Based in Tulsa, Grassfire Creative is a full-service virtual & hybrid production studio. Their specialty is partnering with clients to develop big ideas and create cutting edge campaigns that inspire action in the target audiences. They offer state-of-the-art virtual production combined with traditional video production, animation and live production delivered by seasoned, executive-level experts.
Can you tell us how and why you started your business?
Grassfire officially started in 2020, two weeks before the pandemic. Our partners came together from different backgrounds, but all in the production/marketing space (live television, video production, animation, graphic design and marketing/PR). We felt that we were uniquely positioned to fill a void in the production space by partnering with clients to provide cutting edge content that engages their target audience.
What services do you provide within the film/music industry?
Currently Grassfire is branded as a ‘Hybrid Production Studio.’ We provide traditional production (both on-site and in our two studios), virtual production in our ‘Studio A,’ animation (3D/product visualization & 2D) and live production (live-streaming of events & podcast production).
How has your company grown to meet the needs of Oklahoma’s film and/or music industries over the last 3-5 years?
We started researching and building our virtual production studio two years ago, knowing that the technology involved would be useful as the Oklahoma film industry continues to grow. Currently we’re in the process of outfitting two of our larger offices into a rentable colorist suite and editing suite, outfitted with top-of-the-line software and hardware – all because we were told by multiple people in the film industry that there is a severe lack of high-quality post-production studios for rent in the Tulsa area, and the state at large.
What are the benefits of basing your company’s operations in Oklahoma?
The benefits are two-fold: first, the film industry is growing in Oklahoma, and being based here gives us the opportunity of capitalizing on that boom. Second, being centrally located in the middle of the country helps us get to our clients that are on each coast.
What would you consider your business’s greatest accomplishment to date?
Staying open through the pandemic was an accomplishment in itself, but I’d point to the roster of nationally and internationally recognized clients we’ve been able to work with. An example of some of those names include Caesar’s Palace, Tito’s Vodka, Ascension Medical Group, the Navy SEALs and Netflix.
Are there any recent successes your company would like to highlight related to work within the Oklahoma film and music industries?
We just hired Todd Lincoln as our new Head of Production. He came back to Tulsa from Los Angeles, with years of experience in the film industry. From producing & directing, to writing, consulting and working with some of the biggest names in the industry, he will help bring a new vision and new ideas to our production department.
What are you working on now/next?
We have a few big projects coming up that I can’t exactly talk about yet, so check back soon 😉… but we’re continuing to work with our current clients on new and exciting projects, while always looking for new clients we can bring into the fold.
What is your goal/vision for the future of your company?
We want to be known as a company that helps solve problems: whether that’s providing resources that are needed within the film community, figuring out what kind of content a company needs to reach a desired outcome, coming up with new and creative strategies to refresh a company’s brand or marketing strategies – the possibilities are endless, but if we’re helping provide solutions, we feel like we’re doing our job.
What advice do you have for others who are considering starting a film or music business in Oklahoma?
The best advice I can give is to identify a need, and fully devote yourself to filling it. This business isn’t for the faint of heart – it can take a while to get up and running, and there’s no guarantee what your start will be successful. But if you approach it with a positive attitude, and with a desire to help the industry grow, you’ll have every opportunity to be successful.
What opportunities do you believe await Oklahoma’s film/music industry in the future?
Oklahoma is in a unique position – if the state continues to take cues from cities like Atlanta that came from nowhere to be a major player in the film industry, it can be next in line. Creating the infrastructure to attract larger productions is key, as is providing the proper level of incentives for those productions to want to come to the state. Those things are achievable, with the help of our politicians, and as the state continues to grow and train a workforce that can handle big productions, there’s no ceiling on how big of a player Oklahoma can become in the film industry.
Each featured individual or business is given the provided questions to answer in their own voice. Other than formatting and grammar, the answers are personal to each featured voice, and are not provided by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office.
