The Tulsa Office of Film, Music, Arts & Culture (Tulsa FMAC) along with the Oklahoma Film & TV Academy (OFTA) have announced the launch of their initiative to bring OFTA’s “Set Ready” course to Tulsa’s Cox Business Convention Center (CBCC) this summer through the Tulsa County Film Recovery Program, made possible with Tulsa County American Rescue Plan Act funding.
“Set Ready” is a four-day course, spread across two weekends, geared towards aspiring filmmakers and those who have been displaced from their careers due to the pandemic. The class will provide students the overview they’ll need to step onto a film set with confidence, feeling fully prepared and ready to work as a production assistant in any department.
“More television and film projects are pouring into Oklahoma than ever before. Our office worked with 34 productions in 2021, the highest number of projects we’ve assisted in a year,” said Abby Kurin, executive director of Tulsa FMAC. “Our goal is to train 100 new film crew in the Tulsa area. These workshops can jumpstart career paths equipping those completing the course to begin working right away on film sets across the region. Thanks to Tulsa County, we are able to offer these workshops at no cost to the participants.”
The first of three “Set Ready” courses will be held at the CBCC in downtown Tulsa on June 4-5 and June 11-12, 2022. The first course is both weekends 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Additional course dates will be announced soon.
“Since its inception in 2020, OFTA has trained hundreds of students and prepared them to work in the state’s burgeoning film industry,” said Nancy Hayden, head of OFTA. “Offering entry-level production assistant training, as well as more advanced specialization courses, OFTA is on a mission to develop a production-ready workforce within the state of Oklahoma and beyond. We’re thrilled to bring this course to Tulsa County with Tulsa FMAC.”
Alumni of the “Set Ready” course are working across the region on productions such as Martin Scorsese’s “Killers of the Flower Moon,” Sterlin Harjo and Taika Waititi’s “Reservation Dogs” and Sylvester Stallone’s “Tulsa King,” just to name a few.
“We’re delighted to host the ‘Set Ready’ course offerings throughout the year at our facility,” said ASM Tulsa Assistant General Manager at CBCC, Angie Teel, CMP. “The team has been working to increase our film and television production connections within the film industry. In 2021 we worked with four film and TV productions, providing custom catering, office space with high speed internet for uploading content as well as additional spaces for wardrobe, props, sets and film scenes.”
For more information, visit OFTA’s website. Applications are now being accepted with registration ending May 27. Students (18+) will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis.
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