Jeenyus Entertainment Productions, in association with the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO), is pleased to announce the completion of principal photography on the feature film “Birdie” after filming in many northeastern Oklahoma locations, including Eufaula, Morris, Beggs, Boynton, Okmulgee and Broken Arrow.
Directed by award-winning actor/director Gregory Alan Williams (“Remember the Titans”), “Birdie” tells the story of love, loss and retribution woven into the fabric of a broken family. “Birdie”, written by Wendi Foy Green and Austin James, and scripted by Cameron Johann, is a faith and family based movie shining a light on the powerful theme of grace and second chances.
Oklahoma native LaRonn Marzett portrays Luke Bellamy, a recently released prisoner who is solely focused on doing everything in his power to begin a relationship with the daughter he desperately wants to know. Newcomer Kyrie McAlpin portrays the role of Luke’s eight-year-old daughter, Addie.
Alongside Marzett and McAlpin, Victoria Rowell (“The Young and the Restless”), Terry Serpico (“Army Wives”) and Gatlin Kate James (“Heroes Reborn”) add their performances to the endearing film.
Utilizing the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program administered by OF+MO, principal photography began on August 19, 2019. Writer and executive producer Green wanted to film the project in Oklahoma because of her own family ties and a love of the area. “The competitive incentives that are offered in Oklahoma were really the icing on the cake”, Green said. “I knew I wanted to film here, but I had no idea just how wonderful the people of Oklahoma could be. We were blown away by the hospitality of everyone from the Chief of Police, town mayors, school administrators to post office workers. Everywhere we went, people went out of their way to help us.”
“It’s been a pleasure working with the ‘Birdie’ production team,” said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky. “We are so lucky to have a variety of film-friendly cities across the state, and we are proud of the hospitality that Oklahomans consistently show to incoming films. We look forward to seeing the beauty of northeastern Oklahoma reflected in the film.”
Founded in Los Angeles, California, by Green, James and Cooper Green, Jeenyus Entertainment is a relatively new company that has already sold multiple projects into worldwide distribution, including their web series, “Roommates”, and their first feature film, “Emerson Heights”.
For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program, visit the Incentives Page.
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About Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Created in 1979, the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma’s film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film + Music Office please visit okfilmmusic.org.
