Keep it rolling: Oklahoma's growing film and TV industry tries to maintain 'upward trajectory'

Growing up in Duncan, Andrew Smith made his first movie when he was just 13 years old.

"Eventually, I decided this is what I wanted to do with my life, and for me, it's just rewarding," he said. "I actually wanted to be an artist at first, but then I loved the collaboration of working in film. That's what makes it a lot of fun."

With the growth of Oklahoma's film and television industry, Smith is still based in his hometown and living his childhood dream: He works full time as a cinematographer and camera operator, with his credits including the Oscar-winning movie "Minari," the historical drama "Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher" and the sci-fi coming-of-age story "The Posthuman Project," along with the upcoming Oklahoma-made films "Reagan" and "What Rhymes with Reason."

Smith was among the dozens of exhibitors and hundreds of attendees to crowd into the second-floor rotunda Feb. 28 for Film Day at the state Capitol. It was the second annual Film Day organized by the Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance but the first at the state Capitol, after last year's inaugural event took place at the Oklahoma History Center.

"It just makes me so proud to see all these projects being made in Oklahoma — and it's just gonna get better and better," Smith said, watching a clip reel playing on a large screen at the event.

What is the future of film in Oklahoma?

The cinematographer was among the myriad Oklahoma industry professionals at Film Day at the Capitol to cheer the news that House Bill 1362, which would more than double the cap for the state film incentive, had passed out of committee. 

In March, the Oklahoma House of Representatives passed HB 1362 by a 72-22 vote, sending it on to the state Senate.

"I've heard in my whole life that we need to diversify our economy in Oklahoma. ... Film is just another piece of that puzzle," Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, the bill's author, told The Oklahoman.

"We either have to decide as a state that we want film to be a growing, thriving industry in Oklahoma — or not. And so, I'm giving the legislative body the opportunity to make that decision."

Fetgatter co-authored the Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021, which established the current state film incentive program. HB 1362 would boost the annual cap for the state film incentive from $30 million to $80 million.  

"When you look at what's happened since ... two years ago, one of the problems that I knew coming out of the gate — but we got what we could get — was that it still wasn't going to be enough," Fetgatter told The Oklahoman before HB 1362's committee hearing.  

"We turned away about $87 million that would have been paid out in rebate last year, and we turned away 80% of the films that applied. So, every one of those films we turn away is jobs." 

More: 'A game-changer on so many levels.' Bill to increase Oklahoma film incentive cap advances

How is the film industry bringing money into the Oklahoma economy?

Over the past decade, film and television projects have spent more than $250 million in the Sooner State, according to the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, with the industry's in-state expenditures making a dramatic jump in the past few years.

During the 2021 fiscal year (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021) — when Martin Scorsese was making his eagerly anticipated blockbuster "Killers of the Flower Moon," believed to be the biggest movie production ever undertaken in Oklahoma — film industry spending in the state soared to $169.1 million.

In Fiscal Year 2022 (July 1, 2021-June 30, 2022), film expenditures in the Sooner State exceeded $104 million.

Along with pumping millions into the Oklahoma economy — dollars that are spent across the state and at an array of businesses, including hotels, antique and clothing stores, lumber mills, restaurants and recording studios — the film rebate has created thousands of part-time and full-time jobs for Sooner State residents.

"If you think about the film industry, it's a business. It's nice to think of ... whatever movie or streaming device you're watching. At the end of the day, they have accountants, they have bankers, they have lawyers, they have physicians on set. They have caterers, they have carpenters, they have electricians and plumbers. They encompass the entire workforce," Fetgatter said.

After the state's current film incentive program started taking applications in August 2021, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office received 77 applications in the first fiscal year. Of those Fiscal Year 2022 applicants, 27 projects were approved for the incentive.   

“With 121 incentive applications alone this fiscal year, Oklahoma’s film industry is currently seeing an unprecedented appetite for filmmaking, and the momentum is overwhelmingly positive. We hope to continue our upward trajectory in the year ahead with the continued support of our state, city and tribal leadership," Oklahoma Film + Music Office Director Jeanette Stanton told The Oklahoman in a March email.

“Since the launch of the state’s new film incentive program in 2021, Oklahoma has recruited film and television projects from major production studios as well as supported local and independent filmmakers from around the globe — all of which contribute to the growth of our state’s film ecosystem."

What are Oklahoma film professionals hoping to see in the industry?

Smith, the cinematographer, said he is hopeful that the state Legislature will pass and Gov. Kevin Stitt will sign into the law the updated film incentive.

"Without that, Oklahoma film has an independent spirit ... so it would survive. But it would just be so much harder on all the professionals that are trying to work and live here all in-state," said Smith, who has also been teaching film classes at Oklahoma City's Metro Technology Centers.

"So many people have to move off, get experience on a job in Atlanta or L.A., and then move back."

More: Gov. Kevin Stitt signs new Oklahoma film incentive bill into law

Not only is he thrilled with the proposed boost in the incentive's annual cap, but Smith said he's glad to see that HB 1362 would create three tiers of productions as opposed to the current two. The bill would allocate $5 million annually for projects with total expenditures of less than $1 million; $18.75 million for projects between $1 million and $7.5 million; and $56.25 million for projects over $7.5 million.  

"With that kind of tiered system, you get these films that people can cut their teeth on, so they can really get the experience that they need. ... We would have an on-ramp for people to then get on to the huge productions," he said. "That translates into better films, better creative communities and more creative ideas that are developed here in the state."

Along with his brother, Adam, the filmmaker owns and operates in his hometown Smith Pixels, a studio specializing in cinematography. Smith Pixels recently created and produced a five-minute short film for the City of Duncan to promote the quality of life in the Stephens County seat.

"It was full circle ... and I loved it," said Smith, who was the short's cinematographer. "If you're a professional, if you have good work ethic, and you want to continue to live here, it's like, why not? Why can't we do projects for our communities — and work on all types of productions as well?"

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Can Oklahoma's film industry keep its 'upward trajectory' going?