Cities See Economic Boost From Film Productions

Blockbuster films such as “Twister,” “The Grapes of Wrath,” “August: Osage County” and “Rain Man” have been filmed in Oklahoma, bringing stars like Tom Cruise and Meryl Streep to towns across the state. 

While not every community can attract the filming of a blockbuster movie, cities and towns across the state can still benefit from smaller productions, which are increasingly choosing Oklahoma. 

Filming a movie can bring an average of $50,000 a day to a city through hotels, restaurants and hardware stores, making it a worthy industry for some municipalities looking to boost sales tax revenue. 

Cities in Oklahoma hoping to become a destination for films should highlight their scenic locations and market them online, work with local colleges and universities that may have film programs, and consider updating the permitting process film productions may have to utilize, according to producers who have filmed in Oklahoma before. 

The Martin Scorsese directed film “Killers of the Flower Moon” is set to be filmed this year in Pawhuska, which will include contracting with local businesses and bringing workers who will utilize restaurants and hotels. 

“The opportunities this film will provide for continuing the development of our local workforce and infrastructure are tremendous as we continue attracting independent film and television productions around the state,” said Tava Maloy Sofsky, director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office. 

The coronavirus pandemic altered some production schedules, including “Killer of the Flower Moon,” which is on hold until the pandemic subsides. 

“I hope to get to Oklahoma as soon as possible to try and make this movie there,” Scorsese said last month during a video call for the deadCenter Film Festival in Oklahoma City. 

But officials with the Oklahoma Film and Music Office said film productions should return quickly as the state is well into its reopening plan. The film office recently issued eight-pages of guidance for film companies starting productions in the coming months, including a recommendation to have temperature checkpoints and perform daily deep cleans on set. 

“As one of the first states in the country to begin re-opening, [the Oklahoma Film + Music Office] has been strategically collaborating with film industry leaders and state government leaders to prepare to open safely,” Sofsky said. 

Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) advocates for films to choose Oklahoma and promotes the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program, which offers 35 percent to 37 percent cash rebates on qualifying expenditures.

In 2014, around $2.5 million was spent in Oklahoma on film productions. 

“Jump to 2018, there was $30 million spent and this year there will be $40 million," Sofsky said last year.

In addition to the tax credit, Oklahoma also offers ideal locations for a variety of films. 

Cities hoping to attract films are encouraged to consider what unique landscapes or neighborhoods they have that might look good on the big screen, said Bennett LeBarre, executive producer of “Breaking Them Up.” 

“Oklahoma has places that look like Oregon, there's places that look like Boston, there’s places that look like LA and there are places that look like New York City,” LeBarre said. 

A good example for cities hoping to get in on the state’s filming boom is Guthrie, which not only has a historic downtown that has been the setting for several period films, but the city has worked with the local chamber to promote itself to prospective films. 

The city and chamber recently produced a high-quality video that offers a glimpse of the city’s “Victorian charm” and its historic train depot. Officials also highlighted Guthrie’s local airport and its 5,000-foot runway that can support jets used by production companies looking to land close to where they are filming, rather than drive long distances from a major airport in a large city. 

The growth in filming business has been a financial boost for Guthrie. 

"They're filling up hotels, they're buying food, they're going to dinner, for smaller towns that aren't big municipalities that's a big deal," said Justin Fortney, Tourism Director of Guthrie.

One recent production spent $25,000 renting downtown storefronts and another spent $23,000 on lodging, according to Fortney. 

When scouting a location for a western film, director James Cotton said Guthrie became a frontrunner because of the downtown and the cooperation from city officials. 

“I was shocked at how accommodating shop owners and civilians were, as well as the incredible help I received from the people at City Hall to make the process pain-free and fun for all involved,” Cotton said in a statement he provided the chamber. 

Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said Oklahoma is an attractive destination for film companies but the state needs to invest more in training workers for film sets, based on his meetings with studio executives last year.

“It is clear that Oklahoma has the opportunity to attract hundreds of millions of dollars worth of investment but in order to do so we need both sound stages and a ‘set ready’ workforce,” Pinnell said. 

A “set ready” workforce includes those with skills in operating a camera, lighting and other aspects of film production. 

Another way a city can highlight itself as a film destination is by working with a local university to create a pipeline for students working in the film production industry who might be available to work on a set. 

LeBarre, who has filmed in Oklahoma City, said a local college can be a great asset. 

Oklahoma City Community College “has especially been one of the most helpful schools in the world,” LeBarre said. “Everytime we were in a pinch they had a sound guy, or a sound mixer, or a gaffer or a grip.”

Film productions can boost sale tax revenue but they can also bring both short-term and long-term jobs. 

"Films equal jobs, and it absolutely has an economic impact to our city and our state," said executive director of Tulsa FMAC, Abby Kurin.