Dear Oklahoma Film + Music Industry Members + Supporters,
Your health and safety, as well as that of our employee’s, remains a top priority for the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO), a division of the Oklahoma Department of Tourism. Like many agencies around the world, we have been monitoring the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reports on the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, as well as our state leadership’s response to such events transpiring.
At this time, the OF+MO team is continuing to work but will be tele-working and retaining the same daily business hours (9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday until further notice. We encourage all correspondence, requests and updated event notifications to be e-mailed to our staff at filminfo@oklahomafilm.org and will be attended to in a timely manner.
It is our goal to continue bringing you the latest news and updates, including previously scheduled film and music events and activities, as it relates to the statewide response to COVID-19. We would also like to share a few guidelines and tips for filming in Oklahoma as we know them today, however, we encourage everyone to always follow the current guidelines and rules from their government authorities:
- Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has declared a state of emergency in Oklahoma over the growing health and safety concerns related to COVID-19.
- A number of local communities have additionally issued their own state of emergency responses, which limit the number of social gatherings in public places.
- Many local event and filming permits have been revoked through April by their respective granting authorities. Please check with your local city government offices for the latest information as it may relate to your previously permitted film and music activities.
- The Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program administered by OF+MO remains open for the processing of new applications as well as the payout of previously pre-qualified projects. Productions currently in the program’s rebate queue who have had to alter their production schedules in response to COVID-19 should provide immediate notification to OF+MO as these unique changes will be addressed with each client in relation to the program’s guidelines and the current circumstances surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
- OF+MO will continue to monitor industry related event cancellations and postponements, so stay tuned to our social media platforms, website and newsletter for further announcements.
- OF+MO has now created a COVID-19 Resources for Film + Music Workforce page with a list of organizations providing economic relief funds to qualifying applicants. New resources will be updated regularly so please check back often and share with anyone you know in the film + music industries.
- For the latest updates regarding COVID-19 and ways to prevent the spread of further illness, we encourage you to follow the CDC, Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) and Oklahoma State Government websites.
Thank you for your continued support of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office and our state’s film and music industries. We remain committed to continue serving Oklahomans and our existing clients throughout this time, and we appreciate your patience with us during these necessary transitions.
In the meantime, we have no doubt that many of you will be creating new content, whether it be writing new music or screenplays, as well as discovering innovative solutions in your circles of influence during this time. Wishing you all good health and safety as we move through the coming weeks. We will get through this together.
One day at a time,
Tava + team
