Nathan Gardocki Productions (NGP) is a full-service film equipment rental house, with an extensive inventory of industry-standard gear for all departments (camera, sound, grip, electric, lighting, production, locations, and more).
Can you tell us how and why you started your business?
NGP started as a hobby. Founders Nathan and Angela Gardocki began purchasing film equipment to film their own projects. As the industry grew in Oklahoma, they identified a local demand for a broader range of equipment and began purchasing high end equipment tailored to the needs of the local creators.
What services do you provide within the film/music industry?
We provide equipment rentals to film and video projects of all types, sizes and budgets.
How has your company grown to meet the needs of Oklahoma’s film and/or music industries over the last 3-5 years?
Five years ago, there were typically no more than one or two feature films shooting here at any given moment, sometimes with months-long stretches in between projects. Back then, our staff and our inventory were barely large enough to keep up with those projects. Since then, we’ve seen the local film industry grow exponentially, and we’ve scaled our staff and our inventory to match. Now, we’re outfitting upwards of five feature films and dozens of smaller/shorter projects simultaneously, with practically no gaps between projects.
What are the benefits of basing your company’s operations in Oklahoma?
From a practical standpoint, Oklahoma’s cost of living, real estate market, and film incentive rebate are all major draws for both filmmakers and film-related businesses. But on a more personal level, this is our home. Our admin team and most of our staff were born and raised in Oklahoma. Our company started and grew right here in the heart of Oklahoma City. We’ve loved seeing this city, this state, and the local film industry grow and flourish over the past decade, and we’re excited to see where it goes next.
What would you consider your business’s greatest accomplishment to date?
We like to believe that our greatest accomplishment is the relationship we’ve developed with the local film community. Most of the crew/customers that walk through our door know our faces/names, and we know them. We’ve worked extremely hard to cultivate a reputation for treating our customers well, and to make sure they have the equipment they need to make their projects without going over budget.
Are there any recent successes your company would like to highlight related to work within the Oklahoma film and music industries?
We have provided equipment to practically every major film and television project that has come through Oklahoma in the last several years, including major motion pictures (“Killers of the Flower Moon”, “Stillwater”, “Minari”) and hit television shows (“Reservation Dogs”, “American Gods”, “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”).
What are you working on now/next?
In addition to regularly renting equipment to various productions, we are also working diligently within our company to make sure that our building, our equipment and our staff are at their best, through both meticulous maintenance and intentional expansion, so that we can fulfill the needs of our ever-growing industry.
What is your goal/vision for the future of your company?
Our ultimate goal is to always be able to provide whatever equipment our customers need at a price that they can afford, while also making the experience as easy and as pleasant as possible. In our ideal world, we want even the largest of productions to be able to get all of their equipment right here in Oklahoma, without the need to bring in equipment from out of state.
What advice do you have for others who are considering starting a film or music business in Oklahoma?
Treat others well. Take good care of your crew, your staff, your vendors, and your clients. Oklahomans have a reputation for being both hard-working and kind. If you’re going to be successful here, you must demonstrate both of those traits in equal measure.
What opportunities do you believe await Oklahoma’s film/music industry in the future?
It’s honestly incredible how much the local film industry has grown in just the last few years. If that trend continues (which we believe it will), it’s not hard to imagine Oklahoma becoming a major hub for productions of all types and sizes, with a sustainable and flourishing market for freelancers, creators and businesses alike.