Oklahoma had a strong showing at this year’s Sundance and Slamdance Film Festivals, both occurring in Park City, Utah. The Sundance Film Festival took place January 21-31, with Oklahomans participating in a panel and serving on the jury, and with the world premiere of a high profile feature film shot in Oklahoma during 2009. Slamdance was held January 21-28 and featured the premiere of an Oklahoma filmed documentary.

A film that made its premiere at Sundance in the non-competition portion of the festival is The Killer Inside Me, which filmed primarily in Oklahoma during summer 2009. Directed by Michael Winterbottom, the film stars Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, and Jessica Alba. Based on the novel by pulp writer and Anadarko native, Jim Thompson, the feature was filmed in Guthrie, Tulsa, Enid, Oklahoma City, and Cordell. The film premiered on Sunday, January 24 in front of a much anticipated crowd.

Since its premiere, The Killer Inside Me has become the most provocative and discussed films at this year’s festival. It was announced that IFC Films, one of the leading American distributors of independent and foreign films, is acquiring U.S. distribution rights to the film. Interest in a distribution deal was widespread, with three other entities in the deal-making mix. A release is planned this summer via IFC's theatrical and Video-On-Demand platforms.

Jonathan Sehring, IFC Entertainment President said, “Since its premiere at Sundance, we haven’t been able to stop talking or thinking about The Killer Inside Me. It is a stylish work of cinema by one of its great directors, with an incredible cast. We are incredibly excited to be working with Michael and Andrew Eaton again and we look forward to bringing this film to America via our theatrical and video-on-demand platforms.”

Two of the films producers, Chris Hanley and Jordan Gertner, joined Jill Simpson, Director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office in representing Oklahoma on a panel entitled “Practical Considerations & Conversations with Film Commissioners and Film Makers Regarding Accessing Film Incentives.” The panel and live webinar was held on January 25 and was hosted by 411 Publishing and the Producers Guild of America, and sponsored by Entertainment Partners and Variety. The hour-long panel consisted of 15 minute interviews featuring four film commissioners from around the country, including Oklahoma, Utah, Pennsylvania and New York. Each film commissioner was paired with producers who recently completed film projects in their state to discuss the producers’ experiences in that jurisdiction.

No stranger to Sundance, Holdenville native Sterlin Harjo was one out of eighteen distinguished international guests who were invited to participate on one of the five different juries for the festival. Harjo was selected to the Shorts Competition Jury. Having made his directorial debut with Four Sheets to the Wind, which premiered at Sundance in 2007, Harjo’s second feature, Barking Water premiered at the festival in 2009.

Another Oklahoman made his directorial debut at the 16th Annual Slamdance Film Festival, which began as a festival for new and emerging filmmakers who filmed on a limited budget. Tulsan Jeremy Lamberton premiered Biker Fox in the Documentary Feature Category. The film follows Frank P. DeLarzelere III, a.k.a. Biker Fox, Tulsa's self-proclaimed misunderstood motivational bicyclist, nature conservationist, and muscle car guru. Part documentary and part self-help testimonial, the film navigates the uneasy relationships DeLarzelere has with both the city of Tulsa and himself, as his Biker Fox character's intentions of spirited goodwill sometimes neglect certain boundaries. Biker Fox was one of eighteen films selected from a field of 5,000 entries to screen at the festival. Screenings for the film took place on Sunday, January 24 and Monday, January 25 at the Treasure Mountain Inn Screening Room.

To listen to the live webinar, please register for free at https://event.on24.com/eventRegistration/

For more information on the Sundance Film Festival, please visit festival.sundance.org/2010/

For more information on the Slamdance Film Festival, please visit slamdance.bside.com/2010/

For more information about Biker Fox, please visit www.bikerfox.com/

3rd Annual Norman Music Festival Open Call for Bands

The 3rd Annual Norman Music Festival has announced its Open Call for bands. At least 20 bands will be selected for the opportunity to play at the two-day festival that draws over 25,000 visitors to Downtown Norman.

Entry forms are available now through Friday February 19, 2010. Bands will be reviewed, selected and announced between March and April.

“Norman has always embraced it musical roots,” says Jonathan Fowler, Fundraising Committee Chair for the Norman Music Festival. “This Open Call is one way we can spread the opportunity and get more great Oklahoma musicians involved.”

Entries should include a link to their music, such as a band website or MySpace page. Also included should be a Band Bio, 150 words or less, describing who the band is and what they are about. Bands are encouraged to list any previous work they have done with labels or other festivals.

“The bands playing this year will join a lineup that will include top acts and some of the best musicians touring today,” replied Quentin Bomgardner, Committee President. “Exposure, experience, and a fun time in Norman will be had by all.”

The Norman Music Festival will be held on Saturday, April 24, and Sunday, April 25. The festival is free and open to the public and will take place on the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of historic Downtown East Main Street. Saturday night entertainment will be located at indoor locations, and Sunday will feature the festival atmosphere complete with street closures and large outdoor stages.

All entries can be submitted to nmf3opencall@gmail.com

For more information on the Norman Music Festival, Open Call and the official rules, contact Holly Jones at nmfpr@normanarts.org or visit http://www.normanmusicfestival.com .

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National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Honors Recipients

First presented in 1961, the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Western Heritage Awards were established to honor and encourage the legacy of those whose works in literature, music, film, and television reflect the significant stories of the American West. The awards program also recognizes inductees into the prestigious Hall of Great Westerners and the Hall of Great Western Performers as well as the recipient of the Chester A. Reynolds Memorial Award, named in honor of the Museum’s founder.

This year’s recipients will be honored at the Awards Banquet on Friday, April 17. The honorees include a number of legendary performers including Tom Selleck, Don Edwards, Bob Moorhouse, Pawnee Bill (1860-1942), and the late Charlton Heston (1923-2008).

For reservations or more information about the 2010 Western Heritage Awards, call (405) 478-2250, Ext. 219. The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum is located in Oklahoma City’s Adventure District at the junction of I-44 and I-35. For more information about the Museum or for a calendar of events, call (405) 478-2250 or visit The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.

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5th Annual 24-Hour Video Race

Living Arts, Individual Artists of Oklahoma (IAO), and the Philbrook Museum of Art are teaming up again to host the 5th Annual 24-Hour Video Race. This statewide event was created to provide an opportunity to any person within the state of Oklahoma who would like to create video artwork.

Participants are to arrive at 11:30 p.m. on Friday, February 5 for kick-off event at Living Arts (307 E. Brady in Downtown Tulsa) to finalize registration and receive the competition theme information and guidelines. For those of you outside the Tulsa area all of the registration, theme information, and guidelines will be available on the Living Arts website.

At midnight, participants will get into groups of no larger than eight people to receive instructions on the theme, prop, and a specific line of dialogue. Each group will then have 24-hours to write, act, film, and edit their five minute film using the required elements.

All entries must be dropped off at Living Arts or at IAO Gallery (811 N. Broadway in Oklahoma City) by midnight on Saturday, February 6. Register early by visiting http://livingarts.org/video. The cost per entry is $30 and student discounts are available.

The finished videos will be screened at the Philbrook Museum on February 18 at 5 p.m. Winners will be announced at the after party, which will take place at Living Arts. Cash prizes and awards will be presented in the following categories: 18 and Under Student, College Student, Video-Phil (non-student 19 and over), Animation, Juror’s Award and People’s Award.

For more information, please visit: http://www.livingarts.org.

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Oklahoma’s New Online Production Guide Is Officially Launched!

The Oklahoma Film & Music Office is pleased to announce the launch of Reel-Crew, Oklahoma’s new online Production Guide! Oklahoma crew and support services are now able to register for the new and improved guide. With the recent increase in Oklahoma’s Film Enhancement Rebate Program, we have seen an increase in the number of productions interested in filming in our state; we encourage crew members and support service providers statewide to register as soon as possible.

Even if you have previously registered for the Oklahoma Film and Video Production Guide, you will need to re-register for the new guide. Please create a new profile and upload your credits. Keep your user name and password so you can continue to access your profile in order to add recent credits or update contact information, ensuring the database remains current. Users can also link to their IMDB profile and upload a resume.

Please remember that the productions filming in Oklahoma or considering filming in Oklahoma will use the new production guide to find qualified crew in the state in order to hire them to work on projects, thus each registrant must have at least one credit to register for Reel-Crew.

Only professional projects will be accepted as credits for the purposes of this database. If you currently lack professional credits, please register as an intern and list “OFMO” in the field “Project Name”. You will be able to upload a resume to your profile where you can list student or non-professional credits and can link to your reel. This is the section producers will use to locate local individuals looking to intern and gain professional experience. Credits received on student projects and ultra-low budget independent projects do not qualify on the new Production Guide.

Oklahoma is one of only ten state film commissions to have implemented this state-of-the-art system, and OF&MO is pleased to offer free registrations to Oklahomans working in the entertainment industry.

To register for Oklahoma’s Reel-Crew:

Step 1: Please CLICK HERE to be sent to the Oklahoma Reel-Crew Website
Step 2: Click the “Register Now” button on the Website page to register

If you have any questions about your registration, or have any problems registering, please contact Chris Kucharski at 405-230-8443 or send an e-mail to chris@oklahomafilm.org

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Oklahoma Film Incentives Program More Than Doubles

Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry signed into law Senate Bill 318. The measure increases the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate up to 37 percent cash back on Oklahoma expenditures, officials with the Oklahoma Film & Music Office announced.

Governor Brad Henry commented, “The movie and TV industry has changed dramatically over the last few years, with many states having seen a tremendous increase in film revenues after the passage of similar film legislation. Oklahoma’s beautiful and varied terrain makes the state a perfect locale for film and television productions. A competitive incentives package means we will increasingly be able to share what Oklahoma has to offer with the rest of the world.”

Lt. Gov. Jari Askins, who serves as the Chair of the Oklahoma Film Commission said “Oklahoma was one of the first states in the region to offer film rebates but in recent years our neighbors have surpassed our efforts,” Askins explained. “By enhancing our program we will have the economic tools to compete in attracting companies to Oklahoma.”

The provisions of SB 318 will be effective after the first of July, potentially providing motion picture companies up to a 37 percent rebate on Oklahoma expenditures. The rebate includes film, television and commercial productions, with a minimum budget of $50,000 and minimum in-state spending of $25,000. Total rebate payouts remain capped at $5 million per year.

According to Jill Simpson, “The increased percentage for our rebate will provide a major boost for Oklahoma’s film industry. In recent years, the program has not been competitive. This will effectively put us back at the table with neighboring states doing big business like New Mexico and Louisiana who each offer film rebates and tax credits in the 25-35% range. We’re confident it will be enough to put us over the top in landing several of the potential productions we’ve been working to recruit. It will also allow us to better support and grow our industry in the state.”

“We are pleased the Legislature took such proactive action,” said Hardy Watkins, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. “It is such a strong statement in support of our goal to develop and support creative industry jobs in Oklahoma and raises awareness of our state as a destination.”

The previous incentives program in Oklahoma offered up to 17% cash back on Oklahoma expenditures with a minimum budget threshold of $500,000. The state’s rebate program is administered by the Oklahoma Film & Music Office and the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

For full requirements, the application and instructions for the rebate program, please visit www.oklahomafilm.org for more information.

The Oklahoma Film & Music Office, a division of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, works to attract film, television, video, and music industries to Oklahoma through an effort to promote and expand these values and interests within the state. The Film & Music Office is committed to providing critical support to filmmakers by assisting them with their production concerns. Additional information can be found at www.oklahomafilm.org.

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