Find updates on the Oklahoma film + music industries!
Find updates on the Oklahoma film + music industries!
DIRECTOR'S NOTE 
CLICK THE IMAGE TO HEAR A MESSAGE FROM
TAVA MALOY SOFSKY, DIRECTOR OF OF+MO!
Tava Maloy Sofsky, Director of the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO), brings another video intro to our August 2020 newsletter recapping our previous sponsorship at WoodyFest, and looking ahead to an upcoming music release and the local film industry that is ramping up!
Start your new career in the film industry!
In 2019, nearly 40 film and television projects filmed in communities around the state, making it one of the busiest years Oklahoma has ever had for film and television production. 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!
COVID-19 Resources for the Film + Music Workforce
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office is aware of the enormous financial burden to those whose creative practices and incomes are being adversely impacted by COVID-19. We are deeply saddened that it is resulting in loss of work due to venue closures, halts on productions, festival and event cancellations, and travel restrictions. To help support the concerns of the industry during this time, we have expanded our website to include an emergency resource page, which includes economic relief funds, ways to connect with organizations for any questions you may have, virtual training, and support & charities for the film & music industries. New resources will be updated regularly so please check back often and share with anyone you know in these industries.
Reopening Oklahoma for Film and TV Production
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office believes the highest priority to maintain our state’s film industry amid the COVID-19 Pandemic is the safety of Oklahoma’s filmmakers, crew members, talent, vendors, location owners and cities. As such, and in accordance with the State of Oklahoma’s three-phased approach to safely reopen the economy, known as The Open Up and Recover Safely (OURS) plan, OF+MO has released Considerations for Oklahoma Filmmaking during COVID-19 in a printable PDF along with a newly added Reopening Oklahoma webpage with additional related resources for filmmakers at this time.

Considerations for Oklahoma Filmmaking during COVID-19 is comprised of local resources and general considerations for workplace safety, including a breakdown of considerations by individual film departments. The document’s suggested use should accompany, not supersede, any federal, state, local guidelines or those from any respective film industry guilds, unions, companies or studios.

JOIN OF+MO AT THESE EVENTS
Mercury Lounge "Live from the Mercury"
Streaming | Dates TBA
Jazz on the Green
Streaming | September 11
Thriving Roots: A Virtual Community Music Conference
Streaming | September 16-18
OF+MO Okie Roundup | Date TBA
OKLAHOMA FILM + MUSIC SPOTLIGHT
RYAN DANIEL DOBSON | writer/director
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO)’s “Oklahoma Film + Music Spotlight” features various filmmakers, musicians and industry leaders who have experienced the positive benefits of making film and music in Oklahoma.
August's Spotlight features Ryan Daniel Dobson, writer and director of the Oklahoma film “Hosea”, which screened at the 2019 deadCenter Film Festival last summer. He talks about why they chose to film in Oklahoma with such unique spaces to film and the wonderful Oklahoma crew and cast.
Click the image to watch this month's spotlight video!
INNOVATION INSIGHT
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office's "Innovation Insight” series profiles a variety of Oklahoma film and music professionals who have found creative ways to continue their craft or businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we continue adjusting in these uncharted waters, our creatives around the state continue finding innovative ways to use technology and we agree with their mindset: “The show must go on”.
August’s Innovation Insight harkens back to a classic pastime era of movie watching that’s finding new resurgence given the current health and safety guidelines across the world: the drive-in movie theatre. A number of recent Oklahoma film releases have found success on the drive-in circuit, including “Infamous”, which landed at #2 on the U.S. Box Office Charts during its debut weekend. Even Oklahoma music icons like Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton are trailblazing ways to recreate their live concert experiences by hosting televised concerts with exclusive drive-in screenings around the country. 
SUBMIT YOUR OWN STORY OR NOMINATE
FILM + MUSIC NEWS
Behind the scenes of "In the Gap".
Photo credit: Johnny Graham
Motion Picture and Sound Recording Industries Being Considered as Essential Business
With the support of Governor Kevin Stitt, Lt. Governor Matt Pinnell, as well Secretary of Commerce Brent Kisling, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office is proud to announce the motion picture and sound recording industries are now included in Oklahoma’s permanent list of Essential Businesses (NAICS: 512110, 5122). This inclusion means the motion picture and recording industries will remain open as long as essential businesses are permitted to do so moving forward. Find the complete list of Oklahoma’s essential businesses on the Oklahoma Department of Commerce OURS page, listed on the Reopening Oklahoma page on our website. 

“The Pale Door” Available in Theatres, On-Demand and Digital August 21
Produced in Oklahoma, “The Pale Door” will be released by RLJE Films in select theatres, on-demand platforms and digital cinemas on August 21, 2020. The hybrid horror-western film tells the story of the Dalton Gang, a group of unsuspecting outlaws who uncover the sinister secrets of a seemingly uninhabited ghost town after seeking shelter in the community when their previous robbery doesn’t go as planned. Devin Druid (“13 Reasons Why”), Zachary Knighton (“Magnum P.I.”), Bill Sage (“Power”), Pat Healy (“Cheap Thrills”) and Natasha Bassett (“Hail, Caesar!”) star in the film, which used the state’s film incentive and was filmed on-location in Oklahoma last summer. Featured locations in the film include Snake River Junction in Bray; the Oklahoma Railway Museum in Oklahoma City; the Jones Homestead in Jones; and Rollins Creek in Guthrie, which served as the primary backdrop for the film and is this month’s featured location.

New and Updated Projects in the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Queue
OF+MO is pleased to announce three new projects and four projects with new start dates, that have all been pre-qualified to utilize Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program. Due to safety and public health concerns surrounding COVID-19, some productions have temporarily modified or suspended their production dates in Oklahoma. New production dates will be provided as soon as possible by those productions.

New + Updated Projects
  • “Impropriety” – August 14, 2020 (new start date)
  • "Reservation Dogs" - September 10, 2020 (new start date)
  • "Parked for Love" - September 15, 2020
  • "Cheer for Your Life" - August 24, 2020
  • “Monstrous” – September 21, 2020 (new start date)
  • "God's Not Dead 4" - October 12, 2020 (new start date)
  • “Pioneer Woman” (TV Series) – January 15, 2021
Please note that these dates are subject to change pending the production’s compliance with the benchmarks and guidelines of the rebate program. For a current listing of films in the rebate queue, please visit the Filming in Oklahoma page of our website. For a current listing of films in the rebate queue, please visit the Filming in Oklahoma page of our website.
Find crew and casting calls in Oklahoma on the jobs page of our website!⁠ Have one? Send it to us at filminfo@oklahomafilm.org.
Collaboration Album Release Recorded at Leon Russell's Paradise Studios
Horton Records in Tulsa, Oklahoma, announces the release of Back to Paradise:  A Tulsa Tribute to Okie Music on August 28. In February 2020, a group of notable Tulsa musicians traveled to Leon Russell’s famed Paradise Studio at Grand Lake in Oklahoma to record the first album tracked there since 1978. Some of the biggest names in the industry recorded at Paradise Studio; Leon Russell, Bob Seger, and Freddie King, while even more musicians and creatives escaped to fellowship at this Okie oasis. Seventeen tracks written by Tulsa's finest were recorded over the course of four days with a total of 20 Tulsa musicians participating in the recording, including Paul Benjaman, Jesse Aycock, Grammy nominee John Fullbright, Paddy Ryan and Aaron Boehler.
THAT'S A WRAP

Virtual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Draws Over 15,000 Viewers
OF+MO was proudly a returning sponsor for the 23rd annual Woody Guthrie Folk Festival (WoodyFest), which took place July 14, 18 & 19, 2020. In lieu of a physical festival this year, the Woody Guthrie Coalition made the decision to host a free event that featured over 100 performing artists along with several family-friendly events. This year's virtual event drew over 15,000 viewers over the course of their three-day event, with over 80,000 views. OF+MO hosted the Songwriting Workshop hosted by Ellis Paul, which saw a full Zoom classroom.
Production Wraps in Oklahoma on New Animated Series in Cherokee Language
Production has wrapped in Oklahoma for “ᎢᎾᎨᎢ”, pronounced “Inage’i”, which translates to “In The Woods”, an original animated series for children performed entirely in the Cherokee language. “Inage’i” follows the adventures of four animal friends who live together in the forests of Turtle Island. Iga Daya’i the mischievous rabbit, Juksvsgi th gruff wolf, Anawegi the conscientious deer and Kvliwohi the wise bear are characters drawn from the rich Cherokee storytelling tradition. Cherokee Nation and FireThief Productions, in close collaboration with Cherokee Language Masters Apprentice Program, assembled an all-Oklahoma team to create the pilot episode.
CURRENT CREW + CASTING CALLS
FEATURED ARTISTS

SHARON TABB | film
make-up & hair
“By moving back to Oklahoma I truly thought my production make-up life was over. Boy was I wrong! Since 2011, I have seen the Oklahoma film industry take off and provide so many opportunities to Oklahomans. In fact, my spouse and two adult children also work in the industry. It’s been a true blessing for my entire family. I am so grateful to work in Oklahoma, and work alongside all the other talented artists in this industry.”
PAUL BENJAMAN | music
Americana singer/songwriter
“As a lifelong Oklahoman, my state has provided an experience inseparable from my music career. From my first guitar lesson at age eight to its universities where I studied music to also serving as the home of the majority of my heroes and mentors. Oklahoma has provided me a network and fan base that has allowed multiple albums, overseas tours and opportunities as a bandleader that I never would have imagined. I’m inspired to create here.”
FEATURED OKLAHOMA LOCATION
ROLLINS CREEK OLD WEST TOWN | guthrie
Located outside of Guthrie, Oklahoma in an area known as “Cowboy Flats”, Rollins Creek Old West Town is a representation of an 1880’s frontier town that has been used for movie, television commercials, weddings, concerts and other special events. The Old West Town consists of a Boarding House, Madam La Rue's Social Club, Lucky Lady Saloon, Undertakers, Gunsmith, Marshals Office and Jail, Boot Hill, Hanna's Mercantile, Paradise Saloon, First National Bank, Laundry, Barber Shop, Farnsworth Freight Office, Mustangs Leather Goods and a Blacksmith. The property’s expansive Paradise Saloon structure is 2200 square feet and has four 8' x 10' bedrooms and one 16' × 10' bedroom upstairs, two bathrooms with showers, a wood stove, central heat and air, modern kitchen with fridge, dishwasher, microwave and a stove/oven. Most recently, Rollins Creek helped set the scene for the newly released western horror film “The Pale Door”, which filmed in Oklahoma last year utilizing the state’s film rebate program. 

If you are interested in showcasing your community or featuring your location in the Oklahoma Locations Directory, please contact Yousef Kazemi at Yousef.Kazemi@TravelOK.com or visit our website for more information.
EVENTS AT A GLANCE
A great way to continue to support Oklahoma musicians and filmmakers is to watch local live streaming events. Visit our online Events Calendar to find streaming film and music events in the state.
RECEIVE A FREE OF+MO FANNY PACK WHEN YOU UPDATE YOUR LISTING!

Oklahoma Crew + Musicians: Update Your Listing in Our Directories!

Register or update your listing in the Oklahoma Production and Music Directories within the next 30 days and receive a commemorative Oklahoma Film + Music Office fanny pack to be mailed to the address provided on your profile. If a different mailing address is preferred, please communicate that to our team so we can ensure proper delivery.

There’s no better time to update your listing, so please take a few minutes to login to your profile and help us showcase our incredibly talented artists.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER/UPDATE YOUR LISTING IN THE PRODUCTION DIRECTORY
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER/UPDATE YOUR LISTING IN THE MUSIC DIRECTORY
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.

Stay Connected with Your Legislator
Connect with your local area state legislators at oklegislature.gov or by using the Oklahoma Legislative Guide for the 57th Legislature 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.

CLICK THE IMAGE TO SEE WHY YOUR NEXT
FILMING PROJECT SHOULD BE IN OKLAHOMA!
About the Oklahoma Film + Music Office:
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma's film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film + Music Office please visit okfilmmusic.org.
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