Oklahoma City’s film industry is seeing a major surge, with four movie productions filming or preparing to film in the city this fall.
“Copperhead,” a crime thriller starring Miles Teller and Jason Momoa, is currently in production. “Pipecleaner Boy,” starring Abigail Breslin, and “His Heart,” starring Esai Morales and Kelsey Grammer, began filming Oct. 19. A fourth film, “The Effigy,” is expected to begin production in November.
According to the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office, $4 million in city rebate funding has generated $108 million in direct spending and an estimated $373.8 million in total economic impact.
City officials credit Oklahoma City’s film rebate program with helping attract major productions. Combined with state incentives, qualifying projects can receive rebates of up to 40%.
“In the case of ‘Twisters’ and ‘Copperhead,’ the OKC rebate was the linchpin that landed the films in Oklahoma,” said Jill Simpson, executive director of the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office.
The office has prequalified 16 projects so far, with two more under consideration. Ten applications have been submitted in the past nine months.