Oklahoma City film production builds momentum with growing project pipeline

This story originally appeared on VeloCity

Oklahoma City’s film production pipeline is picking up speed, with one feature currently filming and two more scheduled to begin production this month.

Copperhead, starring Miles Teller and Jason Momoa, is currently filming in Oklahoma City. The crime thriller follows a veteran detective and young federal agent who uncover a conspiracy within an elite task force after an undercover drug deal turns violent.

Two more productions are scheduled to begin filming Oct. 19. Pipecleaner Boy, starring Abigail Breslin, follows a woman who sets out on a cross-country road trip after losing her job and discovering her fiancé is cheating. The faith-based drama His Heart, starring Esai Morales and Kelsey Grammer, will begin filming in Oklahoma City alongside it.

Another project, The Effigy, is targeting a November production start.

For Jill Simpson, executive director of the Oklahoma City Film & Creative Industries Office, the slate of productions reflects the continued growth of an industry the city has spent the past few years working to develop.

“In just three years, Oklahoma City’s film rebate program has gained remarkable momentum,” Simpson said. “We’re no longer talking about attracting one production at a time. We’re building a pipeline of projects that recognize Oklahoma City’s resources and

expanding local workforce.”

That momentum is bringing significant spending into the local economy, from hotel stays and restaurant meals to equipment rentals, transportation and construction materials.

“Those production dollars circulate throughout our economy, creating opportunities well beyond the film industry,” Simpson said.

The Oklahoma City Film Incentive Program has played a role in attracting productions to the region. It offers qualifying projects a 5% to 10% rebate that can be combined with Oklahoma’s 20% to 30% state incentive. The program launched with $3 million in funding in 2023 before expanding to $8 million in 2025 through the Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust.

To date, Oklahoma City has prequalified 16 projects, with two more under consideration. Ten of those project applications were received in the last nine months alone, reflecting the increasing interest in filming in the region. That activity is generating substantial economic returns. A $4 million commitment of city rebate funds has generated $106,764,407 in direct expenditures and a total economic impact of $373.8 million for Oklahoma City.

The local growth reflects broader trends across Oklahoma’s film industry. Between 2019 and 2023, employment in the state’s film and television industry increased 56.2%, while total compensation grew 169%. Oklahoma also climbed to No. 18 nationally for its film incentive program, up from No. 26 in 2025.

Building the workforce for continued growth

As more productions move through the pipeline, Simpson said developing the workforce needed to support them will be an important part of sustaining that growth.

“Attracting productions is one part of building this industry,” Simpson said. “We also need to make sure there are enough people here who have the skills and experience to work on those productions. Building that workforce allows us to support more projects and gives us a stronger pipeline for the future.”

OKC Film works with educational institutions and industry partners across the metro to strengthen that workforce pipeline. Film and digital media programs are available through Oklahoma City Community College, Oklahoma City University, the University of Oklahoma and Rose State College, while Metro Tech, Francis Tuttle Technology Center and Moore Norman Technology Center are among the additional partners helping prepare workers for the industry. Filmmakers Ranch also offers Set Ready training for production work.

Strengthening the local workforce is central to OKC Film’s long-term vision of transforming Oklahoma City from a production location into a regional production hub. Developing experienced crews and expanding opportunities for local talent can help the region accommodate more productions while creating pathways for workers to build careers without leaving Oklahoma City.

“We want to build on the momentum we’re seeing and make sure Oklahoma City is prepared for what comes next,” Simpson said. “The goal isn’t just more productions. It’s building an industry that can continue growing here.”