Lawmakers voice support for film - Journal Record

State lawmakers, including Reps. Josh West, R-Grove; Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee; Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow; Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa; and Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, issued a joint statement Friday after hearing news that a film crew union has stopped shooting of an independent movie in Oklahoma City.

The film crew’s strike disrupted production of the film “Nefarious.” Demands were that the independent production company recognize out-of-state union representation for crew members. It was reported that about 40 workers walked off the set and stopped production, forming a picket line to get the California-based production company, Nefarious Film LLC, to recognize the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees as a collective bargaining agent for the crew. The workers also demanded health and retirement benefits in their contracts. The strike continued Thursday.

“When the Oklahoma legislature passed the ‘Filmed in Oklahoma’ rebate incentive program in our state this year, it was with the intent of not just attracting major studios but also independent filmmakers, who otherwise couldn’t get some brilliant and values-driven content made elsewhere,” the lawmakers said. “We are proud to be the state where the landmark pro-life movie ‘Unplanned’ was made, and we are proud to welcome those same award winning faith-based filmmakers back to our state for ‘Nefarious.’ We want them to know, as well as other prospective independent filmmakers, that Oklahoma is proudly a right-to-work state, and we will defend and uphold that for as long as this program exists.”