Prairie Surf Studios (formerly Cox Center)

[jn1780]

Scot Matteson (Bricktown Boardwalk fame) said in an interview that he's looking forward to working with PSM in the future.

Does he plan to build a legendary film studio somewhere?

[jn1780]

I've said Crossroads. LOTS of inactive but ready space.

I don't think PSM can be too picky on this.

There isn't a lot of already built options. The old Dillard's space has potential. Some work was done to turn that into a convention center. They could make a few areas with high ceilings within that building.

[Bowser214]

He didn’t elaborate on anything like where or when.

[Pete]

Rachel Cannon resigns as CEO of OKC's Prairie Surf Studios

Article doesn't really explain why she is leaving but hints at losing the Cox Center at the end of 2025 as a part of it.

"With the reality of the building going away, Cannon has decided to step away from infrastructure but plans to continue her mission of building something special for Middle America right here at home," according to the announcement.

[OkieBerto]

Pete beat me to it.

[jn1780]

That seems to indicate they are not very optimistic about the future of having a financially viable physical movie studio or at least she doesn't. It has been mentioned before, but they were getting an awesome deal from the city.

The city may not have to wait until December 2025................


or it could be something simple as she doesn't want to deal with extra stress and workload of relocation

[okatty]

Good articles today in the NYT about the film industry in various states including Okla. With a lot of focus on Tx and Okla. I read it in the app so if you have access check it out. Title and byline of one:

Oklahoma’s Booming Film Industry Has Texas’ Attention
To attract movie and television production, states must try to offer the best incentives. The competition drives spending on Hollywood subsidies ever higher.

[Tydude]

https://www.koco.com/article/oklahom...lkway/60551551

[Laramie]

Any news on PSM site being selected as the official site for the new $1 billion downtown arena.

[traxx]

Any news on PSM site being selected as the official site for the new $1 billion downtown arena.

They're putting the new arena at Penn Square Mall? Is there even enough room for that? It doesn't make sense.

[Tyson]

They're putting the new arena at Penn Square Mall? Is there even enough room for that? It doesn't make sense.

Haha. I definitely have thought about that before.

[jn1780]

They're putting the new arena at Penn Square Mall? Is there even enough room for that? It doesn't make sense.

That image kind of looks like a greenhouse also.

[PhiAlpha]

That image kind of looks like a greenhouse also.

If Paycom is still the sponsor, it will really look like a green house lol.

[TheTravellers]

Just read this:

". Nationally, film incentives are
universally found to be a poor investment, costing more than $100,000
per job for the few permanent jobs that are created, according to the Tax
Foundation.135 That’s certainly the case in Oklahoma, where the IEC found
that $27 million in film rebates had increased permanent in-state production
company employment by just 145 in 15 years. The IEC further calculated
that the industry returned only 52 cents in Oklahoma tax dollars for every
dollar spent.136 Despite these poor returns, the legislature in 2020 doubled
the annual cap on film credits to $8 million, exempted some films from that
cap, and extended the sunset date.137 In 2021, lawmakers created a new film
incentive that will reduce state revenue by $30 million annually for ten years
for rebates to filmmakers.138"

It's from this - https://okpolicy.wpenginepowered.com...NT.pdf#page=43

[PhiAlpha]

Just read this:

". Nationally, film incentives are
universally found to be a poor investment, costing more than $100,000
per job for the few permanent jobs that are created, according to the Tax
Foundation.135 That’s certainly the case in Oklahoma, where the IEC found
that $27 million in film rebates had increased permanent in-state production
company employment by just 145 in 15 years. The IEC further calculated
that the industry returned only 52 cents in Oklahoma tax dollars for every
dollar spent.136 Despite these poor returns, the legislature in 2020 doubled
the annual cap on film credits to $8 million, exempted some films from that
cap, and extended the sunset date.137 In 2021, lawmakers created a new film
incentive that will reduce state revenue by $30 million annually for ten years
for rebates to filmmakers.138"

It's from this - https://okpolicy.wpenginepowered.com...NT.pdf#page=43

Similar to the economic argument for building a new arena despite it not being directly profitable...I wonder if this takes into account the benefits from the publicity?

[Sean21]

Similar to the economic argument for building a new arena despite it not being directly profitable...I wonder if this takes into account the benefits from the publicity?

I’m guessing psm will not draw 30k people downtown tomorrow evening.

[PhiAlpha]

I’m guessing psm will not draw 30k people downtown tomorrow evening.

the post I was responding to referred to reasons for doing away with the film tax credit, not prairie surf in particular, and referenced the last 20 years of the film industry in OK. Doing away with it would impact the entire effect the entire film industry in OK. Millions of people have seen movies like Killers of the Flower moon and the state got a bunch of publicity from Twister, etc.

No, Penn square mall will not bring 30k people downtown tomorrow because it is not located downtown.