After successfully participating in several sessions last year, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) was proud to rejoin The Journal Record (JR) for its free weekly online webinar series, JR Now, with a brand new episode highlighting permanent infrastructure developments within Oklahoma’s film and television industry.
“Sound Stages: Building Oklahoma’s Foundation in Film”, which originally aired January 29, 2021, demonstrates the necessity of sound stages as critical infrastructure in furthering the growth of Oklahoma’s film and television industry as well as associated careers and educational opportunities within this business sector. This episode features OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky alongside representatives from several newer organizations offering local sound stages, including Matt Payne and Rachel Cannon, co-CEO’s of Prairie Surf Media; Melodie Garneau, President of Green Pastures Studio; and Cassidy Lunnen, CEO and co-owner of Red Clay Studios.
Oklahoma’s film and television industry continues to grow due to OF+MO’s ability to recruit a record-breaking 39 productions that utilized the film rebate program in 2019. Amid the current COVID-19 climate, Oklahoma was one of the first states to reopen its economy in May 2020 with Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt deeming the motion picture and recording industries essential businesses, helping avert potential shutdowns in this sector. Since that time, over 30 film and television productions have been made in Oklahoma employing over 900 Oklahomans during a critical time for many locals whose jobs were impacted by COVID-19.
“For the last several years, the need for sound stages has been a recognized area of development for Oklahoma’s film and television industry to be able to attract longer term business, like a TV series or film slates, which require more infrastructure,” said Sofsky. “Now, with the launch of several businesses last year, including Green Pastures, Prairie Surf and Red Clay, Oklahoma is poised to meet this need in an unprecedented way. From state and city leadership to our local film industry members working alongside our office, many innovative minds have come together to work hard and seize the opportunity to build a more sustainable future for more Oklahomans.”
OF+MO is proud to be a sponsor of The Journal Record’s (JR) Now Webinar Series, a free, weekly online discussion with timely topics moderated by a representative of The Journal Record. Watch our previous appearances from October 2 and November 13, 2020, here.
For more information on Oklahoma’s film infrastructure, workforce and other resources, visit okfilmmusic.org.
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About Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) 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, visit okfilmmusic.org.