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.

To read the full requirements for the rebate program, please visit www.oklahomafilm.org for more information. A revised application and instructions on the new processes in place will be available on July 7, 2009.

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.

Oklahoma Lands Film Project

The Oklahoma Film and Music Office, along with You Can’t Win LLC of Houston, Texas recently announced a new movie project that will be filmed in Oklahoma.

You Can’t Win is based on the 1926 autobiography of Jack Black. The book tells of Black’s experiences as a hobo, freight hopping around the United States and Canada, becoming a burglar, serving stints in jail, and escaping, often with the assistance of crooked cops or judges. According to producers, this novel was instrumental in changing prisoners' rights and reforming the prison system in the United States.

Jill Simpson, Director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office said "We're fortunate to have another film going into production in July to keep our local crew working. Producer Brett Cranford is an Oklahoma native and someone we've worked with in the past. We're happy to welcome him back for You Can't Win, a film originally slated for filming in Oregon and Wyoming.

The film is being produced by Robert Scarff, Zachariah Sebastian, Brett Cranford and David Cress. The film will be directed by Robinson Devore.

The film will employ cast, crew and extras from Oklahoma, and the production will be based in Guthrie. Shooting is scheduled to begin around July 13, 2009 and will take place in Guthrie and the surrounding areas. Producers are also scouting additional locations in Southeastern Oklahoma.

The producers for You Can’t Win will apply for the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program through the Oklahoma Film & Music Office. The rebate offers up to 37% cash back on Oklahoma expenditures to qualifying companies filming in the state.

For more information on how you can become involved in this production please Click Here.

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Trail Dance Film Festival Early Bird Call for Entries

The fourth annual Trail Dance Film Festival will be accepting Early Bird submissions until July 1, 2009. The standard deadline is August 5, 2009, and the late deadline is September 2, 2009.

The Trail Dance Film Festival introduces up-and-coming filmmakers from around the globe to Oklahoma’s emergent film industry while providing a welcoming forum to showcase films amidst a beautiful Western landscape. The Trail Dance Film Festival encourages originality and creativity in film, and promotes the Oklahoma film industry.

MovieMaker Magazine named the Trail Dance Film Festival one of 25 festivals “Worth the Entry Fee” by offering an unforgettable experience filled with wonderful films, great people, and an original atmosphere. The festival concludes with a grand awards gala and reception, where custom sculpted Golden Drover Awards are presented to winning filmmakers, and one lucky high school student will be awarded a $2,000 scholarship to purse a career in filmmaking.

The Trail Dance Film Festival will kick off January 22-24, 2010 at the recently renovated Jack A. Maurer Convention Center (located within the Simmons Center) and the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center in Duncan, Oklahoma.

For more information about submitting a film, please CLICK HERE.

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Governor Henry Makes Oklahoma Rock Song Official

On April 28, 2009 Governor Brad Henry signed an executive order naming “Do You Realize??” by the Flaming Lips Oklahoma’s official rock song. The press conference for the momentous occasion was held at the Oklahoma History Center in Oklahoma City.

The event began with an introduction by Oklahoma Historical Society Director Dr. Bob Blackburn. Preceded by him, Jill Simpson, director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office introduced Governor Henry to the podium after saying that he had “raised the cool factor for Oklahoma,” by enacting the executive order to name the song. The Governor spoke with enthusiasm for his state and its history of Rock and Roll, and then invited Representative Joe Dorman, who carried the bill, to come and speak to the audience.

After the speeches were concluded, Governor Henry and the Flaming Lips stood side-by-side as the Governor announced that they day would officially be known as “Flaming Lips Day” and that “Do You Realize??” was confirmed as the Oklahoma rock song.

With Governor Henry’s signing of the executive order, the process to name the Oklahoma rock song is now complete. The Oklahoma Film & Music Office congratulates the Flaming Lips on this honor.

For more information about the Oklahoma rock song, please CLICK HERE

*Photos courtesy of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office and The Oklahoman

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Oklahoma Featured on Cover of National Publication

An iconic Oklahoma image has made the cover of the one of film industry’s most important publications. The Roosevelt Bridge, located at Lake Texoma, will be displayed on the cover of the 2009 edition of Locations Magazine, the official magazine of the Association of Film Commissioners International (AFCI).

The Roosevelt Bridge, located in Kingston, Okla., spans the Washita River section of Lake Texoma and separates Marshall and Bryan Counties. The bridge was built in 1942, the last full year of the Works Progress Administration and is a representation of the specific type of architecture known as Warren-type truss span.

“It is a real accomplishment for Oklahoma to be represented on the cover of Locations Magazine,” said Hardy Watkins, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department. “Oklahoma has many unique and beautiful locations that are attractive to filmmakers and we welcome this opportunity to share this image with a worldwide audience.”

Locations Magazine is the entertainment industry’s leading resource publication on location production. The magazine has been in production for over 20 years and this year’s edition will showcase Oklahoma to a global audience. 20,000 copies of the issue are in circulation targeted at the international film production market. 15,000 copies are sent directly to named individuals within the film production and allied industries. 5,000 additional copies are distributed at key international events such as this weeks’ AFCI Locations Trade Show in Santa Monica, Calif., next month’s Cannes Film Festival, and other selected film festivals worldwide.

The image of the Roosevelt Bridge was taken by noted Oklahoma photographer David G. Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald served on the Oklahoma Film & Music Advisory Board until 2005, and continues to make an important contribution to the Oklahoma Film & Music Office (OF&MO) by generously providing his world class photographs for promotional use to the agency through McNeese Fitzgerald Associates.

The release of the magazine is timed with the annual AFCI Locations Trade Show, held April 16-18. AFCI has more than 300 members who assist film, television and video production worldwide. The show offers the OF&MO an opportunity to connect with a targeted audience and participate in discussions on issues facing the industry today. OF&MO will host a booth at the trade show to promote the state’s diverse terrain, production incentives and skilled workforce to directors, producers, studio executives and location scouts.

According to Jill Simpson, Director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, “This is a really exciting turn of events. Locations Magazine has asked us to provide photos of the state in the past for inclusion within the publication, and we’ve always provided compelling images from David’s library. This year, we were elated when we got a phone call from the magazine staff telling us one of the images we provided back in January had made the cover. We’re very pleased for David and happy to have this great opportunity to increase interest in Oklahoma.”

For more information about AFCI’s Locations Magazine or to request a copy, please CLICK HERE

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