Pivotal Work: Early Access Series – Making Music Video in Oklahoma
With the “Pivotal Work: Early Access Video Series”, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office invites audiences to preview the valuable educational panels and discussions typically featured at OF+MO hosted or sponsored events, like our Oklahoma Film and Music Conference. Join some of the state’s leading industry professionals for this free video series, which features workshops and discussions designed to educate and inspire audiences seeking to learn more about career opportunities within Oklahoma’s film and music industries. The “Pivotal Work: Early Access Series” launched in December 2020 with subsequent monthly video releases through March 2021.
“Making Music Videos in Oklahoma” features award-winning filmmakers and musicians, including Reagan Elkins, Founder of Intellego Media; and Maggie McClure and Shane Henry of Americana band The Imaginaries. Learn more about the music video production process and how musicians and filmmakers collaborate when their mediums visually intersect from this trio who has developed multiple projects together, including videos for The Imaginaries’ latest singles “Walking On A Wire”, which was filmed at Little Sahara and Gloss Mountain State Park, and “Hometown Christmas”, which was made in Chickasha. This panel is moderated by Yousef Kazemi, Outreach and Production Manager with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office.
Learn More About the Panelists!
Reagan Elkins | Director
Reagan Elkins is an award-winning filmmaker and director from Oklahoma who grew up in Chickasha, Oklahoma. During his senior year of high school, Elkins entered a video competition put on by the American Bankers Association, and to his surprise, he not only won the regional competition, but also national. His accomplishment was covered by the New York Times Bucks Blogs, which caused him to pursue filmmaking as a career.
In 2013, he enrolled at Oklahoma City Community College, a school with one of the best film programs in the state, learning from names like Greg Mellott, an Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker, and Gray Frederickson, the producer of “The Godfather”. In addition to a degree in filmmaking, Elkins also graduated from the University of Science and Arts with a degree in history. Soon after graduating, he launched Intellego Media.
Elkins worked his way up in the corporate realm, where he began producing commercials for well-known regional companies like First National Bank and Trust, Standley Systems, and Hart Trailers. In addition to commercials, ha has produced and directed music videos for bands like Hinder, The Imaginaries, Dollar 98, The Odds, and Dangerous Hippies. His work has been featured on numerous publications, including American Songwriter, Monster Energy, Ditty TV, Spill Magazine, Uber Rock, The Oklahoman, and The New York Times Bucks Blogs.
From 2018 to 2020, Elkins traveled to multiple countries filming for documentaries and a TV show, worked as locations manager and locations assistant on multiple movies, directed a TV show pilot and multiple music videos, won two Telly Awards, and screened films in festivals in Oklahoma, New York, and Tokyo.
Elkins still lives in Chickasha, Oklahoma, with his wife and kids, and is working on short film projects, documentaries, TV shows, music videos and commercials.
The Imaginaries | Americana duo
Shane Henry and Maggie McClure
The Imaginaries are an Americana duo formed in the open plains of Oklahoma. Consisting of husband and wife duo Shane Henry (guitar, vocals) and Maggie McClure (keys, piano, vocals), their debut album (2021 release) was recorded in famed Muscle Shoals, AL with legendary musicians and “Swampers.” It serves as both an introduction to The Imaginaries and the beginning of their journey as a band after both singer songwriters have had their own successes as solo artists. Their songs are filled with effortless harmonies, heartfelt lyrics and real-life lessons. Maggie, with her subtly sweet vocals and piano style fuses seamlessly with Shane’s blues-rock grit to form their own unique blend of Americana music.
Yousef Kazemi | Outreach and Production Manager OF+MO Moderator
Yousef Kazemi serves as the Outreach & Production Manager for the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO), a division of the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreation Department. Kazemi began his work with OF+MO as an intern in 2005. While in college, Kazemi remained with the OF+MO internship program for nearly four years. Kazemi accepted a full-time position with OF+MO as the office’s administrative assistant upon his graduation from the University of Central Oklahoma with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theatre Arts in 2009.
Within two years, Kazemi was promoted to Locations Coordinator for OF+MO where he served in this role for nearly a decade. Now, as Outreach & Production Manager, Kazemi works actively to engage statewide community development in support of the state’s film and television industry while continuing to provide locations, permitting and logistical support for productions filming on-location in Oklahoma. Additionally, Kazemi has an active role in coordinating OF+MO participation at both national and local events, such as the Sundance Film Festival, deadCenter and other related industry events.
Outside of his work at OF+MO, Kazemi has written/directed/produced a number of award-winning film projects, including the short films “Yes, We’re Open” and “The Stand-In”, which was named the 2019 Best Oklahoma Short Film at the deadCenter Film Festival.