Economic Development Trust approves pay-for-performance film incentive for Filmmakers Table LLC

The Oklahoma City Economic Development Trust on Dec. 16 approved a pay-for-performance incentive to support a locally produced television series by Filmmakers Table LLC.

An economic development staff presenter described the project as a 22 half-hour scripted series to be filmed on stage at Filmmakers Ranch in January, with 84% of the crew expected to be Oklahoma City residents. The presenter said anticipated Oklahoma expenditures total $693,852 and estimated the total local economic impact at $1,480,000. "I'm excited to bring you a 100% local project," the presenter said.

The staff recommended the project qualify for the full additional 5% incentive (bringing it to a 10% incentive), citing strict local-spend and local-hire thresholds in the city's incentive criteria: a minimum spend of $500,000 for a series, more than 50% local crew (presenter said 84%), more than 75 days filmed in Oklahoma City (presenter said 100% of days), and use of diverse vendors (presenter cited a female-owned equipment vendor and local post-production at Apex Post).

The item description on the agenda requested authorization for an allocation "not to exceed $69,385"; during the presentation staff recommended a closely related figure of $69,003.85 as the full 10% amount. The board took a motion, second and the chair stated the item passed.

What happens next

The incentive is pay-for-performance: staff must confirm qualifying expenditures and other eligibility requirements before incentives are paid. The presenter said production was scheduled to begin in early January and conclude later that month. The trust did not record a roll-call vote in the transcript; the chair recorded only that "the item passes."