The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) Networking and Mentoring Series continues in 2018 with its third film-focused event to be held on Tuesday, May 8, at The Paramount Room on Film Row in Oklahoma City.
With this year’s session, titled “How to Start a Film Production Company”, audiences are invited to learn about what it takes to start and sustain a production company in Oklahoma from three local filmmakers who have each found a unique platform for producing and distributing their content. Featured filmmakers include Ryan Bellgardt of Boiling Point Media, Kyle Roberts of Reckless Abandonment Pictures and Russ Kirkpatrick of Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions.
“With our first two film-focused events, we had the privilege of featuring mentors who offered an outside perspective on working in the Oklahoma film industry,” said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky. “This year, we’re keeping it local with special guests who represent a number of successful Oklahoma filmmakers with businesses that have originated and flourished in our state.”
“How to Start a Film Production Company” will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m. featuring live music from Oklahoma’s own The Allie Lauren Project. The reception will be immediately followed by the mentoring discussion with Bellgardt, Roberts and Kirkpatrick at 6:30 p.m.
Attendees for this event will have the opportunity to network with our panelists and other guests throughout the evening as well as register to win a pair of all-access passes to the 2018 deadCENTER Film Festival valued at $400.
OF+MO would like to thank our hosting venue The Paramount Room on Film Row. Attendance is free. Seating is limited. Please RSVP here.
Currently filming his fourth Oklahoma feature film “The Adventures of Jurassic Pet,” Ryan Bellgardt is the President and Creative Director of Boiling Point Media, a full service advertising agency and production house based out of Oklahoma City. Bellgardt made his directorial debut with 2012’s “Army of Frankensteins,” followed by the horror film “Gremlin” (2017), and the forthcoming summer release of the sci-fi thriller “The Jurassic Games”, which utilized the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program administered by OF+MO.
Kyle Roberts is an Emmy Award-winning director who serves as the Founder and Creative Director of Reckless Abandonment Pictures, an independent motion picture company based in Oklahoma City. Roberts specializes in film projects including stop motion animation and music videos. In 2014, Roberts made his directorial feature-length film “The Posthuman Project,” a coming-of-age teen superhero film that won numerous awards on the film festival circuit. In 2017, Roberts directed two stop-motion animated series for Mattel’s “Thomas and Friends,” and is currently working on a to-be-announced animated series for Dreamworks.
As co-owner of Tulsa-based Kirkpatrick & Kinslow Productions, Russ Kirkpatrick produces feature length documentaries and movies as well as creates messaging for non-profit and corporate clients. With nearly 30 years of experience in television, radio and financial services, Kirkpatrick oversees day-to-day operations and manages multiple active productions simultaneously, including the release of two feature-length documentaries and two international short documentaries. The company’s documentary film credits include the Emmy Award-winning “Boomtown: An American Journey,” “Unlikely Family,” and “Susan’s Story,” which is currently in post-production.
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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 okfilmmusic.org.