Movie, music workplace created in Shawnee tourism division

This week, the Shawnee City Commissioners approved Tourism Director Stacy Cramer Moore’s recommendation that a film and music office be established within the Tourism Department.

“The Oklahoma film industry is booming,” she said on Monday. “In 2019, 22 films were made in Oklahoma, resulting in spending in Oklahoma of $ 9.3 million and wages of $ 4.3 million.”

She said 35 films were shot in Oklahoma Ion 2020 – despite the pandemic – including the first Oscar-nominated feature film to be shot in the state – Minari.

“Communities of similar size and demographics have made large multi-million dollar film deals,” said Moore. “Shawnee was discovered by movies and TV series of all sizes.”

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A small project in business is on a budget less than $ 7.5 million, she said.

Companies that benefit from community movie localization include many large and small companies from a variety of industries, such as hairdressers, accountants, truck drivers, hotels, carpenters, tailors, restaurants, and others.

According to Moore, Shawnee is working to receive the film-friendly community award from the Oklahoma Film and Music Bureau. The criteria are as follows:

• Name a contact person for film projects.

• Upload at least twelve locations to okfilmmusic.com (fully).

• Establish a movie approval process

For more information visit https://okfilmmusic.org/.

At this point, she said the Shawnee Film and Music Office establishment will be a placeholder for future development.

“No funds or additional staff are tied to the designation,” she said. “Establishing the Shawnee Film and Music Office will increase our chances of landing film projects that are looking for communities that are ready and have procedures and best practices in place.”

One purpose of the office is to provide a primary contact in Shawnee that Moore will serve until additional staff is required.

A city ordinance that requires film registration for commercial filming is part of the designation as a film-friendly community.

“A film location crew (would) meet with a representative from the Shawnee Film and Music Office to discuss the overall scope of the film and the need for additional permits,” said Moore.

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These approval procedures are already in place.

“The film bureau staff would coordinate with other department heads to process any necessary permits, streamline communications, and ensure the health and safety of Shawnee citizens and our film industry guests,” she said.

The concept is not a pie-in-the-sky, she said.

“It’s happening to our neighbors right now,” said Moore.

The commissioners voted unanimously in favor of the regulation.

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For ideas, questions, or concerns about the story, reporter Vicky O. Misa can be reached at vicky.misa@news-star.com.