Filmmakers seek HOT-board backing for Odessa feature with $2 million budget
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Summary
Cuneiform, a film-production company, proposed producing a feature film about Odessa and asked the council to place the request for HOT-board consideration; the company described a planned distribution deal with Fox Nation and additional storefront releases and recommended a $2,000,000 budget with a $200,000 initial payment.
Brecken Hager, CEO of Cuneiform, and Arianna, the company's chief operating officer, presented a proposal for a feature film about Odessa during the Oct. 28 work session, saying the project would promote the city and could tie into Odessa’s centennial. "This is really a dream of mine to be able to capture y'all story," Hager said, and he recommended a $2,000,000 budget, with 10 percent ($200,000) to begin preproduction.
The presenters described an existing deal with Fox Nation as a primary distribution partner and said the film would also be available for standalone release on Apple, Amazon and other digital storefronts. Hager said the production team would manage producing, editing, marketing and festival placement, and that significant portions of the $2,000,000 budget would be dedicated to marketing: "the production of the film itself and post production is $500,000 and the rest is marketing," he said. The presenters listed local references and prior partners from their Pecos project and offered city leaders sample red-carpet and festival plans tied to the centennial.
The council did not take a final vote during the work session. Mayor Hendrick and other members said the item would appear on the Nov. 11 agenda for possible formal action; staff indicated the presenters might not need to attend that meeting unless the council requests them. The presenters asked that the HOT board consider using hotel-occupancy-tax (HOT) funds for promotion and said they believed the project would meet the board’s funding criteria.
Council members asked about timing and availability. The presenters said they hoped to complete distribution deals in the weeks ahead, begin principal photography as early as January 2026 and stage a red-carpet premiere around the centennial. Hager described prior results from the Pecos project and emphasized long-term promotion for Odessa from ongoing digital distribution.
Next steps identified on the record: place the matter on the Nov. 11 agenda for possible vote and have staff include the film funding request in regular agenda materials. No formal commitment of city funds, nor any HOT-board action, was made during the Oct. 28 work session.
