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Loring is a Los Angeles-based writer, director, and creative producer. His work has been commissioned by a diverse range of clients- from Havas Worldwide to Wisecrack, inc.- and has been screened around the world. Through a background that blends project development with physical production across multiple formats, Loring has developed a uniquely eclectic skillset as a visual storyteller.
At Wrapbook, we pride ourselves on providing outstanding free resources to producers and their crews, but this post is for informational purposes only as of the date above. The content on our website is not intended to provide and should not be relied on for legal, accounting, or tax advice. You should consult with your own legal, accounting, or tax advisors to determine how this general information may apply to your specific circumstances.
Halfway between Los Angeles and New York, the state of Oklahoma has distinguished itself as one of the fastest growing filmmaking destinations in the United States. As the local production industry blossoms, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office stands ready to connect filmmakers with the resources, infrastructure, and human beings that make shooting in the Sooner State such a special experience.
In this post, we’re offering a crash course on the Oklahoma Film Office. From production incentives to unique locations, we’ll explore how the state supports professional filmmakers and find out why productions are choosing Oklahoma in growing numbers.
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) was founded in 1979 as a support agency attached to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department.
In 2001, however, Oklahoma became one of the first states to establish its own film incentive program. Since then, the Oklahoma Film Office has shepherded the state from being an occasional shooting location to an emerging production powerhouse.
With the establishment and subsequent expansion of the state’s incentive program, it was only a matter of time before Oklahoma racked up a slate of critical and commercial hits. The state’s filmography now includes projects like Reservation Dogs, Minari, Tulsa King, and Killers of the Flower Moon—just to name a few.
Today, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office remains driven by its mission to grow the film and music industries within the state. The OF+MO “strives to support and connect local, national, and international filmmakers with Oklahoma’s skilled crew, talent, production services, and diverse locations which span across 12 eco-regions.”
The Oklahoma Film + Music Office is the beating heart of the Sooner State’s production industry. From film finance solutions to career development for local crew, the OF+MO works hard to support its filmmaking community from every angle.
Below, we’ll take a closer look at three key areas in which the Oklahoma Film Office can assist and upgrade your next production.
If you’re not local to the region, you may be surprised to find that Oklahoma hosts 12 distinct eco-regions within its borders. That means filmmakers in the area enjoy access to a diverse selection of natural environments. From cypress swamps to salt plains to Rocky Mountain foothills, Oklahoma packs more than enough variety to make even the most seasoned directors dizzy.
Of course, the challenge of such a high volume of variety is actually finding what you’re looking for, and that’s where the Oklahoma Film + Music Office comes in. The Oklahoma Film Office helps visiting productions bridge their knowledge gaps with both an expert staff and a comprehensive locations directory. With the help of the OF+MO, location scouting can be a breeze.
Even in established production hubs like Los Angeles and New York City, it can be both a challenge and a chore to acquire the right permits. Fortunately for productions in Oklahoma, the OF+MO is ready to give filmmakers a serious head-start.
While the Oklahoma Film + Music Office does not disburse permits directly, they’re committed to minimizing red tape throughout principal photography. The Oklahoma Film Office maintains the necessary institutional expertise to connect filmmakers to the proper permitting authorities for each production’s unique requirements.
To get started, the OF+MO recommends that productions fill out their Project Intake Form as soon as possible.
A huge component of the film finance landscape, production incentives are a crucial factor for any production in search of the right location. The state of Oklahoma has methodically developed its own competitive incentive program, complete with a series of uplifts that productions can use to maximize its value.
The best part? The Oklahoma Film + Music Office directly administers the state’s incentive program itself. Their expert team is perfectly qualified to provide both guidance and direct assistance throughout the application process, ensuring that each production’s experience is as smooth as possible.
The Oklahoma Film Office runs a valuable set of resources and services to assist productions operating within the state. Whether it's financial, logistical, or community-based, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office can help filmmakers find the exact support they need.
Here are three specific resources the OF+MO offers to optimize your production experience in Oklahoma.
If you’re planning to shoot virtually any type of moving image media in Oklahoma, don’t hesitate to take advantage of the state’s recently expanded production incentive program.
An extension of one of the first competitive incentive programs in the United States, the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program offers a baseline 20% rebate on qualified expenditures and labor within the state. Furthermore, resident labor and state spend can increase the rebate all the way up to 30% through a series of uplift bonuses.
Rare in other states, Oklahoma also offers an incentive program designed specifically for post-production. The Stand-Alone Post-Production Rebate Program offers a 20% base incentive for post-production work done in Oklahoma on projects that were filmed outside of Oklahoma. This specialized incentive program adds a further degree of flexibility to Oklahoma’s production ecosystem.
And previously mentioned, the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate and Stand-Alone Post-Production Rebates Programs are directly administered by the OF+MO. This grants a distinct advantage to visiting and local filmmakers alike by ensuring that critical information is always as accessible as possible.
The Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program is an initiative of the Oklahoma Film + Music Office designed to “educate and assist communities with readying themselves for incoming film and television productions[.]” The OF+MO utilizes a series of workshops as well as a three-step certification program that ultimately awards a “film friendly” designation to participating municipalities.
The Oklahoma Film Friendly Community Program is a win-win for both professional productions and local communities within the state. It helps productions more easily engage with the wider range of resources that local communities represent, and it helps local communities more readily engage with the economic stimulus that comes with a professional production.
To help productions get up on their feet as quickly as possible, the Oklahoma Film Office maintains a pair of digital industry directories on its website. The Locations Directory enables production teams to scout for ideal filming locations online with a series of search filters. Meanwhile, the Production Directory serves a similar function for local crew and support services.
Both industry directories are available online for free. You’ll find them alongside other valuable information resources, like the OF+MO’s Oklahoma Look Book and Film Resources overview.
To contact the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, you can call (405) 522-9635 or email general questions to FilmInfo@OklahomaFilm.org. A mail address and personnel-specific email addresses are available on the About Us section of the OF+MO’s official website.
Of course, you can all keep up with the Oklahoma Film Office on social media. Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube for the latest updates on production in the state.
While the OF+MO handles film office duties statewide, several regional film offices exist to provide more localized guidance and support.
Established in 2022, the OKC Film & Creative Industries Office acts as a liaison and central point of contact for productions looking to film in Oklahoma City. They can provide production support in a variety of crucial areas, including hiring local crew, securing permits, scouting locations, and coordinating with city offices.
The OKC Film & Creative Industries Office is also an important partner in managing the Oklahoma City Film Incentive Program. The local incentive may provide further value for qualifying productions in the area.
Beyond the production hustle of OKC, several other cities and regions offer full or limited film office support. Be sure to check out the following organizations if you’re planning to shoot nearby:
As Oklahoma’s production community continues to expand, more local film offices are likely to emerge. Coordinate with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office to stay up to date with the latest film organizations in the state.
With its competitive incentive programs and an increasingly attractive local industry, Oklahoma is one of the fastest growing production locations in the United States. The Oklahoma Film + Music Office remains a vital part of the industry’s growth and an invaluable point of connection for visiting filmmakers.
For information on production in Oklahoma, check out our guide to landing Oklahoma film incentives. And if you’re still trying to find the perfect location for your next project, don’t forget to visit Wrapbook’s Production Incentive Center. There you’ll find digital tools like our Production Incentives Finder and our Incentive Comparison Tool to help you optimize your search at no extra cost.
