While it rarely makes much of a splash as a filming destination, Oklahoma is seeing a surprising shoot boom of its own, buoyed by its $30M annual incentive program. Blake & Wang P.A. entertainment attorney, Brandon Blake, shares a little about this hidden hero of the location landscape.
Another Revised Incentive Program
As with many of these booms, it started with the revision of its tax incentive program from $8M to $30M five years ago. Projects like Reservation Dogs and Tulsa King have also helped to increase interest in the state as a location (while benefiting from the incentives themselves).
While the program itself is reasonably small, the tax incentive system is stackable, so individual jurisdictions can offer their own incentives on top of the state’s 20% rebate base. Paired with some surprising diversity of landscape, from desert to forest and including picturesque Old-West towns, there’s a lot to love. Plus, the state has a reputation for paying out fast, typically under 60 days, and does qualify above-the-line work as well, capped at 33%.
A Busy Year
While the area hasn’t been free of the general location shoot contraction underway in Hollywood at the moment, it’s still seeing a steady flow of new work interested in the area. 2025 numbers were on the rise again, and 2026 is shaping up to be busy as well. Vertical dramas are also calling the state home, as the $50,000 qualification threshold is relatively low, making it friendly to them and short films or documentaries.
While perhaps best known as the default destination for anything Western-themed, Oklahoma’s incentive program is quietly doing its work, and the state is seeing the benefits, to the benefit of the state and the productions using its landscape as their backdrop. We’ll likely see a lot more of Oklahoma in the coming years.
Film and Television 