gifts and stationery. George Banks, formerly of Paces Properties, and Kristi Rooks, formerly of WRS, have joined forces to create Revel, a new firm that focuses on place-making for commercial real estate developments.

Renovations are now complete on the Crowne Plaza and Staybridge Suites in Midtown. As the first dual-branded property for the two IHG brands, the hotel will cater to travelers coming to the Atlanta area for an overnight or long-term stay. The 360-room Crowne Plaza Atlanta-Midtown and 102-room Staybridge Suites

Atlanta-Midtown hotel is debuting as a single building after a dramatic renovation.

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital’s plan for the new Marcus Heart and Vascular Center is moving ahead as the Buckhead hospital prepares to soon file with the state for a certificate of need. The 16-story tower would sit on the existing Piedmont and Collier campus. The exact room count is still undetermined, according to officials.

General Electric plans to establish a global digital operations center in Midtown for its Information Technology unit. The new center will eventually create more than 400 jobs as GE shutters its Fairfield, Conn.-based IT headquarters and consolidates work from around the country in Atlanta.

UK-based CMS Payments Intelligence Inc. (CMSpi), an independent payments consultancy, has relocated its U.S. headquarters to new offices in Atlanta. The company has already added new jobs and plans to create more. The consultancy’s roster of clients includes Abercrombie & Fitch, Domino’s, ExxonMobil, Jack in the Box, Marriott Hotels, McDonald’s, Red Lobster, Starbucks, Subway and many more. The new CMSpi’s headquarters is in the Promenade II building on Peachtree Street in Midtown.

Most women know to get a mammogram but not a lung screening. Yet lung cancer kills more women than any other type of cancer. The good news is a lung cancer screening can help detect it early when there are more treatment options. Northside Hospital Cancer Institute offers a low dose CT screening if you’re 55 – 77 years old and a current or previous smoker. It’s quick and easy and could save your life. For information call 404-531-4444 or visit northside.com/lung