FILMING WRAPS IN OKLAHOMA ON MARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT’S DRAMATIC THRILLER GREAT PLAINS
MarVista Entertainment, Strike Accord, Inc. and the Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) are pleased to announce the completion of principal photography on the dramatic thriller, Great Plains, which shot on location throughout Oklahoma.
Great Plains stars Tara Buck (True Blood) in the lead role of Murel, a tough Oklahoma cowgirl who risks everything, including imprisonment, to protect her son; and Beth Grant (No Country for Old Men, The Artist). Blair Hayes (Night Music) directed from a script he co-wrote with Mike Bencivenga (Happy Hour) from a story by native Oklahoman and Co-Executive Producer Kristofer McNeeley (Caught). Great Plains is produced by Mike Leahy and Lori Leahy, and executive produced by Sharon Bordas and Fernando Szew.
“Kristofer McNeeley has given us a thrilling story of escape and the lengths that a mother will go to in an effort to protect her child, which Mike Bencivenga and Blair Hayes have translated into an incredible script utilizing the colorful locations McNeeley observed growing up in Oklahoma,” explained Bordas.
“Bringing Great Plains back to Oklahoma was the only choice for this film,” said McNeeley. “From the moment I picked up the phone to call the Film Commission, I was greeted with open arms – not surprising because that’s just how Oklahomans are. It takes a community to make a film, and Oklahomans know community as well as any people I’ve ever known. It was good for my soul to be home again and I can’t wait to bring more films back and do my part to build the community.”
Great Plains, which utilized the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program administered by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office, shot throughout the state at a variety of locations including Oklahoma City, Arcadia, Clinton and Okarche.
“After more than a year of working with MarVista Entertainment to recruit film productions to Oklahoma, we are excited to have hosted Great Plains in Oklahoma,” said OF+MO Director Tava Maloy Sofsky. “This film is providing expanded job opportunities in key roles for our talented crew base, and serves as another great example of how the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program can afford Oklahomans – both current and former – the opportunity to see their passion projects realized in our state.”
Great Plains, slated for release in 2016, will be distributed globally by MarVista Entertainment.
About Oklahoma Film + Music Office
Created in 1979, The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) strives to share all that Oklahoma has to offer by welcoming filmmakers and music professionals to the state and by creating a network of support to develop Oklahoma’s film and music industries. For more information about the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program or the Oklahoma Film + Music Office please visit www.okfilmmusic.org.
About Marvista Entertainment
MarVista Entertainment is an independent entertainment studio with a mission to produce, acquire, and distribute premium film and television programming worldwide. Founded in 2003 as a global television distributor, MarVista quickly expanded into original feature film and television production while building a library showcasing more than 2,500 hours of content.
MarVista’s original productions range from independent films – including recent LA Film Festival selection Caught – to co-productions with major broadcasters including Disney Channel and Disney XD, Nickelodeon, Lifetime, Syfy and Hallmark, among others.
As a studio with a global perspective, MarVista has an expansive distribution footprint spanning more than 125 global territories and reaching all major VOD, SVOD, and broadband platforms through its digital distribution division, MarVista Digital Entertainment (MVDE).
MarVista has built a reputation for providing high-quality feature films, family and children’s programs, scripted series, and factual/reality programs to buyers in all media worldwide. MarVista also represents original programming for major brands, including the National Football League, Zumba, and Saban Brands, while continuing to pursue partnerships with other marquee brands to add to its portfolio.
With a constant focus on meeting the evolving needs of viewers and content buyers around the world, MarVista is both ideally and uniquely positioned to meet the growing demand for original content as it continues to expand its portfolio of films, series, and new media content.
