Oklahoma's film, music industries shine at Capitol in 'quite the flex'

Cherokee and Muscogee singer-songwriter Kalyn Fay strummed and sang, people donned virtual reality headsets to experience the "Resurrection," and special effects makeup artist Nathan Bright steadily brushed layers of black paint over Sheri Wise's face as she sat perfectly still in her chair.

The action filled the second-floor rotunda and spilled into the hallway outside the Oklahoma Supreme Court as hundreds of people gathered Monday for Oklahoma Film and Music Day at the state Capitol.

"This is quite the flex, the turnout that we have here today, for them to show state reps and state senators that this provides a big economic impact in rural and urban communities. It puts tens of thousands of people to work," Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell told The Oklahoman shortly after delivering opening remarks at the event.

"It's been really special to see the growth in this industry in Oklahoma."

Film and Music Day draws businesses from across Oklahoma

For Monday's state Capitol showcase, more than 50 film- and music-related businesses, school programs and organizations from across the state set up booths, offering specific services, career development opportunities, workforce training, community resources and more.

"I think one of the things that makes Oklahoma more unique than other states when it comes to our storytellers and to our film program is the combination between the state and our sovereign nations," said Pinnell, who gave the opening remarks at the event alongside Kim Teehee, the director of government relations for the Cherokee Nation and senior vice president of government relations for Cherokee Nation Businesses.

"Truly, no other state in the country can do what we do, when we can combine a Cherokee Nation (film) incentive and layer it on top of a state incentive, it separates us from every other state. ... In a very exciting way, Oklahoma is getting more diversified in our economy, as well."

Along with the booths, a special exhibit of costumes and props from the Oklahoma-made and Oscar-nominated movie “Killers of the Flower Moon” also was displayed outside the Oklahoma Supreme Court during Film and Music Day. Martin Scorsese's $200 million historical drama was the biggest movie ever made in the Sooner State.

"We'll have in back-to-back years two of the largest blockbusters in the world. 'Twisters' will be the, I firmly believe, largest blockbuster of the summer, probably this year," Pinnell said, referring to the storm-chasing movie opening in theaters July 19.

Looking out over the large crowd, Jeanette Stanton couldn't help but think about her late father.

"He was a huge movie lover, and he loved all the classics — 'The Godfather,' 'Halloween' — and I would watch these with him. And he would always sit through the credits, and he would say, 'Look at all of those people,'" said Stanton, director of the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, which organized Oklahoma Film and Music Day at the Capitol.

"I was too young at that time, so it never really clicked with me. ... But what I love about this industry — on the film and music side — is that if you're an accountant, you can do it for those industries. If you're interested in props, design, food, management, you can do it in these industries. And I think that's what draws me to it so much."

Stanton said she was thrilled with the turnout for Oklahoma Film and Music Day at the Capitol.

"We're so excited for the interest and the support, and I think it speaks volumes, especially when legislators say like, 'Oh, my God, look what's happening. This is a business. This is an industry,'" she said.

Film Day becomes Oklahoma Film and Music Day

Monday marked the third year that representatives of the state film industry gathered in Oklahoma City for Film Day. The event started out two years ago at the Oklahoma History Center and moved in 2023 to the state Capitol.

This year, Film Day became Oklahoma Film and Music Day. Along with Fay, fellow Sooner State singer-songwriters Jacob Tovar, Abbigale Dawn, Dylan Stewart and Stephen Salewon took to turns playing on the small stage on the second-floor rotunda.

"We're starting those conversations on the music industry of 'What do we need to stand out? What do we need to bring more musicians, more tours here? What does the local industry need?'" Stanton said. "The music side, similar to film, it's becoming very competitive. And so we want to stay ahead of it."

Celebrities with Oklahoma ties who attended Oklahoma Film and Music Day at the Capitol included Isaac and Taylor Hanson, of the Tulsa-based Grammy-nominated band Hanson; Lane Factor, one of the stars of the acclaimed series "Reservation Dogs"; and Wes Studi, the Oscar-honored Cherokee actor who hails from Oklahoma. Factor and Studi attended a breakfast with legislators ahead of the gathering in the second-floor rotunda.

Meeting Studi in his office after the breakfast was a huge highlight for Rep. Scott Fetgatter, who called him his "all-time favorite actor."

"His career has meant so much to my family, because we've spent so many hours watching his movies together. It just meant a lot to me. But Wes is an Oklahoman. He's an Okie, and he lives in New Mexico. Part of that has to do with his family and his wife, but still yet, I want Wes to feel like if he came home, that there's work right here in Oklahoma for him," Fetgatter told The Oklahoman.

"I think the most important thing to understand is that the film rebate program is not a catering business to Hollywood. ... It is all about Oklahoma residents being able to work in an industry that they feel like is where they need to be, instead of having to leave Oklahoma to go work in that industry."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma's film and music workers spotlight industries at state Capitol