With the start of the 2022-2023 school year, students at Northwest Classen High School and Frederick A. Douglass High School were the first to participate in a pilot program to introduce a Film Production course, in partnership with Film Education Institute of Oklahoma (FEIO). The program is branded “Scissortail Studios.”

According to a press release from the Oklahoma City Public Schools, “this program launches a commitment by the district to provide students the opportunity to learn and experience the critical role film production plays in the making of movies, television shows, documentaries and other content.”

Oklahoma City Superintendent Dr. Sean McDaniel said in the release, “With each year of this new program, students will gain valuable knowledge and experience, positioning them for job and career opportunities in one of Oklahoma’s fastest growing business sectors. We are excited to help unlock new opportunities for our kids while helping Oklahoma strengthen its position in this fast-emerging industry.”

McDaniel added, “Our intent is to pilot the program at these two high schools and apply those learnings to a district-wide high school rollout in August 2023.”

Among the public school district, FEIO and Scissortail Studios consist of three core program elements, the organizers said:

1) Classroom Curriculum –- A custom curriculum taught by a combination of OKCPS and FEIO instructors, with classroom film kits and industry-specific activities for hands-on learning.

2) Scissortail Studios Film Lab at Douglass High — A dedicated space equipped with state-of-the-art industry equipment and resources, designed to provide a comprehensive film production experience for program participants from across the district.

3) A Mobile Film Lab to take learning to the streets — This mobile film lab will visit school sites, support school events and participate in community activities, allowing students to experience firsthand what a job in film production might look like.

Executive Director Austin Taylor of FEIO said it “was established in 2020 as a local nonprofit to help train and develop local film production personnel to help meet the demand for jobs brought to Oklahoma with each film production. This opportunity to align FEIO’s mission with OKCPS and create a sustainable pipeline of future industry professionals in Oklahoma will be key to accelerating our state’s growth in this space.

“On behalf of our FEIO board, resource partners and growing supporter base, we applaud OKCPS leadership for their vision and passion to give students every opportunity possible.”

In a press release, Matt Payne, Co-CEO of Prairie Surf Studios and FEIO board member added, “As we continue to bring new film projects to Oklahoma, the need for trained and experienced crew members will grow with each new commitment.”

He said the local public school system’s decision to “invest at this level to unlock future job and career opportunities for students in this high demand field is much appreciated. We’re excited to support this effort.”

Paula Lewis, chair of the local public schools Board of Education stated, “It’s a major win any time we can introduce students to new job and career opportunities that ignite a passion for learning. This Scissortail Studios investment will go a long way toward keeping students engaged and excited about going to school.”

Lewis continued, “Utilizing available ESSER (Elementary Secondary School Emergency Relief) funds to build out a robust workforce development initiative while providing OKCPS (Oklahoma City Public Schools) students hands-on learning opportunities, is another significant step forward in our ongoing efforts to provide the best education experience possible.”

The press release distributed by the public school system’s communications staff highlighted these observations from Mayor David Holt:

“The film industry is growing fast here and our young people will increasingly see the potential of a film production career right here in OKC. Oklahoma City Public Schools and its partners deserve credit for bringing this opportunity to our city’s young people, and I’m excited to see where it leads.”

Christian Kanady, founder of local business Echo, said:

“As a private investor committed to supporting the growth of the film industry in Oklahoma, Echo is thrilled to see OKCPS engage in this strategy to grow future workforce in a way that gives young students the opportunity to learn about film production from the inside out. I’m especially excited to see what they create along the way.”

Kanady added, “Echo will find ways to support this project and I encourage other private funders to do the same.”