If you watch the AMC original series Breaking Bad, you know that cars are as much a part of the series as the actors. The work of finding such perfect vehicles requires the business acumen of a car dealer and the eyes of a casting director. Dennis Milliken is that guy. We spent some time talking with him to learn more about his craft, and how he sourced the cars for this incredible show.
Milliken entered the movie business through family connections, but not with a father who was a film producer, or a brother who was a hot-shot director. "My entry into the film industry was in 1975, while in college at David Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee," said Milliken.
"My Uncle was a major player in the Dallas Teamsters at that time. Once the industry discovered the Dallas area for filming purposes, there was a need to expand the list of members to work the film projects."
Milliken's first break came during the filming of the dystopian sci-fi thriller Logan's Run, starring Michael York and Jenny Agutter. It's notable because it was Farrah Fawcett's first major motion picture. Then, while in college, he went back and forth during the summer to work on the set of the smash CBS drama Dallas in 1978.
From there, he worked on a string of successful movies and television shows as a transportation coordinator. Milliken was the man who found the cars for RoboCop,as well as period pieces like the TV version of In the Heat of the Night, the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic Great Balls of Fire, and The Road to Wellville.
Regarding Breaking Bad, Milliken is quick to note that the show's creator, Vince Gilligan, was instrumental in the selection of the show's many memorable vehicles.
"As much as I'd like to take all the credit for this, I have to proudly admit that the cars on Breaking Bad have Vince Gilligan's fingerprints all over them. The process always started with the script. At times he would be very specific about what he wanted for a character. When the description wasn't defined, I would post a variety of options for him to consider via the Internet and he would choose from those options presented him," he said.
"Our goal was always to try to give Vince what he wanted for a character and to never disappoint him. While many of the cars that made it on screen came from my input or the input of my department, all decisions that lead to what ended up on the screen was 100% Vince. It didn't matter what it was: Cars, Props, Sets, Wardrobe, Music, you name it, Vince was instrumental [in] it being on the screen. I have unlimited respect and admiration for him and for his total involvement on the project."
Here's the backstory on a few of the more recognizable vehicles from the show:
Walter White – Pontiac Aztek
The Aztek was one of two vehicles established in the show's pilot, before Milliken joined the crew as transportation coordinator for its first episode. He credits show creator Vince Gilligan with a clear vision for what all the cars should bring to the show's production.
"The story that I got was that Vince was presented a few options and fell in love with his 'Mr. Chips' (a reference to the 1939 film, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, which tells the story of an aging headmaster) riding around Albuquerque in this vehicle."
"And that distinctive green color was all Vince, as well. It's interesting that the Pontiac Aztek was voted as the one of the worst cars made. It kinda made Mr. White look somewhat pathetic, but Aztek owners tend to be very protective of their vehicles. This just goes to show you that Vince shares the same view of the majority of those taking the aforementioned polls."
Walter White and Jesse Pinkman – Fleetwood Bounder Motorhome
The Fleetwood Bounder motorhome was the second vehicle established in the Breaking Bad pilot, prior to Milliken's arrival on set. It presented some special issues, because—like many vehicles that are going to be involved in chase or crash scenes—it couldn't be the only one:
"I believe that the art department on the pilot was instrumental in securing that vehicle," said Milliken. "It was a miracle that it survived the length of the series. It's currently on display at the Sony Lot.
