A unit of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) is proud to be a premier sponsor of the 2023 Select Oklahoma Conference on Economic Development, August 28-29, 2023, at the OMNI Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City.
Select Oklahoma brings together statewide businesses and industry leaders, policymakers and economic development professionals for two days of networking, knowledge sharing and collaborative discussions to drive economic growth and innovation throughout the state. The highly anticipated, day-and-a-half conference will provide a mix of presentations and networking sessions focusing on a wide range of topics that are vital to Oklahoma’s economic and community development. OF+MO has curated specialized film and music programming, including a pre-conference keynote session featuring renowned film industry professional and location manager Mike Fantasia.
A founding member and former president of the Location Managers Guild International (LMGI), Fantasia is one of the global film industry’s most accomplished location professionals whose decade spanning career includes notable credits such as “Catch Me If You Can,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” “Top Gun: Maverick” and Martin Scorsese’s forthcoming film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” which was produced throughout Osage County in Oklahoma. Fantasia’s presentation will highlight the critical collaboration needed between state, city and tribal leadership and moviemakers when filming on-location as well as illustrate the economic benefits the film and television industry can have within those communities.
“I’m excited to participate in the Select Oklahoma conference,” said Fantasia. “I am looking forward to discussing how Oklahoma can develop, sustain and grow the film industry it has built.”
Additionally, OF+MO will present the following film and music panels as part of Select Oklahoma’s pre-conference sessions:
- Problem Solvers: A Deep Dive into Filming On-Location in Oklahoma – Moderated by Mike Fantasia, this presentation will more closely examine specific areas of development needed at a local level for Oklahoma communities to sustain and support the film and television industry while cultivating their own successful impact. Panelists include Locations Manager Chris Kucharski (“Reservation Dogs”); Key Asst. Locations Manager Andrea Keener (“Killers of the Flower Moon”); Key Asst. Locations Manager Luke Helms (“Tulsa King”, “Killers of the Flower Moon”); El Reno City Manager Matt Sandidge; and City of Pawhuska Police Chief Lorrie Hennessy.
- The Sound of Success: Amplifying Communities Through Music – Much like traditional industries including oil and gas, manufacturing and tourism, a flourishing music industry can amplify a city’s economy. Moderated by Jenn Easley-Maynord (Founder, Artio Services; Musician, Willow Way), learn more from city organizations on how music is playing a key role in revitalizing communities and successfully drawing new attention to both Oklahoma’s statewide cities and music talent/infrastructure. Panelists include Jim Cowan, Director of Chickasha Economic Development Council & President/CEO of Chickasha Chamber of Commerce; Maggie McClure – Singer Songwriter/Recording Artist/Actress/Film Producer and half of Americana duo The Imaginaries; Meg Gould, Executive Director of Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture; and Chris Davis, Co-Founder & CEO, Fansub.
“We’re thrilled to be participating in our first Select Oklahoma Conference and are grateful to all of our esteemed panelists who will be joining us to provide such invaluable information to our state’s city leadership,” said OF+MO Director Jeanette Stanton. “Cities play a critical role in supporting the ecosystems of the film and music industries not only in Oklahoma, but across the world. It is our hope these informative sessions continue a foundation of success for our statewide communities as well as film, television and music production in Oklahoma”
OF+MO’s pre-conference keynote with Mike Fantasia and additional breakout film and music sessions for Select Oklahoma will be held on Monday, August 28, 9:30-11:30 a.m. at the OMNI Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. Day passes are available to attend for $175 or full conference badges may be purchased for $375.
For more information, visit selectoklahoma.us/conference-on-economic-development.
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About the Oklahoma Film + Music Office:
Under the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) works to promote the state as a viable hub for film, television and music production as well as further develop opportunities for workforce, business and community growth within these sectors. For more information on the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, including the state’s film incentives and additional resources, visit okfilmmusic.org.