If you admired the vast prairies in Twisters or the Western architecture in Killers of the Flower Moon, you’ve enjoyed the fruits of Oklahoma’s $30 million annual film and television incentive, which has attracted several major projects over the last few years. And despite headwinds, the state is still drawing big names.
After ramping up its incentive program from $8 million five years ago, the Sooner State played host to FX’s The Lowdown and Reservation Dogs, Paramount+’s Tulsa King and the film Reagan. It’s currently serving as the backdrop for The Lowdown’s second season, while Snoop Dogg is coming to town in the fall to film God of the Rodeo and Miles Teller is set to star in Copperhead later this summer.
“We are probably busier right now than we’ve been over the last year and a half, although we’ve always been very steady,” said the director of the state’s Film + Music Office, Jeanette Stanton, in an interview.
For that, Oklahoma can thank its generous stackable tax incentive system, which allows jurisdictions to provide their own incentives on top of the state’s 20 percent base rebate. The state’s diversity of surroundings — from desert environs to forests to cities to old West-style towns — and its production infrastructure also plays a role.
