Oklahoma City is no longer chasing film productions 

Not long ago, Oklahoma was competing to convince filmmakers to take a chance on the state. 

Today, industry leaders say the conversation has changed. 

"We've changed, I would say, in the last 10 years from us chasing to just things starting to come our way, which is really incredible to see," Jill Simpson, executive director of the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office, said during an Essential Conversations panel.  

The discussion, titled Why OKC Belongs in the Film Conversation, brought together leaders from the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office, Oklahoma Film & Music Office and Oklahoma Motion Picture Alliance to discuss how strategic investments, workforce development and collaboration have helped position Oklahoma City as an increasingly competitive destination for film and television production.  

Simpson said the city's progress reflects years of intentional investment. Since launching in 2022, the Oklahoma City Film Incentive Program has helped attract productions that have generated more than $91.3 million in direct spending and an estimated $320 million in economic impact.  

But panelists said the industry's success extends beyond incentive dollars. 

Jeanette Stanton, director of the Oklahoma Film & Music Office, pointed to Oklahoma's collaborative approach as one of its greatest strengths. State and local incentives can be combined, giving productions additional financial flexibility while allowing communities across Oklahoma to work together rather than compete with one another.  

That collaboration recently helped Oklahoma land Copperhead, a feature film originally planned for Texas. Simpson said producers told her they would not have chosen Oklahoma without the combined state and city incentive programs.  

As production activity continues to grow, Simpson said the industry's next challenge is creating enough consistent work to keep skilled crew members in Oklahoma year-round. 

"The ultimate goal is a 12-month calendar of production so people can make their livings, have a steady income and stay here," she said.  

That effort includes strengthening workforce pathways through K-12 programs, CareerTech, colleges and universities while creating opportunities for local filmmakers to build careers without leaving the state. Simpson said supporting Oklahoma storytellers early in their careers will be just as important as recruiting productions from outside the state.  

The discussion underscored how far Oklahoma City's film industry has come—and where leaders believe it can go next. Rather than simply attracting the occasional production, the goal is to build an industry that creates long-term jobs, supports local talent and continues to strengthen Oklahoma City's economy.