OWASSO, Okla. (OBV) – The Cherokee Nation came together to celebrate the expansion of its growing film studio operation, cutting the ribbon on a second soundstage at the Cherokee Film Studios campus in Owasso.
Cherokee and state leaders were in attendance for the ribbon-cutting celebration last week, one year after ground was broken on the new soundstage.
“Through our tribe’s breakthrough endeavors, Cherokee Nation remains at the forefront of the emerging film and TV industry in Indian Country,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “The present and future of Cherokee Nation, our neighboring tribes and Oklahoma are intrinsically intertwined, and this newly expanded campus demonstrates yet another example of our commitment to investing in that future. As we increase infrastructure, explore incentives, connect resources and remove barriers, we are helping grow and amplify television and film production in Oklahoma — the home state of 39 tribal nations — while making it possible for our citizens to be a part of it.”
The 10,000-square-foot soundstage has a 35-foot ceiling, full soundproofing to cinema standards, a modular truss system with chain hoists, a hair and makeup room, a multipurpose/flex space, restrooms, 14-foot bay doors for load-ins, and RV hookups for production trailers. Additional changes to the Owasso film campus include classroom space for the Cherokee Film Institute, a new lobby and waiting area for clients, a construction mill space equipped with a cyclonic air filtration system, production offices and conference rooms, wardrobe and storage spaces, an audio recording suite, a catering kitchen and an additional greenroom, according to Cherokee Nation officials.
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell attended the ribbon cutting and lauded the Cherokee Nation’s continuing contributions to Oklahoma’s rising film industry.
“We are thrilled to welcome Cherokee Film’s expansion and new soundstage to northeast Oklahoma,” Pinnell said. “With the opening of this 10,000-square-foot facility, Cherokee Film now has nearly 20,000 square feet of dedicated, state-of-the-art production space, all located less than 20 minutes from the Tulsa International Airport. This is a major investment in diversifying Oklahoma’s economy, and the jobs and economic impact we will see will benefit our state for many years to come.”
The studio is located on more than four acres within the tribe’s reservation, less than 20 minutes from Tulsa International Airport. It has state-of-the-art extended reality (xR), virtual production LED volume studio crafted with industry-leading software and hardware technologies.
The campus also consists of 14,000 square feet of dedicated virtual production and practical studio space, edit suites, a control room, a pro-grade audio booth, crew and client lounges and hair and makeup facilities.
Film and television production has grown significantly in Oklahoma in recent years. The summer blockbuster “Twisters” was filmed primarily in Oklahoma. The first season of the Paramount Plus show “Tulsa King” was filmed in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and other in-state areas. The popular FX television show “Reservation Dogs” is shot in the Sooner State, specifically in Okmulgee. The critically-acclaimed feature film “Killers of the Flower Moon,” directed by legendary filmmaker Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro and Brendan Fraser, filmed in several locations across Oklahoma, including Bartlesville, Fairfax, Osage County, Pawhuska and Tulsa.
The Oklahoma film and television industry’s growth is obvious, according to Oklahoma Film & Music Office charts that provide fiscal year breakdowns of the number people hired for film and television productions in the state, the amount of money spent in the state by those productions and the wages paid out by the productions.
Jeanette Stanton, director of the Film & Music Office, said film production expenditures and wages in Oklahoma sharply declined from FY21 to FY22 because “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the largest film production in the state’s history, was produced during FY21.
The Cherokee Nation envisions Cherokee Film becoming a global production hub at the center of the film, TV and entertainment industry, championing diversity and inclusion for underrepresented voices.
“In pursuit of our longtime mission of growing the tribe’s economy, Cherokee Nation Businesses invests in new and diverse opportunities across the globe,” said Chuck Garrett, CEO of Cherokee Nation Businesses. “We continually expand opportunities and advantages throughout northeast Oklahoma by supporting education, growing industries, providing jobs, improving health care, building infrastructure and more. As our businesses continue to grow and succeed, so does our ability to further support the tribe and remain a positive community partner for our state. The rapid and continued growth of Cherokee Film illustrates our continued dedication to creating new jobs, helping develop local economies and continuing to diversify our businesses.”
