Film Resources

Filming in Oklahoma

Incentives

The “Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021” was signed by Governor Kevin Stitt on May 24, 2021. This bill created a new Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program that went into effect on July 1, 2021. Oklahoma’s former rebate program, the “Compete with Canada Film Act”, will continue to exist until its scheduled sunset date of July 1, 2027 to allow films in that program to finish out their claims, but no new applications for that program will be accepted. All new applications will apply for the new and expanded “Filmed in Oklahoma Act of 2021” rebate program. For questions, please contact Jeanette Stanton at Jeanette.Stanton@OKCommerce.gov or Amanda Roberts at Amanda.Roberts@OKCommerce.gov.

Locations

Discover the variety of filming locations in Oklahoma by browsing the Oklahoma Locations Directory. Find the perfect location for your next project! Can’t find what you’re looking for? OF+MO is here to help! Feel free to contact us for additional locations support.

Production Directory

The Oklahoma Production Directory is the one-stop shop for productions looking to crew up in Oklahoma as well as to find film-friendly Support Services. Search our extensive list of Oklahoma’s film industry professionals in the Oklahoma Production Directory.

Permitting

The Oklahoma Film + Music Office is here to help you find the best Oklahoma locations for your project and to minimize red tape during each shooting day. In order for us to achieve this goal, it is important that any production looking to shoot in Oklahoma fill out the following intake form so that we can best connect you to the proper permitting authority. Once filled out, someone from our office will contact you as soon as possible.

Labor Laws + Organizations

This summary is not a complete text of the Oklahoma Labor Law, nor is it written in the exact language of the law. It is intended as an informal educational tool. Please visit the Department of Labor for more information.

Right to Work

Oklahoma is a right-to-work state. This will give the filmmaker the flexibility to choose union, nonunion or mixed crew.

Oklahoma Child Entertainment Policies

Film productions which employ children in the state of Oklahoma must abide by the Oklahoma Department of Labor’s rules and regulations regarding such employment. Child entertainment in the state of Oklahoma is regulated by the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Income Tax Withholding

Every employer making payment of wages subject to withholding shall deduct and withhold from the wages paid to each employee a tax in an amount determined in accordance with the table of fixed graduated rates of tax to be withheld, unless otherwise provided. This tax is withheld as the wages are paid. For more information, contact the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Unemployment Insurance

Oklahoma employers and nonprofit organizations (other than those described in Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code) pay the unemployment tax if they employ one or more workers in each of the twenty different calendar weeks during a calendar year. Or if they have a payroll of $1,500 in a calendar quarter or are liable under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act. For details, contact the Oklahoma State Employment Security Commission.

Insurance Requirements

The standard insurance requirement for shooting in Oklahoma is a minimum of one million dollars comprehensive general liability insurance policy. For more detailed information, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department.

Workers’ Compensation

In Oklahoma, as in most states, employers are required to provide workers’ compensation coverage for their employees. For more information, please visit the Oklahoma Workers’ Compensation

Labor Organizations

IATSE Local 484
Teamsters – Oklahoma City
Teamsters – Tulsa
Screen Actors Guild – DFW
SAG Indie

Oklahoma Geography

Located just south of the geographic center of the United States, Oklahoma is equidistant from Los Angeles and New York City. Across its 77 counties, you’ll have access to 12 distinct eco-regions where you can experience everything from the trademark great plains and sweeping prairies to the unexpected lush forests, expansive plateaus and sand dunes. Dividing this inspiring landscape into 6 “countries” helps to showcase Oklahoma’s distinct persona, imagery and locations.

Central

Central Oklahoma, known as Frontier Country, is the transitional region of Oklahoma’s geography as it provides a bridge between the wooded sandstone hills to the east and the plains of the west. Wooded hill country gradually transitions to rolling short-grass prairie in the heart of Oklahoma and the blooming, ever-expanding Oklahoma City, the state’s largest metropolitan area. Route 66 cuts through the territory, showcasing vintage buildings and quaint town squares.

Cities included in this region are:
Edmond
El Reno
Guthrie
Norman
Oklahoma City
Purcell
Shawnee
Stillwater

Northeast

Northeast Oklahoma, known as Green Country, is a sharp contrast to the western part of the state. Tumbling rivers, expansive lakes, tallgrass prairies and rolling green hills are the hallmarks of this lush region, rich in culture and verdant grandeur. Previously the heart of Indian Territory, the area is heavily influenced by Native American heritage.

Cities included in this region are:
Bartlesville
Broken Arrow
Claremore
Grove
Okmulgee
Muskogee
Pawnee
Sand Springs
Sapulpa
Tahlequah
Tulsa

Northwest

Rising from the prairie floor, Red Carpet Country, located in Northwest Oklahoma, is a land of impressive contrasts, majestic vistas and expansive high-plains grandeur. Once known as No Man’s Land, with its rugged beauty and diverse attractions, this region is a paradise for outdoor lovers of all stripes. Marked by dinosaur tracks, lined with red canyons and blanketed in prairie grass, this section of Oklahoma is distinctive for its wide open spaces. Sand dunes, a lava-topped mesa, a vast plain of salt, gypsum caves and boiling springs all contribute to the diversity of Northwest Oklahoma.

Cities included in this region are:
Enid
Guymon
Kenton
Kingfisher
Ponca City
Woodward

South Central

South Central Oklahoma, known as Chickasaw Country, is a haven for water enthusiasts with the sparkling waters of many lakes and freshwater streams. The Arbuckle Mountains are capped by distinctive rows of protruding rocks and are adjacent to the clear mineral springs, waterfalls and lush forests of the Chickasaw National Recreation Area.

Cities included in this region are:
Ada
Ardmore
Davis
Pauls Valley
Sulphur
Tishomingo

Southeast

Southeast Oklahoma, known as Kiamichi Country, boasts some of the Sooner State’s most magnificent scenery with its sparkling lakes, glorious mountains, cypress-lined bayous and charming towns. In autumn, these peaks take on vibrant shades of scarlet, pumpkin and gold; in spring, they are clad in colorful wildflowers. Forests of towering pines and hardwoods climbing into clear blue skies create unrivaled rural skylines. Picturesque streams and lakes are home to scenic shorelines and an abundance of beautiful sandy beaches while caves with tunnels, chambers and sandstone labyrinths can also be found.

Cities included in this region are:
Atoka
Durant
Idabel
McAlester
Poteau
Talihina

Southwest

Southwest Oklahoma, known as Great Plains Country, is a vast region of rugged natural beauty where golden short-grass prairie, ancient granite mountains, Native American legends and dramatic sunsets weave an alluring travel tapestry. Agriculture plays a dominant role in Southwest Oklahoma, allowing fields of wheat and cotton to flourish next to cattle and horse ranches.

Cities included in this region are:
Altus
Anadarko
Cheyenne
Clinton
Duncan
Elk City
Lawton

Getting Around Oklahoma

Air Transportation

Oklahoma has 134 publicly owned airports, including Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City and Tulsa International Airport. Many commercial airlines fly into the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metro areas and offer non-stop flights to other major cities in the U.S.

Will Rogers World Airport (OKC)
Main number: 405.316.3200
E-mail: wrwa@okc.gov

Tulsa International Airport (TUL)
Main Number: 918.838.5000
E-mail: taaweb@tulsaairports.com

Ground Transportation

Seat belts are required in Oklahoma for the driver and front-seat passenger, and headlights are required by law to be turned on when it rains. Child restraints are required for children under 4 years of age weighing 60 pounds or less. The minimum driving age is 16. Persons under the age of 18 are required to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle or motor scooter. Texting while driving is illegal in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma has several toll roads. For information on Turnpike tolls + access, please visit Pikepass.

For more information about traveling on Oklahoma’s highways, please visit the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety.

Commercial Motor Vehicle Information
Size Limitations
Width: 8’6”
Height: 13’5”
Semitrailer in Tractor-Semitrailer Combo: 59’6”
Full Trailer: 29’

Weight Limitations (in lbs.)
Single Axle: 20,000
Tandem Axle: 34,000
Gross Vehicle Weight: 80,000

For inquiries regarding:
– Operation of vehicles in intrastate commerce over 26,000 GVWR (manufacturer’s weight rating) or GCWR (truck and trailer) and don’t need an authority from the Corporation Commission, call 405.521.6738.
– Operation of vehicles with a seating capacity of 16 passengers or more, call 405.521.6738
– Oversize or overweight permits, call 877.425.2390
– Certification to operate as an escort vehicle for oversize trucks, call 405.425.2206
– Motor Vehicle Records (MVR), call 405.425.2262
– Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), call 405.425.2020

Film Industry Associations, Organizations, Grants + More!

Please find lists below of film industry resources. If you are looking for a resource that you do not see, please feel free to give us a call at (800) 766-FILM.

Safety + Diversity on Set

Oklahoma Safety and Diversity Resources

Oklahoma Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
The Oklahoma SafeLine is a confidential, toll-free, 24-hour hotline for Oklahomans seeking help or information about domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. Translation services are available in 150 languages. Call the toll free 24-Hour Oklahoma SafeLine at 1-800-522-SAFE (7233).

ACLU Oklahoma – What to do if you experience Sexual Discrimination
Detailed outline of what sexual discrimination is, and what to do if that occurs to you.

Cherokee Nation Film Office
The Cherokee Nation Film Office offers a consulting service to help ensure projects about the Cherokee Nation are culturally and historically accurate.

Civil Rights Enforcement Unit
The Office of Civil Rights Enforcement (OCRE) is a unit of the Attorney General’s Office that is dedicated to:

Educating the public regarding anti-discrimination rights and responsibilities.
Partnering with the public to positively and proactively advance the cause of civil rights for the equal benefit and enjoyment of all Oklahomans.
Enforcing the Oklahoma Anti-Discrimination Act, Okla. Stat. tit. 25, §§ 1101-1706, which prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodation, and enforcing other civil rights related laws.
Accepting, serving, and reporting on complaints of racial profiling by state, county, and municipal law enforcement.

Contract Services Resources – Contract Services Administration Trust Fund – Industry Wide Safety Bulletins
Safety Bulletins are researched, written and distributed by the Industry-Wide Labor-Management Safety Committee for use by the motion picture and television industry.

Director’s Guild of America (DGA) Resources
DGA Safety Hotline – The DGA is here to assist members with questions and concerns related to safety. The Guild’s worldwide Safety Hotline is in operation 24/7. Individuals can ask safety-related questions or report an issue or accident by calling the hotline in the U.S. or internationally at (310) 289-5326, or toll free in the U.S. and Canada at (800) 342-3457.

If you have been sexually harassed in the workplace, or if you would like to have a discussion about your situation, please call Mayra Ocampo, Assistant Executive Director at (310) 289-2006 or email her at mocampo@dga.org. After business hours, please contact the DGA’s Safety Hotline at (800) 342-3457.

Diversity Center of Oklahoma
The Diversity Center of Oklahoma offers training to organizations about how to be more gender diverse in policy and practice.

GLAAD Media Reference Guide
The GLADD Media Reference Guide is intended for creators in entertainment media who want to tell LGBTQ people’s stories fairly and accurately.

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) 24/7 Safety Hotline Program
When a member calls the IATSE Safety Hotline, the caller can either leave a message for or talk to a safety representative who will begin handling the issue. Depending on the circumstances, the safety representative will contact the Local’s representative and assist them with the issue, or call the employer directly. Call toll free: 844-IA AWARE, 844-422-9273.

Oklahoma Department of Human Services Oklahoma Native American Resource Guide (PDF)

Oklahoma City Vet Center
The Oklahoma City Vet Center can help with resume crafting and employment referrals.

Oklahoma Department of Labor (ODOL)
The Oklahoma Department of Labor’s mission is to foster a safe, healthy, fair and productive Oklahoma. The services provided by ODOL touches the lives of almost every Oklahoman – helping workplaces stay safe, inspecting the thousands of elevators and escalators, boilers, amusement rides to ensuring workers are compensated for time spent on the job, and providing invaluable safety consultations across all industries.

Oklahoma Fair Employment Practice Agencies and Tribal Employment Rights Offices
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) works with the Fair Employment Practice Agencies (FEPAs) and the Tribal Employment Rights Offices (TEROs) to manage charges of discrimination and the protection of the employment rights of Native Americans.

Oklahoma Office of Disability Concerns
The Office of Disability Concerns (ODC) provides accurate and timely information, referral and advocacy. They act as an intermediary to persons with disabilities and provide services for those with disabilities. Call locally at (405) 521-3756 or email odc@odc.ok.gov.

Producers Guild of America (PGA) Safety Initiative & Resources
The PGA Safety Initiative develops programming to educate producers in the regulations and responsibilities of protecting people, locations and equipment on their sets.

Screen Actors Guilds – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Sexual Harassment Hotline
If you believe you have experienced workplace harassment or unlawful discrimination, call your union at (855) SAG-AFTRA / (855) 724-2387 and press 1.

FOR AFTER-HOURS EMERGENCIES: 844-SAFER SET / (844) 723-3773

SAG-AFTRA’s EEO & Diversity department – (323) 549-6644 / (212) 827-1542

SAG-AFTRA Code of Conduct