Oklahoma, Cherokee Nation offer filming incentives

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Since the Oklahoma Film and Music Office was established in 1979, the state's film industry has boomed, and today, aspiring actors and crew members can find projects in the works just about anywhere.

Film productions can apply for incentive programs through the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, Cherokee Film, or Film Muskogee.

“Oklahoma has always had a small but mighty film industry, but has recently seen a boom in production,” Cherokee Film Senior Director Jennifer Loren said. “In large part, this is due to the state investing in a more robust film incentive program."

Loren said film incentives have become a standardized part of film financing, to be competitive with other states wishing to recruit productions. According to Loren, films can create economic development opportunities where they are filmed.

“Cherokee Film’s ecosystem is set up to offer people many different options to get their foot in the door of film and media,” Loren said.

She said Native Americans seeking to be hired as writers, cast members or crew, can register to be put on Cherokee Film registries.

“We really need small businesses within the reservation — Native-owned or not — to register in our support services directory, so film productions know their goods and services are available,” Loren said.

According to Loren, productions can receive 15%-25% cash back on expenditures in the Cherokee Nation, or wages paid to people residing within the Cherokee Nation reservation.

Loren said projects that have benefitted from the incentive include: “Fancy Dance” on Apple Plus, “Possessions” on Amazon Prime, “Land of Gold” on HBO Max, and “Little Dixie” on Paramount Plus.

“The winter months are slower in the film industry, but many projects should begin casting in early 2025,” Loren said.

The Oklahoma Film and Music Office awards incentives six times per year, and over the past 10 years, the programs have incentivized film and television productions to spend over $300 million, which contributes to the state economy.

According to a recent press release from Film Muskogee, the rebates they offer can be used in conjunction with Oklahoma’s state film incentive, and the Cherokee Film Incentive. Feature films can qualify for up to $25,000, TV shows can receive up to $15,000, and commercial and music video productions can be awarded up to $5,000.

“By offering the largest collective incentive package among small cities in the state, we’re creating an opportunity for productions of all sizes to bring their projects here to contribute to our community,” Director of Film Muskogee Bryce Marshall said.

According to Film Muskogee, the film industry has grown significantly in recent years, generating over $170 million in spending, and creating more than 7,900 jobs across the state.

Cherokee County filmmakers Marcus Pruitt, and Scott Duffield, said they are working to complete an homage to 1950s-style science fiction films with a project called “They Came from the Stars!”

“It tells a great story about getting back home in the face of diversity,” Duffield said.

Pruitt said they are also putting finishing touches on shorts that were filmed during the summer.

“We have two more shorts planned for spring, along with various music videos we’re slated to shoot,” Pruitt said.

Read More: https://www.muskogeephoenix.com/news/ok ... d0df3.html