OKC Film Partners Offer Scholarships To Learn Film Set Construction At OCCC

The film industry in Oklahoma is growing, and there are more opportunities for Oklahomans to get involved even on the construction side of movies.

Oklahoma is being called a "prime destination" for movie and TV productions and even "Hollywood on the prairie", with that there is a need for Oklahomans to get involved, specifically with building the sets.

Prairie Surf co-Founder and co-CEO, Matt Payne said,

"We had “Tulsa King” in town for nine months, and what we noticed was they were building a lot of sets, and they needed a lot of people to work on these sets."

In partnership with OCCC, Prairie Surf Media, Work Ready Oklahoma and the Film Education Institute of Oklahoma are partnering to provide several scholarships to cover the cost of this three-week intensive course which would normally cost around $1,400.

Professor of Digital Cinema at OCCC Sean Lynch said students will learn everything they need to know.

"We're going to give you all of those skill sets to build flats, learning how to build raised floors, windows, doors, beam construction."

No degree or experience in film is needed, and people of all ages are welcome. The students will go to class for eight hours a day for three weeks. After that, they will be ready to work.

"The only qualifications for this course are that you have a basic tool knowledge of being able to use a saw, drill and one of the benefits of this is it's being taught by an industry professional," Lynch said.

The average set construction worker in the film industry makes around $70k.

"When you are working in a department on these shows the wages are incredibly high," Payne said.

And the projects that you are working on may live forever on the silver screen.

"You are working on something that is going to live on forever; you are a part of this new emerging industry in Oklahoma, and it is going to be seen around the world," Payne said.

There are still a few scholarships available. The deadline to apply is Dec. 23.

To sign up, click here.

To apply for a scholarship, click here.