The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) invites audiences to virtually preview their 2021 Oklahoma Film and Music Conference with the release of the “Pivotal Work: Early Access Series”. Join some of the state’s leading industry professionals for this free video series, which features workshops and discussions designed to educate and inspire audiences seeking to learn more about career opportunities within Oklahoma’s film and music industries. The “Pivotal Work: Early Access Series” will launch in December with subsequent monthly video releases through March 2021.
With the “Pivotal Work: Early Access Series”, OF+MO celebrates the strength of our state’s film and music industry, which has been impacted by a year that has seen unimaginable challenges. Even so, Oklahoma’s skilled film and music workforce, growing infrastructure and critical resources have risen to the occasion to meet the evolving nature of these industries that now more than ever rely on this pivotal work to move forward and continue the state’s upward trajectory. Oklahoma’s film and television industry continues to grow with the state welcoming one of the first SAG-approved productions in May 2020 when its economy reopened. At that time, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared the motion picture and recording industries an essential businesses in the state at that time, helping avert future potential shutdowns in these sectors. Oklahoma has since hosted over 20 film and television productions with nearly a dozen more projects launching between now and Spring 2021.
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Highlighting topics pertaining to both the state’s film and music industries, OF+MO aims to continue to grow the state’s film and music workforce with this new series to meet the growing demand for local hires. Specialized sessions feature the following topics and associated special guests:
- “Making Music Videos in Oklahoma” explores the intersection of music and film production in Oklahoma with guest panelists Reagan Elkins (Owner, Intellego Media) and Maggie McClure (Singer/Songwriter/Entrepreneur) and Shane Henry (Singer/Songwriter/Entrepreneur) of Americana duo The Imaginaries, moderated by Yousef Kazemi (Outreach + Production Manager, OF+MO). This session will be released December 2020.
- “Music PROS in Oklahoma: Putting Your Creativity to Work” encompasses career discussions from the music business, performance and production sectors with guest panelists Ali Harter (Musician/Artist/Momtrepeneur), Dustin Edward Howard (Composer/Songwriter) and Graham Colton (Musician/Entrepreneur), moderated by Krystal Yoseph (Konjo Concepts). This session will be released January 2020.
- “Building Hollywood in Oklahoma” takes a deep dive into production and art design in film and television, highlighting specific trades and skills associated within each department with guest panelists Beka Bell (Production Designer/Art Director), Cyearah Hoursey (Prop Master) and Kaitlyn Shelby (Production Designer/Prop Master), moderated by Sean Lynch (Production Designer/Digital Cinema Instructor, Oklahoma City Community College). This session will be released February 2021.
- Pitch-A-Thon Roadshow is a first of its kind collaboration between Denver-based SeriesFest and OF+MO, which will give content creators the opportunity to participate in an exclusive virtual pitch session highlighting the state of Oklahoma with top television, new media and digital executives in hopes of moving their project forward. This session will be released March 2021. Writers can submit a new series idea now through January 22, 2021, for a chance to participate! Click here to learn more.
“While we all wish we could come together physically for this year’s Oklahoma Film and Music Conference, particularly after the success of our inaugural event last year, we hope providing this virtual video series will offer a safe and responsible way to engage both our industry members and untapped audiences with a preview of what’s to come in 2021,” said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky. “In 2019, we celebrated the new heights that the state’s film and music industries have achieved, and through the innovation, determination and adaptiveness of our workforce and infrastructure, we will continue our pivotal work and move forward together.”
“The Pivotal Work: Early Access Series” was safely recorded with social distancing measures in place at Del City’s Castle Row Studios with production company Visual Brain. The series will be available to watch for free on OF+MO’s YouTube channel. Follow us on social media (@okfilmmusic) for date announcements.
For more information about the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, visit okfilmmusic.org.
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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, visit okfilmmusic.org.
