OKLAHOMA CITY — Legislation designed to attract high-impact film and television productions to the state was signed into law last year.
Senate Bill 608 created the “Filmed in Oklahoma Act” on May 24, 2021. Authors of the measure were Sen. Chuck Hall (R-Perry) and Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R-Okmulgee).
The new law increased the state’s film incentive cap and eligibility threshold to host major motion pictures and television series. It also has additional mechanisms in place to further grow local workforce and infrastructure as well as stimulate economic impact in Oklahoma’s rural communities.
Governor Stitt signed SB 608 on May 24, 2021.
“It is my privilege to work alongside our state’s thriving film industry, which creates local jobs and stimulates positive economic impact throughout the state,” Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell said. “The passage of this new film program is on par to carry forward the record-breaking trajectory we’ve seen in recent years, and will bring expanded, positive impact while continuing to add value to Oklahoma’s overall state image.”
The Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021 replaces the state’s film incentive program known as the Compete with Canada Act, which established the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program.
The Filmed in Oklahoma Act offers a base rebate of 20% to qualified film and television productions working in Oklahoma, with additional uplifts for filming in rural municipalities and counties, qualified sound stages, post-production and television pilots/seasons. Eligible productions must have a minimum budget of at least $50,000 to qualify.
While the Film Enhancement Rebate Program had an annual funding cap of $8 million, the Filmed in Oklahoma Act increased the state’s annual funding cap to $30 million, with a sunset date of June 30, 2031.
“The more I learn about the film and music industries’ ability to diversify our state’s economy, the more excited I get about championing further growth,” said Sen. Roger Thompson (R-Okemah), chairman of the Senate’s Appropriations Committee.
The revised incentives created by the Filmed in Oklahoma Act enabled the state’s industry to retain its independent film production clientele, many of whom are repeat customers or local filmmakers, while simultaneously working to attract higher-impact studio productions to the state.
Oklahoma began offering film incentives in 2001 with The Compete with Canada Act, becoming one of the first states in the nation to establish a local film incentive as a method of dissuading productions from taking their business and associated revenue to Canada.
More than 38 states and numerous countries now offer film incentives. The Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021 strengthened the state’s competitive film and television recruitment while also providing the most return in benefits to the state through targeted focuses on growing the local film industry workforce, infrastructure, education and community.
“Passage of the new film bill was possible only because of the determination by countless individuals, including past and present statewide leaders, film and music industry professionals, our innovative small businesses and amazing community partners who dedicated themselves to finding solutions,” said Tava Maloy Sofsky, then-director of the Oklahoma Film + Music Office. “The newly retooled film program will not only boost economic activity in both rural and urban communities, but it will propel Oklahoma toward a Top Ten state as a production hub for film, television and music.”
MovieMaker Magazine ranked Oklahoma City #15 on its list of “The Best Places to Live and Work as a Moviemaker 2021: Big Cities,” while Tulsa landed at #7 on the “Small Cities/Towns” list.
Local/tribal support
Oklahoma City offers rebates for filming in town. The city council voted 7-1 in favor of the program, which will be funded through economic development incentives that OKC approved in 2007 and again in 2017.
It “will provide more fuel for our fast-growing film industry,” Mayor David Holt wrote in a tweet after the vote. “It continues to be an exciting time for the film industry in Oklahoma City.”
Upon completion of a project, producers can receive rebates between 5% and 10% based on qualified expenses of $500,000 or more for films and $100,000 or more for TV and streaming projects. Other factors weighed in the rebate include hiring local workforce and use of local and diverse small businesses and vendors.
Support also is available through established local film commissions, including the Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts and Culture; the El Reno TV and Film Commission; and the Cherokee Nation Film Office.
In a related matter, Sofsky was introduced in October as the Cherokee Nation’s new film commissioner. She will serve dual roles as both film commissioner for the Cherokee Nation and as the tribe’s film office director.
Sofsky, a Cherokee Nation citizen, brings more than 23 years of industry-leading experience to her role supporting the mission and strategic growth of the Cherokee Nation Film Office. She also oversees the Cherokee Film Incentive, among other initiatives within the tribal film office.
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office promotes the state as a viable hub for film and television production, showcasing Oklahoma’s top-rate crews, growing infrastructure and diverse landscapes to the global film industry. Previously a division of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation, OF+MO joined the state Commerce Department in 2021.