July 2022 Magazine

Who is Lance McDaniel?

LANCE McDANIEL

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This issue of OKC FRIDAY Magazine is being guest edited by our weekly Film Columnist Lance McDaniel. McDaniel is a Heritage Hall Distinguished Graduate who is CEO of McDaniel Entertainment; an award‐winning filmmaker who has worked on 21 feature films, including Oscar‐winner “Million Dollar Baby”; and the former executive director of the deadCenter Film Festival, which was named Oklahoma’s Best Arts & Cultural Nonprofit and a Governor’s Arts Award‐winner under his lead‐ ership from 2010 to 2020.

Since launching McDaniel Entertainment in 2020, McDaniel has produced two “Rob Lake Magic Television Specials” for Armed Forces Entertainment; directed and produced four short films for Christian Faith Publishing, Newman Springs Publishing, and Fulton Books; co‐produced a documentary about the musical “Distant Thunder” with Lyric Theatre; assis‐ tant directed the Tribeca/HBO Max film “Land of Gold”; and written, directed and produced the drama “Finding Carlos,” which premiered in theaters in February, 2022, and is currently available on iTunes, Apple and on demand.

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•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Frederickson: The ‘Godfather’ of film in Oklahoma

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By Lance McDaniel The modern film industry in Oklahoma begins with one man, Academy Award‐winning producer, Gray Frederickson.

Frederickson grew up in Oklahoma City, attending Casady School and the University of Oklahoma before heading to Europe. He was working in Switzerland when an Italian movie producer con‐ vinced him to move to Rome to start making films.

A couple of early successes in Italy led to a production man‐ agement job on Sergio Leone’s “The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly” with Clint Eastwood. The film blew up, launching Eastwood into superstardom and prompting Frederickson to move to Hollywood.

In Los Angeles, he was hired by Albert S. Ruddy to help pro‐ duce “The Godfather,” which is currently celebrating its 50th anniversary as one of the greatest films of all time. After the success of “The Godfather,” Frederickson became Francis Ford Coppola’s full‐time producing partner. Together, they created Gra y Frederickson and Francis Ford the classic films “Apocalypse Now,” “The Outsiders” and “The Godfa Coppola win O ther, Part II.” Be scars for “The low left: The po Godfather, Part 2,” which won Frederickson the Academy ster for “The O utsiders.”

Award for Best Picture.

Perhaps most significantly, Frederickson was the person who convinced Coppola to film “The Outsiders” on location in Oklahoma. Frederickson flew the director to Tulsa, led the loca‐ tion scout, and reminded him that the studios would be far less intrusive if they made the movie in Oklahoma. Coppola agreed.

And, the film was produced in Tulsa, kicking off a string of film productions in Oklahoma that continues to this day.

Frederickson is also the father of modern film education in Oklahoma. After a 30‐year career producing movies in Hollywood, he returned home to Oklahoma and founded the largest film and video program in Oklahoma at Oklahoma City Community College. The digital cinema program at OCCC, with its massive soundstage and extensive library of modern equipment, has trained thousands of working professionals in the film, video, and com‐ mercial advertising businesses in Oklahoma. As importantly, the pro‐ gram has inspired other collegiate and technical center programs across the city and state to include more hands‐on training for specific jobs in the film industry so that stu‐ dents are work force ready when they graduate.

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••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Gray Frederickson’s influence on the Oklahoma film industry is visible every‐ where. Earlier this year, his name was hoisted above the new soundstage downtown at Prairie Surf Studios, the largest film studio in the southwest and Oklahoma’s premiere film business. The honor was especially sweet because it was given to him by two of his former interns, Rachel Cannon and Matt Payne, who started their film careers working for Gray Frederickson and are now changing the face of Oklahoma film as co‐CEO’s of Prairie Surf Studios.

The Oklahoma film industry has a million success stories. In this issue, we will share exciting news about movies and film professionals working in Oklahoma, Hollywood, and around the world. But, first, we wanted to take a moment to say thanks and honor the Godfather of Oklahoma film, Gray Frederickson.

Interns with the “Godfather” of film in Oklahoma: From left, Lance McDaniel, Rachel Cannon, Gray Frederickson and Matt Payne at the dedication of the soundstage with his name at Prairie Surf Studios in downtown Oklahoma City.

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Prairie Surf Media C­CEOS Rachel Cannon and Matt Payne receive the Susan McCalmont Award from Creative Oklahoma.

ALISON NAIFEH

NATHAN GARDOCKI

Oklahoma Cityans making a splash in film industry

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By Lance McDaniel Several Oklahomans have carved a path in the film indus‐ try both at home, in Hollywood and across the world. The fol‐ lowing individuals have all strayed or relocated back to Oklahoma City to create some of the most influential busi‐ nesses guiding and shaping the Oklahoma film industry today.

Matt Payne and Rachel Cannon As co‐CEOs of Prairie Surf Media, Matt Payne and Rachel Cannon run the Oklahoma City‐based, global production com‐ pany focused on multi‐platform content creation, particularly television series, big budget movies, streaming, and commer‐ cials. Their crown jewel is Prairie Surf Studios, which offers five soundstages, a full arena, and 260,000 square feet of pro‐ duction space inside the former Cox Convention Center.

Matt Payne is a Bishop McGuinness graduate and a film‐ maker, writer, photographer and educator. In Los Angeles, Payne worked as a writer on CBS’s “Vegas,” “Without a Trace’ and “The Defenders.” Since moving home, Payne has pro‐ duced award‐winning documentaries for Griffin Communications and the OETA Foundation, written gorgeous travel columns for 405 Magazine, written and produced the short film “Amelia’s Prayer’’ and taught film business and screenwriting at Oklahoma City University.

Co‐CEO Rachel Cannon is an entrepreneur, actress, writer, and producer originally from Yukon. Her acting career spans over 20 years, including roles on iconic television series like “Big Bang Theory,” “Two and a Half Men,” “Mad Men” and six years as a series regular on ABC’s “Fresh Off the Boat.” Since returning home to Oklahoma, Cannon has starred in the big budget movie “Reagan” with Dennis Quaid and produced and starred in two short films for Christian Faith Publishing, “Send Me Wings” and “Amelia’s Prayer.”

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Alison Naifeh Alison Naifeh‐Dick is an Enid native and Oklahoma State University graduate that started on “Twister” and became the most prolific location scout and location manager in the region. Alison is the first point of contact for nearly every film produced in Oklahoma, providing gorgeous locations for local films and blockbusters like “August: Osage County,” “I Can Only Imagine,” “Stillwater” and the smash FX television series “Reservation Dogs.” As the industry has blossomed, Alison has started training teams of people though seminars, film cours‐ es and her own location scouting company.

Nathan Gardocki Bishop McGuinness graduate Nathan Gardocki is president and founder of NGP Film Equipment Rental. He and his wife Angela started the business in 2008 in their garage after grad‐ uating from the film program at Oklahoma City University.

They eventually moved into a warehouse and incorporated in 2011. Since then, NGP has become the largest film and video equipment rental house in Oklahoma, providing camera, sound, grip, electric and production equipment for nearly every film, television show, and commercial produced in Oklahoma.

Nathan Gardocki is also a sought‐after film producer. He has produced or production managed 28 films since 2012, including the big budget feature “Reagan.” Lately, Gardocki has focused most of his attention on workforce readiness, helping launch the Film Education Institute of Oklahoma to provide a pathway for students and people working in other careers to start working in the Oklahoma film industry.

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Hunt Lowry: Proof good guys finish first

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By Lance McDaniel There is no better friend to Oklahoma filmmakers moving to Los Angeles than Hunt Lowry. Lowry is a Casady School Distinguished Graduate and deadCenter film ICON who is presi‐ dent and CEO of Roserock Films, a production company housed on the lot of Warner Bros.

For the past 40 years, Hunt Lowry has produced some of the most hilarious, exciting, and inspirational movies of all time, including “Airplane!,” “First Knight,” and “Divine Secrets of the Ya‐ Ya Sisterhood.” During that time, he has also established himself as a beacon for Oklahomans moving to Los Angeles to pursue their dreams in motion pictures.

Lowry’s biggest box office successes came with producing Oscar winner “The Last of the Mohicans,” starring Oklahoma’s Wes Studi and Daniel Day Lewis, and “A Time to Kill,” starring Matthew McConaughey and Sandra Bullock. He captured the teen market with productions for Gaylord Films, including “What a Girl Wants,” “A Cinderella Story” and “A Walk to Remember.” And, for inde‐ pendent film lovers, Lowry’s masterpiece is “Donnie Darko,” a cult classic and Sundance favorite starring Jake Gyllenhaal as a very troubled teen.

For people living in Nichols Hills, Lowry’s most exciting project was bringing the television movie “Surviving” to film here in Oklahoma City. The intense but wildly popular drama featured several people from Oklahoma alongside Hollywood legends Marsha Mason, Paul Sorvino and Ellen Burstyn, teen queen Molly Ringwald, and a young River Phoenix.

During the past decade, Lowry has produced several successful franchises, like the “Pure Country” film series and the “Thou Shalt Laugh Christian Comedian Show” with its three sequels. More recently, Lowry produced the movie “Eraser: Reborn” and a new installment of “Deep Blue Sea.” Hunt Lowry is proof that nice guys finish first, even in the mid‐ dle of Hollywood. Perhaps it’s his great Oklahoma upbringing. Or, possibly it’s because he is surrounded by family. His sister Junie Lowry‐Johnson is one of the most successful casting directors in Hollywood, creating legendary cast for “NYPD Blue,” “Six Feet Under,” and “Desperate Housewives.” Their brother Dick Lowry is a successful television director with 63 directing credits spanning series, specials, and classic television movies like “The Gambler,” starring Kenny Rogers.

Oklahoma is lucky to have Hunt Lowry and his amazing siblings bringing their outstanding talent and family values from Oklahoma City to Hollywood.

Hunt Lowry produced “The Last of the Mohicans,” starring Oklahoma’s Wes Studi and Daniel Day Lewis.

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Chickasaw Nation strives to preserve stories of its people

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By Lance McDaniel Chickasaw Nation Productions was established in 2009 as a result of Chickasaw Nation Governor Bill Anoatubby’s vision to utilize film production to preserve the stories of the Chickasaw people. The goal was to educate audiences by producing feature films and documen‐ taries with accurate, positive portrayals of Chickasaw people, history and culture. Each film would illustrate how Chickasaw culture played an important role in the lives of the individuals and events portrayed in the films, and how those individuals and events influenced the world around them.

The first production from Chickasaw Nation Productions was “Pearl.” It was a family friendly movie about Pearl Carter Scott, a Chickasaw girl from Marlow, Okla., who became the youngest licensed pilot in history in 1929. The film toured festivals for years, winning several prizes and accolades for its positive portrayal of its inspirational subject.

“Pearl” was shot entirely in Oklahoma, with gorgeous aerial shots of bi‐planes, rural grass airstrips, and the Harn Homestead serving as several of the film’s locations. Even the streets of downtown Guthrie were covered with dirt to match the film’s 1927 setting.

Lance McDaniel as the production manager and first assistant Director on the movie “Pearl’’ with the star, Elijah De Jesus.

“Te Ata,” the second narrative feature, told the true story of Mary Thompson Fisher, a Chickasaw girl born in the Chickasaw Nation in 1895 who became one of the greatest Native American performers and storytellers of all time. She performed for President Roosevelt and shared Chickasaw stories with European royalty. That film was filmed in Oklahoma and released in 2016.

“Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher,” the third film from Chickasaw Nation Productions, portrays the life of Chickasaw rancher Montford Johnson, who overcame great hardships to establish a vast ranching empire along the famous cattle highway of the American West. He is credited with scouting and developing The Chisholm Trail.

“Montford: The Chickasaw Rancher” came out in 2021 and proved to be the most successful of the three films, landing a world premiere on Netflix. The success of “Montford” helped usher “Te Ata” onto the streaming service as well, setting the Chickasaw Nation Productions up for future success with a great distribution partner. Under the direction of Robyn Elliott, secretary of communications and commu‐ nity development, Chickasaw Nation Productions is poised to be a leader in the Oklahoma film industry for decades to come.

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Want to be an actor?

Here is how to get started

Chris Freihofer teaches at The Actor Factory, a school for learning how to create a resume and headshot, audition, act and act on camera.

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This is a fantastic time to live in Oklahoma City if you are an aspiring actor. More than 50 feature films have been produced in Oklahoma since 2020. High profile television shows like Paramount +’s “The Tulsa King” and FX’s “Reservation Dogs” release weekly calls for Oklahoma‐based extras. All you need to know is how to get started.

The first stop is the Oklahoma Film + Music Office. The OF+MO is the state’s official film office. They are a part of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and they manage the film rebate pro‐ gram and serve as the first point of contact for productions con‐ sidering filming in Oklahoma.

The OF+MO website, okfilmmusic.org, is the best place to see an overview of what productions are filming in Oklahoma and what jobs are available at any given time. They constantly update their homepage with the latest calls for extras and job openings. They offer features on working crew members and production compa‐ nies that are succeeding in the Oklahoma film and television industry. And, they include both training videos of their own and links to great training schools and organizations across the state.

Next up, aspiring actors, you need to sign up with Freihofer Casting. Founder and CEO Chris Freihofer is the most prolific cast‐ ing director in the southwest, with 23 credits since 2020, includ‐ ing the Peabody Award‐winning television series “Reservation Dogs” and Academy Award‐winning “Minari.”

Freihofer started as a theater actor, earning a BFA from the University of Oklahoma. He ultimately gained success in televi‐ sion, winning roles on “Prison Break,” “Army Wives” and “Friday Night Lights” before landing a recurring role on the Emmy Award‐ winning series “Breaking Bad.” As a casting director, Freihofer has more than 60 credits as the lead and is Oklahoma's only member of the Casting Society of America. He also provides local casting for major films like “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Reagan,” and the Oscar hopeful “Land of Gold.” If you want to appear on the big screen, Freihofer Casting is the best place to start.

Chris Freihofer also runs The Actor Factory, a school for learn‐ ing how to create a resume and headshot, audition, act and act on camera. You can sign up for an email alert about upcoming movies and find more information about acting at freihofercasting.com.

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“Killers of the Flower Moon” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” the $200 million dollar movie from Apple TV and Academy Award‐winning director Martin Scorsese, is scheduled to be released in November of 2022. The intense drama, filmed in eastern Oklahoma, is based on the bestselling book by David Grann and stars Oscar winners Robert De Niro and Leonardo Di Caprio.

“Killers of the Flower Moon” is the biggest movie ever filmed in Oklahoma. The production hired hundreds of construction workers, painters, electricians, drivers, and crew members to build, rebuild, and light the different sets. They hired hun‐ dreds of actors from across the state to work as background actors and extras alongside the famous cast. The economic impact was huge, both for the towns where they filmed and the towns where the cast and crew were housed, fed, and employed for half a year. It will be interesting to see how quickly this blockbuster helps Oklahoma attract more large‐scale productions to the state.

“Land of Gold” “Land of Gold,” the Oklahoma produced drama from Warner Brothers and HBO Max, is also scheduled to be released to the public in November of 2022. The debut feature from writer/director Nardeep Khurmi had its world premiere this month at the 2022 Tribeca Film Festival to rave reviews. Producer Pallavi Sastry is a University of Oklahoma graduate that helped steer the production to Oklahoma.

“Land of Gold” tells the story of Kiran, a first‐generation Punjabi trucker and anxious father‐to‐be, who discovers Elena, a 10‐year‐old undocumented Mexican‐ American, stowed away on his truck during a cross‐country trip. “The Land of Gold” script won the $1 million‐dollar Grand Prize at the 2021 Tribeca/AT&T Untold Stories pitch competition. It was filmed on location across Oklahoma from Sayre to Owasso, with the varied landscapes serving as several different states.

“Reagan” “Reagan,” a feature film about the conservative icon, Hollywood star and 40th president of the United States, is the third major film from Oklahoma that will be released later this fall. The biopic stars Dennis Quaid as Ronald Reagan, Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan and features several outstanding Oklahoma actors, including Rachel Cannon, Randy Wayne and Robert Peters.

“Reagan” is directed by Sean McNamara, an indus‐ try veteran that reteams with Quaid from the 2011 film “Soul Surfers.” McNamara was Emmy nominated and BAFTA awarded for his television series “Even Stevens.” The movie is based on the book The Crusader: Ronald Reagan and the Fall of Communism

by Paul Kengor.

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Anatomy of a scene: “Finding Carlos”

Carlos and Clarissa, Maximus White and Layla Rickman, in a dance scene from “Finding Carlos.”

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By Lance McDaniel

In “Finding Carlos,” Maximus White, right, steadies Layla Rickman on the skate­ board.

In the feature film “Finding Carlos,” written by Lance McDaniel and Melissa Scaramucci, the lead char‐ acter Carlos falls in love with a girl named Clarissa.

They meet for the first time on a zoom meeting and then spend the rest of the film getting to know each other.

In the scene we are looking at, Scene 90, Carlos is alone in a dance studio rehearsing by himself when Clarissa stops in to see him. This is the first time the two characters are alone. Because the characters are young, their dialogue is instinctively stilted. So, a phys‐ ical activity had to be added to communicate what the scene needed to convey.

The goal for Scene 90 was to connect the two char‐ acters physically. It needed to be done in a manner that reflected the innocence of their relationship. Since Carlos was already established as a skateboarder who rode a skateboard to school and work, the skateboard was chosen as the story device. In the scene, Clarissa would pick up Carlos’s skateboard sitting in the corner of the room and try to ride it towards him. Because she did not ride frequently, Clarissa would lose her balance at some point, giving Carlos a reason to reach out to steady her.

When the scene was filmed, it worked perfectly. The two actors, Maximus White and Layla Rickman, did not know each other well despite both attending Classen SAS. Their interactions were naturally shy and hesi‐ tant. When Layla lost her balance on camera and Max reached out to balance her, they both broke into nerv‐ ous laughter, providing the perfect chemistry for the scene. The skateboard idea was a success.

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MEGAN MULLALLY

ANNIE FUNKE

JAMES AUSTIN KERR

Oklahoma actors in Hollywood

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By Lance McDaniel Oklahoma City natives are succeeding in every aspect of the film industry, from Carol Littleton, the editor of “E.T.: the Extra Terrestrial,” to Steve La Porte, the Oscar winning make‐up artist for “Beetlejuice.” Below are three Oklahoma actors working in Hollywood that exemplify what it means to be a successful, working actor.

Megan Mullally Since reprising her Emmy‐winning role as Karen in the 2020 “Will & Grace” reboot, this Casady School graduate has voiced recurring characters for three different animated television series: “The Simpsons,” “Bob’s Burgers,” and “The Great North.” She continues to act in independent films, including three filmed in the past two years. And, she is cur‐ rently filming the pilot for the new Disney + television show “Percy Jackson and the Olympians.”

Annie Funke After a successful musical theater career, Funke’s first big television break was being cast as series regular Mae Jarvis in “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.” Since then, she has guest starred on huge hits like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Chicago Fire,” played a recurring character on the smash drama “This is Us,” and most recently, stars as Sheila on the current Paramount + series “The Offer.”

James Austin Kerr For the past ten years, Kerr has starred in 35 different film and television projects. In 2021 alone, he starred in a tel‐ evision movie, two television series, a video game, and three feature films, including “Reagan.” Currently starring as Kevin MacDonald on the television series “Johnson,” James Austin Kerr continues his reputation as one of the hardest working, easiest to direct actors in Hollywood.

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Local guys making movies Wade Carter Jerry Richardson It was predestined for me to be in the media. When I was born, What do I want to do when I retire from my parents send out birth announcements saying "Radio station being a car dealer? I asked myself. Deciding STEVE signing on the air, May 27 at 7:23AM with a on the most competitive occu‐ loud and clear signal. At 8.9 on the dial (my weight). pation on the planet, ACTING Steve is my given name. But when I came to work would be fun! at radio station KOMA in 1978, there were already Immersing myself in classes, two Steves on the air and they thought a third Steve agents, seminars, coaches and would be confusing. So, the program director asked casting directors, I dove in me to change my name and I picked Wade because it headfirst and met the greatest was masculine sounding, one syllable and easy to people: thanks Michelle remember.

DeLong, Chris Freihofer, and But during all the years of my career in radio, I Ricki Maslar! always wanted to be an actor. But in the old days you Brave move for a mid‐60s had to make a commitment of moving to Hollywood guy. With genetically dark hair, and usually struggling waiting tables, hoping for that my “look” was at odds with my big opportunity to come along. But now it's totally age. There have been times I’d different because Hollywood has pretty much moved turn up to fulfil the require‐ to Oklahoma. A lot of this, maybe most of this is ments for a 60‐year old male, because of the tax rebate incentive for Hollywood to only to be laughed at as they WADE CARTER film movies in our state. It brings in a ton of money to felt 60 should have a long grey the Oklahoma economy. beard and white hair.

This allowed me to retire from radio so I could Though you probably won’t pursue my childhood dream of acting. Since I left see me honored at the Academy Cumulus Media three years ago this coming Awards any time soon, I’ve had September, I have been in five movies and one TV success as a professor, attor‐ series that is being shot in Tulsa currently. I started ney, judge‐type in commercials, off as a background extra or featured extra but then print ads, etc. I’ve gone from started getting speaking roles in three Lifetime and playing an Elvis impersonator Hallmark movies. (film was never released) to a I just got off the set of a TV series being shot in despot, a goofy farmer, a stand‐ Tulsa playing the role of a minister who marries the in for Ian McShane in the TV two main characters. It was a SAG‐AFTRA filming series “American Gods,” elite which now allows me to be SAG eligible. This is haughty snob, an Oklahoma City something all actors want to be able to achieve and boat club director, directed by have on their resume it separates you from other William H. Macy, auditioned for actors. Plus, casting directors will look at you more Sly Stallone’s best friend’s dad, seriously. was full screen 20 feet tall in I have always been a goal setter and the last two “Heaven’s Rain” (not for long, JERRY RICHARDSON years my New Year's resolutions or goals have been but that counts in acting), had achieved. Two years ago I wanted to have my first lots of ‘stage wives,’ done some speaking role in a movie. I got not only one but speaking roles in two bit parts in movies, memorized billions of different Lifetime movies in 2021. Then the goal for 2022 was to lines for auditions and had disappointments become SAG eligible which happened on my birthday, May 27, just a and successes – but am having a great time few weeks ago. playing with this craft.

I have truly been blessed and I don't take any of this for granted.

This would have been a lot easier if I had I'll see you in the movies! been born Chris Hemsworth.

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