A community fundraising event on February 15 will help raise funds for an experienced independent film production team to finish work on a short film titled “He Brings The News.”

Seminole recently became a certified film friendly community, and “He Brings the News” was filmed entirely in Seminole. Once completed, it will be entered in film festivals across the nation.

A portion of the fundraising proceeds will also be divided by local community organizations.

The actual movie filming was completed in October, but the tedious work of editing, adding music, sound mixing, and color, etc. is still in progress. To help cover the project’s costs, a group of supporters will be sponsoring the Sunday, February 15 event, which will be held at the Enoch Kelly Haney Center on the Seminole State College Campus beginning at 3 p.m. There will also be a fundraising auction and a few surprises.

Film writer and director John Selvidge explains that they will be serving food, show some clips from the film, and talk about their experience shooting in Seminole last October. They also hope to build some partnerships as they explain how smaller rural communities like Seminole can work together to create a win-win situation for everybody.

In addition to supporting the film, 40 percent of the proceeds will go to local organizations like the Seminole Arts Council, Community of Friends Food Pantry, and SCRIPT.

An event flyer explains that the independent short movie will be approximately 24 minutes long, and will be in the arthouse cinema genre. The dark comedy film follows an isolated couple who, when their money runs out, become obsessed with their mailman as it explores themes of isolation and obsession.

As the couple grows increasingly detached from reality, the film and its stylized visuals explore how delusion can take root - and how stories, once believed deeply enough, can reshape reality itself.

The experienced, all-Oklahoma production team, shot the film with a small cast on a single location.

Selvidge has been a working screenwriter in Oklahoma’s growing independent film scene for over 14 years. A small sample of his work includes collaborations with filmmaker Mickey Reece on nationally and internationally distributed, award-winning features such as “Country Gold,” Agnes,” and “Climate of the Hunter.” “He Brings the News” marks his debut as a director. The film’ producer, Storme Wood, has won awards at numerous film festivals - including the Grand Jury prize at OKC’s deadCenter for his feature film, “Paradise Recovered.” His work also includes documentaries like the Emmy-nominated “Clessie Cummins: Hoosier Inventor.”

Oklahoma is rapidly becoming a movie-making destination, boasting major productions such as “Twister.”

Hoping to take advantage of this movement, state lawmakers passed the “Filmed in Oklahoma Act” in 2021 to help boost the states film industry and attract major productions as well as encourage smaller enterprises. This incentive program offers cash rebates with extra uplifts for local spending, soundstage use, post-production, etc. This incentive has helped attract major projects such as “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Regan,” “Tulsa King,” and “Reservation Dogs.” These productions have a significant economic impact, creating jobs and have generated over $531million.

Hoping to take advantage of this growing industry, Seminole became a certified film friendly community in January of 2022. The community works above and beyond to support any project that is interested.

In return, film projects bring jobs and people to the community that eat in the local restaurants, stay at local motels, buy gas and other items, which boosts the local economy.

Local film and television projects also help promote and showcase the community, which attracts tourists who continue to contribute to the local economy.

The February 15 fundraiser can be considered an investment in the Seminole film friendly community as well as an exciting afternoon experience learning about Oklahoma’s expanding film industry.

To purchase tickets for the event, send an email to hebringsthenewsa@gmail. com.