The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to launch a networking and mentoring series on March 2, 2016, on Oklahoma City’s historic Film Row. The goal of this series is to provide a dynamic networking opportunity for professionals, students and enthusiasts involved in the film and music industries. Each event will feature renowned special guests who will provide insight and expertise related to topics within their specific field.
To kick off the series, OF+MO will present “Story, Source, Sell” featuring Kristofer McNeeley of MarVista Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based film production and distribution company. MarVista has distributed films such as “A Deadly Adoption” (Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell), “Wish Upon A Star” (Katherine Heigl, Danielle Harris) and the forthcoming “Great Plains”.
“Every film starts with a story, and nearly every filmmaker seeks resources to tell that story in hopes of selling their film for distribution,” said OF+MO Director Tava Sofsky. “We are thrilled to welcome Kristofer for the launch of our series, and are looking forward to the valuable insight he will share on the filmmaking process.”
As Senior Manager and Executive Producer for MarVista Entertainment’s Independent Film Production and Development, McNeeley will walk audiences through the balance of filming as an art and business, citing his company’s successful acquisition, production, and distribution of the independent film “Great Plains”.
Co-written and produced by McNeeley, an Oklahoma native himself, “Great Plains” was filmed in the state last year utilizing the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program. The film tells the story of Murel, a tough Oklahoma cowgirl who risks everything, including imprisonment, to protect her son. An exclusive first look at the film which stars Tara Buck (“True Blood”) and Beth Grant (“The Mindy Project”, “No Country for Old Men”) will be presented at the kickoff.
McNeeley is looking forward to returning to Oklahoma for the event and doing his part to support and build the burgeoning film community in Oklahoma.
“Thirty years ago, when I was growing up in Oklahoma, there was no substantial film community – certainly nothing like there is now. It took me nearly 24 years to bring a film back home, and I was continually impressed with the passion and talent of our actors and crew on “Great Plains”. That said, there’s a lot more to making movies than talent and drive – it’s a business, and without a solid plan for a film, the dream of making movies won’t last very long. The purpose of this panel in the series will be to fill in the blanks and clear up some of the mystery of making a film and getting it sold.”
OF+MO’s inaugural event in the networking series will take place on Wednesday, March 2, at IAO Gallery, beginning with a reception at 5:30 p.m. followed by the presentation at 6:30 p.m. Oklahoma’s own Dino Lalli will moderate the discussion with McNeeley. Lalli is an Emmy-nominated journalist and producer who can be seen weekly on both “Hollywood Spotlight” and “Discover Oklahoma“. OF+MO wishes to thank our community partners IAO Gallery for providing our venue; Dunlap Codding and Noir Bistro & Bar who will be catering light food and drink; and Freestyle Marketing + Films and the deadCENTER Film Festival who have provided giveaway packages. Attendance is free.
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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 www.okfilmmusic.org.