Don't Call "Cut"

     The Outsiders, Twister, Rumble Fish, The Grapes of Wrath… You’ve probably heard of all of these films, and know that they were shot, at least in part, in Oklahoma. But what you probably don’t know is that the film industry in Oklahoma is growing at a rapid pace, bringing jobs and money to our state, largely thanks to the $5 million tax rebate program that our state has. That rebate program has recently come under attack with the introduction of OK SB 1623, which aims to do away with the tax incentives that Oklahoma offers.

What are the economic impacts of film in Oklahoma?

     Chris Freihofer, (member of the Casting Society of America, owner and operator of Freihofer Casting in Norman, OK) reported in his weekly newsletter Monday Morning Memo that he cast 7 feature films out of his office in 2011 alone. Freihofer supplied dozens of principal roles and thousands of paid extras. The Motion Picture Alliance of America (MPAA) reports that Oklahoma film generated $168.5 million in wages over the course of 2009-2010, and a 2010 economic study by Oklahoma City University reported that the Oklahoma film industry generated $11.8 million for 157 full-time positions. The MPAA also reports that 4,699 people were employed by films in Oklahoma.

     Should Oklahoma film incentives be cut, it is estimated that the state will lose most, if not all of its film industry. According to the Oklahoma Film commission the state lost out on 6 films, including the Warner Bros production Thunder, due to the incentive cap having been already met. Many more films will pass us by if the rebates are cut entirely. Freihofer stated in the February 13^th edition of the Memo, “I remember what it was like for the film industry in Oklahoma before the incentive program. I do not want to go back to those days again.”

     A quick look at the upcoming films in Oklahoma brings excitement to members of the industry in Oklahoma. The film adaptation of August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, is set to begin scouting for locations in Oklahoma soon. A film about Oklahoma native and WWII paratrooper, Jake McNiece is currently in pre-production with Christopher Bertolini (writer of Battle: LA) already working on the screenplay, with the producers rumored to be scouting for locations in Oklahoma to film part of the movie. The producers of Just Crazy Enough are already in talks to produce another film in Oklahoma in 2012, and many low-budget independent films are set to begin production in the coming year.  If the tax incentive program is repealed, Oklahoma will lose out on these productions, as well as many national and regional commercials.

How do other states compare?

     The MPAA reports that Louisiana, which has no incentive cap, generated $308.7 million in wages, and generated 7,632 jobs over the course of 2009-2010. North Carolina, sporting a $20 million per feature cap, reported 9,280 jobs and $200.5 million in wages. Texas, a booming film state, reported $1.5 billion in wages and 41,269 jobs in the same period. In stark contrast to these three states, Arizona, which generated $329 million over 2009-2010, has reported a sharp drop in its revenue from film since cutting its incentive program in 2010. Though exact numbers are still lacking, some estimates put the drop at over $100 million in lost wages.

What does this mean for Oklahoma?

     If SB 1623 passes, the 157 (and growing) permanent jobs in film production will shrink dramatically, and the $168 million dollars will all but disappear. Despite Oklahoma film growing steadily and rapidly, our lawmakers are poised to throw away $168 million dollar industry in order to save $5 million. No matter how the math is done, this doesn’t add up.

J Alan Davidson is a Tulsa-based actor who was among the 4,699 people employed by films in Oklahoma, working on productions such as “Yellow” and “Home Run”