New Arena (formerly Prairie Surf)

[Swake]

Reservation Dogs is being filmed in Oklahoma. Mostly Okmulgee. It will probably be nominated for Emmy awards this year.

It's a great show, everyone should watch it.

[Pete]

More film incentives. Press release:

**************

Cherokee Nation Film Office announces first-ever tribal film incentive program

Tribe introduces funding for productions filmed within reservation, hiring Natives

TULSA, Okla. – The Cherokee Nation Film Office has announced it will soon offer a groundbreaking film incentive program, becoming the first tribal film office in the U.S. to do so. The Cherokee Nation Film Incentive will provide up to $1 million in annual funding for productions filmed within the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county reservation.

“Since establishing our film office, we’ve worked diligently alongside our state and local partners to help grow the film and television industries in Oklahoma,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “There are substantial benefits in launching this powerful economic tool within the Cherokee Nation Reservation. In addition to expanding career opportunities for Indigenous filmmakers, producers, directors, actors and behind-the-scenes crew members, this new incentive program reinforces Cherokee Nation’s commitment to creating quality jobs and supporting small, family-owned businesses within our tribal communities.”

CNFO will begin accepting applications for the tribe’s film incentive on March 1. The base incentive offers a cash rebate for qualified production expenses. Prequalified productions filming anywhere within Cherokee Nation’s 7,000 square miles of northeast Oklahoma are eligible for the rebate incentive.

With this annual $1 million incentive program in place, the tribe hopes to create economic development and grow job opportunities by encouraging the production of film and television projects within the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. The incentive also offers increased funding for employing Native American citizens, as well as utilizing Native-owned businesses.

“In pursuit of our longtime mission of growing the tribe’s economy, CNB continues to invest in the success of Cherokee citizens through new and diverse opportunities across the globe,” said Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses. “The Cherokee Nation Film Incentive is an excellent means of expanding upon those goals by helping grow an entire industry specifically within the Cherokee Nation.”

The Cherokee Nation Film Incentive will be available individually or in conjunction with the state of Oklahoma’s incentive program, but each requires a separate application process. The Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021, administered by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, also offers productions a cash rebate based on several qualifying factors.

“Oklahoma’s television, film and production industries continue to grow at an exceptional pace. We are pleased to serve a role in helping support economic growth while furthering our mission to promote diversity, inclusion and accurate Native American representation at every level of these industries,” said Jennifer Loren, director of Cherokee Nation Film Office and Original Content. “Encouraging productions to film within Cherokee Nation’s many vast and beautiful locations, as well as to hire Indigenous people and utilize Native-owned businesses, offers an immense amount of opportunity for tribal citizens, families and businesses to benefit from the rapid growth of these industries within our state.”

The Cherokee Nation Film Office launched in 2019 and became the first certified Native American film commission to open in the United States. CNFO also created and maintains unique, all-inclusive talent, crew and consulting online directories featuring Native American actors, extras, voice actors, crew, cultural experts and other industry resources.

For more information about the Cherokee Nation Film Office, please visit cherokee.film or email hello@cherokee.film. Businesses located within Cherokee Nation’s reservation can register to be hired by film and TV productions through CNFO’s support services directory.

Additional details regarding the Cherokee Nation Film Incentive are available at https://cherokee.film/filmincentives.

[GoGators]

There is a new show being filmed in Oklahoma starring Sylvester Stallone called Tulsa King It is going to be released on Paramount Plus and is from the same creator as Yellowstone. They apparently will be heavily utilizing Prairie Surf as well as different locations around OKC and Tulsa.

[Pete]

There is a new show being filmed in Oklahoma starring Sylvester Stallone called Tulsa King It is going to be released on Paramount Plus and is from the same creator as Yellowstone. They apparently will be heavily utilizing Prairie Surf as well as different locations around OKC and Tulsa.

A location scout actually came to my neighbor's house two doors down to see about using it for a filming site; this was about two months ago. At the time the show was called "Kansas City" but they have since changed that and decided to film in Oklahoma.

I need to check back with my neighbor to see what they decided.

[LocoAko]

It sounds like they may also be filming another Paramount+ miniseries "Bass Reeves" starring David Oyelowo of Selma: https://tulsaworld.com/entertainment...c7522048f.html. I'm not sure to what extent (if any) Prairie Surf will be involved, though. Either way a very cool pre-statehood Oklahoma story being told.

Reeves was the first Black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi, and some have made a case he was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger.

Reeves tried to bring law and order to the territory that became Oklahoma. He was among 200 deputies hired by “hanging judge” Isaac Parker to scour the landscape for outlaws. Reeves arrested more than 3,000 bad guys and killed 14, all without ever being shot himself. When statehood arrived in 1907, his post-retirement job was serving as a police officer in Muskogee.

Sheridan said he seeks great actors of our generation when casting. He described the actor who will bring Reeves to life in the miniseries as a once-in-a-generation talent.

“I just can’t wait to get on that horse and tell this story,” David Oyelowo said.

[5alive]

There are so many streaming services needing to stay fresh and not lose subscribers ...a huge amount of content must constantly be produced. Looks like Prairie Surf entered this market at just the right time.

[GaryOKC6]

Highlighting the growing impact of the film industry on the region https://www.okcchamber.com/index.php...s&cale_id=2888

[LocoAko]

Don't know if this is the optimal thread for it (maybe the "in the press" thread?), but CBS has a feature about Oklahoma/OKC's booming film industry: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oklahom...CNM-00-10abd1h

[Bowser214]

Wow that was a great story!!

[Pete]

Super cool.

[Rover]

Guess it was a miscalculation when so many on here said this was a waste of the city’s resources and wouldn’t work. Lol.

[mugofbeer]

Some investments pay off, others don't. Tulsa King is fun just spotting the landmarks like the state fairgrounds.

[BoulderSooner]

Prairie surf has wildly exceeded my expectations has been an amazing add to OKC

[Oski]

Guess it was a miscalculation when so many on here said this was a waste of the city’s resources and wouldn’t work. Lol.

Anything that doesn't go up 10 or 20 stories and isn't covered with glass, is a waste of city's resources. J/K.

[Laramie]

Under the terms of the lease, PSM will pay $1 in rent for the first year and $75,000 the second year, and the amount will ramp up to $250,000 for the fifth year. While giving the company a break during the startup period, the city will be made whole by the end of the agreement, said Assistant City Manager Aubrey McDermid.

The city will front expenses for relocating the OKC Blue team and previously contracted events, and PSM will repay a portion of those costs to the city. PSM would pay 75% of an estimated $1.1 million in utility costs per year.--Journal Record, December 8, 2020

“Our agreement with Omni prevents us from using it (Cox Center) as a convention center, specifically in primary use,” McDermid said. “It was able to be used for smaller and spillover events. The agreement was that it couldn’t compete with the new convention center for the services it and the Omni will be providing.

KOCO ABC 5 News: https://www.koco.com/article/new-okl...-dont/35716468

[HOT ROD]

Don't know if this is the optimal thread for it (maybe the "in the press" thread?), but CBS has a feature about Oklahoma/OKC's booming film industry: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/oklahom...CNM-00-10abd1h

there's a thread OKC in the Press.

[traxx]

Does the Myriad work well for them the way it is or are there plans to renovate the space? It's been quite a while since I've been in there but as I recall it has a ton of space but it's divided up oddly. It feels like it could be redone to make a more efficient use of the space.

[Pete]

^

They only have a 5-year lease and they are already a year in. There are options to extend, but the city can quit the deal when the base term expires.

It's assumed the new arena will go on this site and Prairie Surf will have to find new space.

I know they have been talking to the Strawberry Fields group.

[TheTravellers]

...

I know they have been talking to the Strawberry Fields group.

Does anybody think that will actually bear any fruit?

[Timshel]

I hope they're in Strawberry Fields forever.

[traxx]

^

They only have a 5-year lease and they are already a year in. There are options to extend, but the city can quit the deal when the base term expires.

It's assumed the new arena will go on this site and Prairie Surf will have to find new space.

I know they have been talking to the Strawberry Fields group.

Thanks for the info, Pete.

[David]

^

They only have a 5-year lease and they are already a year in. There are options to extend, but the city can quit the deal when the base term expires.

It's assumed the new arena will go on this site and Prairie Surf will have to find new space.

I know they have been talking to the Strawberry Fields group.

It would be interesting to see the Strawberry Fields area develop into a movie lot part of town.

[therhett17]

It would be interesting to see the Strawberry Fields area develop into a movie lot part of town.

It would be interesting to see the Strawberry Fields folks develop anything...

[Mississippi Blues]

I hope they're in Strawberry Fields forever.

I can’t read anything about Strawberry Fields without hearing that in my head each time.

[HangryHippo]

It would be interesting to see the Strawberry Fields folks develop anything...

This made me laugh hard.