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First and foremost, we’re grateful to report the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) website has been restored and is accessible across all platforms after several weeks of technical issues outside our control. We’re excited to be able to once again share the wealth of industry information and resources that exist on our website, particularly as we welcome the spring season, which consistently brings opportunities to spotlight Oklahoma’s film and music talent.
This month, several productions are in progress throughout the state and many more are in pre-production, so we encourage all local and expatriate crew to visit our Now Filming and Jobs pages for a variety of career opportunities statewide. Don’t be surprised to see camera trucks, catering tents or even movie stars in some of our Film Friendly Communities, and we invite our local residents, small business owners, and more to check out some valuable film etiquette tips in our Film Friendly Handbook.
Speaking of our film friendly communities, more and more organizations are offering localized film incentives to attract the production to their cities and regions. Last month, the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (Tulsa FMAC), which made a huge splash at the recently wrapped SXSW Conference & Festival in Austin, Texas, relaunched their 2022 Tulsa County Film Recovery Fund for qualified productions in Tulsa. Similarly, the Cherokee Nation Film Office began accepting applications for their newly established film incentive program. And, most recently, Oklahoma City launched a Film Incentive Program to boost the city's film industry and generate more city sales tax revenues. With the previously announced film incentive from the City of Bethany also in the mix, we couldn't be more proud of the support of Oklahoma's film and television industry from the state, tribal and city levels, and we wish all of these entities the best as they move forward with their respective program.
In closing, we encourage local industry stakeholders to connect with their state legislators at Film Day at the Capitol later this month with additional details to be announced soon. Make sure to follow us on social media and stay tuned for more details on this event and more. We look forward to seeing you out there!
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Congratulations to OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky on her selection for The Journal Record's 2022 Power List of Innovative Women!
This list features 33 Oklahoma women who bring novelty and creativity to the ways they work within their respective industry to meet challenges through determination, poise and ingenuity. We’re incredibly proud of Tava and thankful for her passionate leadership, devotion and service to growing the state’s film, television and music industries.
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Stay in Touch with Our *NEW* Emails!
With our recent move to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, make sure to stay connected with us by accessing our updated contact information, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses. We look forward to hearing from you!
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| JOIN OF+MO AT THESE EVENTS
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| Film Day at the Oklahoma Capitol
Oklahoma City | April 20, 2-7PM
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The Film Education Institute of Oklahoma and Tulsa Technology Center Partner to Produce an Educational Film Workshop
The Film Education Institute of Oklahoma (FEIO) and Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa Tech) are proud to announce a partnership to produce an educational film workshop in Tulsa, Oklahoma, June 13-16 at Tulsa Tech’s Riverside Campus. The Film Production Workshop provides educational and real-world experiences to individuals interested in pursuing a career in the film industry.
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Film Tulsa Fund Relaunches for 2022 with $600,00
The Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (Tulsa FMAC) created the Tulsa County Film Recovery Program (“Film Tulsa Fund”) to focus on the goal of driving an economic boost through film production and providing education to Tulsa County’s film industry while growing the workforce. This program addresses the negative economic impact on Tulsa’s film industry caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proposal was passed by the Tulsa County Commissioners for allocation of Tulsa County American Rescue Act funding in December 2021 and goes into effect March 2022 with $600,000 available funding for productions meeting specific criteria. The Film Tulsa Fund is administered by Tulsa FMAC, a division of Tulsa Regional Tourism which is housed at the Tulsa Regional Chamber. The Film Tulsa Fund is available for productions filming in and around Tulsa County from March-December 2022. Productions that apply for the Film Tulsa Fund will be eligible for 3% of their total Tulsa County spend (Minimum spend in Tulsa County must be $50,000). Maximum cash rebate to not exceed $150,000 per production.
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Play Tulsa Music LIVE Fund Relaunches for 2022
Play Tulsa Music funding is now available for Tulsa County venues to be used exclusively for offsetting 50% of a musician/band performance fee incurred between April 1 and December 31, 2022. The Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (Tulsa FMAC) created the Tulsa County Music Recovery Program (Play Tulsa Music) with the goal to create an economic boost to the music ecosystem throughout Tulsa County, as well as help local musicians and the live music sector get back to performing. Play Tulsa Music is focused on providing job opportunities for musicians and support positions associated with live music performances.
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APPLY TODAY! Red Dirt Relief Fund Launches New COVID Crisis Grant Program
Red Dirt Relief Fund is launching a new COVID Crisis grant program to provide up to $500 per household on a first-come, first-served basis to Oklahoma music professionals who have lost $1,000 or more in missed work due to COVID illness or cancellations since December 1, 2021; face immediate housing, food, medical or transportation insecurity; and worked in the music business for the past five years.
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Click the image to watch The Resonance Series with Jeremy Thomas!
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| WATCH NOW! The Resonance Series with Jeremy Thomas
The Resonance Series is a FREE guest lecture series hosted by the University of Oklahoma's (OU) School of Music and Jazz in June that connects OU students and Norman musicians with music professionals from around the world. Speakers share their experiences, provide the future generation with insight into the industry and career paths, and answer questions students may have. Presented by OF+MO, February's episode featured Jeremy Thomas, a multi-instrumentalist from Oklahoma. Learn more about the series and future episodes here.
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Current Crew Calls, Casting, Career and Internship Opportunities
CREW
CASTING
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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| BUSINESS + INFRASTRUCTURE
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| | OKC Film Incentive Program Looks to Boost Film Industry, Other Investments
Crafted by a partnership between the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the City of Oklahoma City and the Alliance for Economic Development of Oklahoma City, a new incentive has been launched to boost the city’s film industry and generate more sales tax revenues for the city. The Oklahoma City Film Incentive Program provides filmmakers rebates between 5% and 10% of qualified expenses for production and post-production activities. Hotel stays, catering, set construction, editing and photography are just some of the activities that could be deemed as qualified expenses under the incentive program. Only feature films, television series, including certain types of streaming series, TV pilots and reality TV programs are eligible for the rebates.
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WATCH NOW! OF+MO Joins Gateway Entertainment for Virtual Film Commissioners Panel During Sundance Film Festival
OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky joined the Gateway Entertainment, alongside additional film offices, for the virtual panel ‘Film Commissioners – Getting Real on How to Make Your Film’ during the 2022 Sundance Film Festival. Film commissioners from around the country discussed the realities of making a film and the support they can provide to emerging artists. Other panelists included Moderator Elizabeth Bell from Gateway Entertainment; Allison Whitmore from the Montana Film Office; Jennifer Loren from the Cherokee Nation Film Office; and John Daugherty from Film Columbus.
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Click the image to watch 'Film Commissioners - Getting Real on How to Make Your Film'.
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FEATURED BUSINESS
Spotlight Cinema Supply
Spotlight Cinema Supply is an Oklahoma-based rental company that caters to the film, television and commercial industry. They have an ever-expanding inventory of equipment, including production supplies, walkies, location supplies and, most recently, grip and lighting.
"Opening a film-related business in Oklahoma has been incredibly rewarding! The state’s incentive program has proven to be attractive to projects of all sizes and continues to attract incredible productions to the state, from low budget indie films to large studio projects. Our excitement grew when we learned of the Cherokee Nation’s incentive program going into effect March of this year! With the continued success of these programs, Oklahoma is well on its way to becoming one of the leading film communities in the nation."
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The Oklahoma Film + Music Office to Host Stage at Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to host a stage during the Bob Childers’ Gypsy Café, Oklahoma’s largest homegrown songwriter festival, returning to Stillwater, Oklahoma, in person on Wednesday, April 27, for the first time since the pandemic began. Now in its eleventh year, the festival will span three stages with song swap sets from 58 Oklahoma songwriters, including perennial favorites Kaitlin Butts, Mike McClure, Randy Crouch, Mike Hosty and the Red Dirt Rangers, while adding nine new voices to the lineup, as well as the winner of the Jimmy LaFave Songwriting Contest.
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Simply Indie Film Festival Founders & Directors Lynzi (left) and Marisa (right) Carlson with OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky (middle)
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| OF+MO Spotlights Oklahoma Film Industry at Simply Indie Film Festival
OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky was invited by the founders of Simply Indie Film Festival to spotlight Oklahoma's thriving film industry with opening remarks at a luncheon held for local, national and international filmmakers attending this year’s event. Held in the film friendly certified community of Edmond, the Simply Indie Film Festival returned for a second year to showcase short films, narrative and documentary features, screenplays, photography and more – with many local talents featured throughout the three-day event held February 24-26, 2022. Many thanks to Simply Indie Film Festival for having us and congratulations on a second year of success!
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Right to left: Alice Cottle, City of Pawnee Mayor; Yousef Kazemi, OF+MO; Randi Thompson, Buffalo Theatre Owner
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| OF+MO Promotes Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program to City of Pawnee
OF+MO Outreach & Production Manager Yousef Kazemi spoke with City of Pawnee leadership and community members on the impact of Oklahoma’s film and television industry, particularly the benefits of OF+MO’s Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program, which seeks to certify ‘film friendly’ communities across all 77 counties statewide. Many thanks to event organizers Randi Thompson of the Buffalo Theatre and Joyce Freeman of the Pawnee Chamber of Commerce for hosting us.
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Jeanette Stanton, OF+MO (second from left), pictured with fellow panelists and attendees.
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| OF+MO Participates on Filmmaking Panel for the Oklahoma City Rotary
OF+MO's Deputy Director, Jeanette Stanton, was proud to be featured on an Oklahoma Filmmaking Panel for the Oklahoma City Rotary alongside Boiling Point Media Partner & COO Emily Taylor and Oscar-winning producer & Oklahoma City Community College Artist in Residence Gray Frederickson, with moderation by filmmaker and former deadCenter Film Festival Director Lance McDaniel. The panelists highlighted the many accomplishments of Oklahoma’s film and television industry from the perspectives of workforce, business, education, infrastructure and more. Thank you Oklahoma City Rotary for inviting our office!
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Left to right: Jennifer Seaton, Visit Edmond;
Yousef Kazemi, OF+MO; Sarah London, City of Edmond; Amanda Fortney, Francis Tuttle Technology Center
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| OF+MO Presented at “Edmond in the Reels” Film Friendly Workshop
The City of Edmond, Visit Edmond and Francis Tuttle Technology Center proudly hosted “Edmond in the Reels,” a free film friendly workshop for local residents, business owners and students looking to learn more about the benefits of Oklahoma’s film and television industry. OF+MO Outreach & Production Manager Yousef Kazemi led a presentation highlighting the economic impact of Oklahoma’s film industry as well as workforce development and community partnerships, particularly in the recently certified film friendly community of Edmond, which has welcomed filming on a number of recent film and television productions, including “American Underdog," “Land of Gold” and “The Adventures of Jurassic Pet: The Lost Secret." Many thanks to the aforementioned organizations for hosting this event and welcoming our presentation.
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Left to right: Steve Maddox, City of El Reno TV & Film Commission; Tava Maloy Sofsky, OF+MO; Cynthia Reid, Oklahoma City Chamber; and Justin Fortney, City of Guthrie Tourism.
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| OF+MO Sits on Film and Television Industry Panel for Greater Oklahoma City Partnership
OF+MO Director, Tava Maloy Sofsky, was proudly featured on a panel highlighting the impact of the film and television industry in Central Oklahoma, hosted by the Greater Oklahoma City Partnership. Sofsky sat alongside Steve Maddox, City of El Reno TV & Film Commission Chairman; Cynthia Reid, VP of Marketing & Communications at Oklahoma City Chamber; and Justin Fortney, Director of the City of Guthrie Tourism.
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Three Oklahoma Cities Achieve Oklahoma Film Friendly Certification
OF+MO is proud to announce the cities of Bartlesville, Weatherford and Woodward have achieved ‘film friendly’ certification after completing the requirements for OF+MO’s Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program. Administered by OF+MO, the Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program seeks to help communities develop the necessary protocol and permits to attract and support film and television productions in their areas. The program first began in 2010 with OF+MO successfully hosting statewide informational workshops across all Tourism Countries designed to educate and assist communities with readying themselves for incoming film and television productions. Since that time, the Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program has expanded its mission with the present goal of establishing certified Film Friendly communities in all 77 Oklahoma counties, so that everyone who chooses may be represented in this booming industry and have the necessary toolkit to do so.
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FEATURED LOCATION
Bartlesville Municipal Airport
Located within Osage County just three miles west of the downtown area, the Bartlesville Municipal Airport offers a full range of services to both transient and local businesses, including aircraft fueling, towing, hangar storage, flight crew vehicles, restrooms, passenger and flight crew lounge areas, weather and flight planning. The airport features one concrete runway, measuring 6,850 feet in length by 100 feet in width. Owned by the film friendly certified City of Bartlesville, this property is an active airport; however, it has been made available for film and television production use subject to impact on the location and the availability based on current tenant use. Most recently, the feature film “Killers of the Flower Moon” leased two buildings on the property for filming and related production needs, including sound stage space, set builds and storage.
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| OKLAHOMA FILM + MUSIC SPOTLIGHTS
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CREATIVE CAREERS OKLAHOMA
Film & Television Part 2: Pre-Production
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| Last year, OF+MO joined Junior Achievement (JA), Creative Oklahoma, Jesse James Films and Maverick Arts as well as nearly 30 local industry professionals to highlight careers in the state’s film and television industry to over 30,000 middle and high school students participating in JA’s Inspire Virtual Program. Throughout this FREE five-part video series, learn about these featured careers: acting, special effects, production accounting, screenwriting, makeup artists, casting, production management, grip, gaffer, costume design, production sound mixing, producing, directing, cinematography, music composition, art development and direction, and vocal work.
Once a film has been given a “Green Light” (financing), everything needs to be designed and planned, from budget and scheduling to locations, crew and talent, to storyboards, lighting, costumes and equipment. In this video, you'll see people who work in "Pre-Production" talking about what they do, why they love their jobs, and some advice for you about the skills you need to join them!
Click the image to watch Careers in Film & Television Part 2: Pre-Production.
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FEATURED FILM CAREER
Brittany Johnson | production office assistant + assistant script supervisor
"My favorite aspect of working in Oklahoma’s film industry is the crew’s work ethic. I often find peace in knowing that whenever I’m working on a project, no matter what your title is, we all feel the same way. We’re all just trying to find our way and figure it out and do our best."
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| | | FEATURED MUSIC CAREER
Moriah Bailey | harpist/songwriter/composer
"The music industry is super vast, and there are lots of roles for people. Try to find a place that feels good to you but also try to find a way to ensure that whatever you do in the music industry nourishes creativity and fosters musical exchange."
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LEARN ABOUT OKLAHOMA'S FILM INCENTIVES
Film and television projects interested in applying for incentives under the ‘Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021’ can learn more information on the Incentives Page of our website.
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- "Reservation Dogs (Season 2)"
- "Untitled Tulsa Project"
- "A Thousand Tomorrows"
- "The Caregiver"
- "Little Amens"
Please note that these dates are subject to change pending the production’s compliance with the benchmarks and administrative rules for the rebate programs. For a current listing of films in the rebate queue, please visit the Now Filming section of our website.
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THAT'S A WRAP
OF+MO is pleased to announce the completion of two projects in the last month, utilizing Oklahoma's film incentives.
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WATCH: Projects Filmed in Oklahoma Releasing this Month!
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| | Start your new career in the Oklahoma film industry!
As the entertainment industry continues to flourish both globally and here in Oklahoma, the need for the continued development and expansion of our local film industry workforce and companies is critical. We invite you to explore resources to learn more about ways you can plug in to the industry and start your careers now!
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Start your new career in the Oklahoma music industry!
Home to some of the most renowned musical acts and venues in the world, there are more exciting opportunities in Oklahoma’s music industry than ever before. We invite you to explore our website’s resources to learn more about ways you can plug in to the industry and start your careers now!
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Listen to Oklahoma Music on Spotify
OF+MO has made it easy to listen to Oklahoma music with 18 playlists (so far) on Spotify. Genres include blues, hip hop, indie, pop, Red Dirt, Oklahoma music in film, and more!
Get your music added! If you’re an Oklahoma artist who is registered in the Oklahoma Music Directory, we invite you to be featured on one of our playlists by updating your listing with your Spotify page or emailing us at filminfo@oklahomafilm.org.
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At Your Fingertips!
Instantly access the Oklahoma Production, Locations and Music Directories with the OKLAHOMA FILM + MUSIC OFFICE APP to explore and connect with Oklahoma's talented crew, accommodating support services, diverse locations and legendary musicians. For more information, visit the iTunes Store.
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Stay Connected with Your Legislator
Connect with your local area state legislators at oklegislature.gov or by using the Oklahoma Legislative Guide app, which provides current contact information and photos of each representative. This free app is provided by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives (OAEC). Find it in the app store.
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| About the Oklahoma Film + Music Office:
Under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) works to promote the state as a viable hub for film, television and music production as well as further develop opportunities for workforce, business and community growth within these sectors. For more information on the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, including the state’s film incentives and additional resources, visit okfilmmusic.org.
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SUPPORT • CONNECT • PROMOTE
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