NORMAN — Jill Simpson, director of the Oklahoma Film and Music Office, is excited about the recent growth in the Oklahoma film scene. While some projects filter through her office when production companies apply for the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate, there are many small-budget films that go unnoticed by the office.

Below is a look at some of those doing their part to build the scene, as well as some of the avenues filmmakers can use to showcase their work. These films either recently wrapped up production or are currently being filmed in Oklahoma.

“Bringing Up Bobby”

A film written and directed by actress Famke Janssen, “Bringing Up Bobby” wrapped up filming in Oklahoma in August of this year. Production locations included Oklahoma City, Guthrie, Edmond and Luther, according to a release by the Oklahoma Film and Music Office.

The film, starring Milla Jovovich, Marcia Cross and Bill Pullman, is about a con-artist named Olive who escapes to Oklahoma with her son, Bobby, to try to create a better life for them both.

The film utilized the 35-percent enhancement rebate.

“Noodling”

A University of Southern California film student traveled all the way to Oklahoma to shoot a film for her thesis project titled “Noodling,” which wrapped up in August.

“It’s a coming-of-age story set in Pauls Valley, Okla.,” Rebecca Eskreis, writer/director, said.

Eskreis said the idea for the film was planted in her head about three years ago when she read an article in The New York Times about the sport of noodling. She then took an interest in the sport.

“I was kind of interested in American subcultures different from my upbringing,” said the New York native.

As she developed the storyline and decided to use the film for her thesis, she debated whether to make the trek to Oklahoma to film or to find a suitable substitute in California.

An adviser suggested that she visit Oklahoma to see if the film needed the character of the place.

That trip convinced her. She also was lured to Oklahoma after researching the burgeoning film scene in the area. She got in touch with the Cinematic Artists of Norman organization, and CAN members helped her track down crew members.

“It’s so much easier to make a film,” Eskreis said of Oklahoma, noting the less expensive prices for products and the lack of red-tape when it comes to filming.

Although Eskreis’s project didn’t qualify for the enhancement rebate program, she utilized other tax incentives offered by the state for filmmakers such as the Point of Purchase tax exemption, which allowed her not to pay sales tax on goods and services. She also said people in Oklahoma were excited about films being here and were generous with donations.

Eskreis said she worked closely with the service and business entities in Pauls Valley to create her film and used all local cast and production crews to finish the project.

She plans on returning to Oklahoma for screenings when the film is ready. More information on the film is available at noodlingthefilm.com.

“Rolling Stoned”

“I’m a firm believer that everything you need to film is here” said Mel Cantu in her Norman office. Cantu is the producer of “Rolling Stoned,” which currently is being filmed in Oklahoma,

Cantu is a University of Oklahoma graduate who holds down a 9-to-5 job in Norman, as do most people involved with this film project, she noted.

“This is very much do-it-yourself filmmaking,” Cantu said, noting that the office space for the film often doubles as the set. “This has been a passion project for all of us.”

“Rolling Stoned” is the story of a young man, Dan, played by Norman actor Will Gardner, who is disillusioned with life in Dallas. He takes an adventuresome quest across the country, accompanied by a stoner acquaintance, to deliver some items, including a cat, to a person in California.

The film utilizes Oklahoma cast and crew, many from Norman, and an array of Oklahoma musicians and local artists’ works.

Cantu said most of the film will be shot in Norman at locations such as The Diner, Legends, Mainsite Contemporary Art Gallery and the Sooner Motel. Parts of the film’s road-trip shots were taken in the places listed in the film along the route to California.

The budget for “Rolling Stoned” is not enough to qualify for the tax rebate, but the producers are receiving assistance from the Oklahoma Film and Music Office.

Cantu said she currently is seeking extras for the film, as well as music submissions from local musicians. Inquiries for both can be sent to rollingstonedthemovie@gmail.com.

The expected finish date for the film is March 2011. The producers have a two-part distribution plan. One is the traditional route of film festivals. The other is Internet distribution. More information on the film is available at rollingstonedthemovie.com.

Who are these filmmakers?

· Mark Potts is a Norman filmmaker who also operates Singletree Productions with a friend. His second feature film “Simmons on Vinyl” will be playing at the Southern Winds Film Festival in Shawnee this weekend.

With “Simmons on Vinyl” Potts also took home the Grand Jury Award at last year’s deadCENTER Film Festival in Oklahoma City.

His future plans for the film include making a DVD and playing it for free on the Singletree website.

Potts said he just finished production of his third feature, “S&M Lawn Care.” It will premiere at the Friars Club Comedy Film Festival in New York City some time this month. Potts also is working on obtaining funding for a fourth feature film.

Potts said he shoots his films primarily in Oklahoma, making trips to other locations for special shots and scenes.

Potts said he liked making films in Oklahoma for three reasons. One, everybody is nice. Two, the land is beautiful. Three, Oklahoma doesn’t require permits to shoot.

· Lagueria Davis is a former Women’s Resource Center employee. She recently left a steady job for an opportunity to work as a production assistant on an Oklahoma film.

“Well, it's never been my experience to roll out of one film right into another. I had just wrapped on ‘Bringing Up Bobby,’ when I received a call about PA’ing on another film,” Davis said. “So, when that opportunity presented itself, I went for it.

“It's a scary thing, and I knew that I was using my stable, full-time job as a crutch. I just took a huge leap of faith.”

Davis’ film “1 in 3,” which tells the story of a woman who helps abused women, will screen at the Southern Winds Film Festival this weekend. She plans to continue entering the film in other festivals. She is especially excited to see it screen as part of The Silent Witness March taking place in October to raise awareness for domestic violence. Davis would also like to see it picked up by a distributor.

“Are there any takers?” she playfully asked.

Davis is also working on a second feature titled “The Spectacular Testicle Spectacle” and a web show titled “The Jump” that may air this fall.

· Adam Beatty is a Norman filmmaker whose film “The Rounders Come to Town” won Best Okie Short Film in the 2010 deadCENTER Film Festival. The short film is based on traditional folk songs that date back to 1720.

Beatty said he has always had an interest in cinematic storytelling. He’s been making films since he was 16. Thus far, he’s shot on location in Chandler, Bristow, Wanette, Dougherty, Shamrock, Norman, Clinton, Oklahoma City and Tulsa.

“There are so many visual opportunities in Oklahoma,” he said. “You just got to get out and look.”

These days, Beatty is staying busy working on scripts, while keeping an eye open for PSA’s and music videos.

· Clay Tramel is a Norman filmmaker whose movie “Love Letters” earned him the award of Best Oklahoma Film. Tramel currently is working on a video in tribute to his grandfather. He said he recently overcame writer’s block and is busy on three different scripts.

“Love Letters,” produced by Bob Johnston, is continuing its rounds through film festivals.

· Gabriel Miller, a Norman filmmaker, plans on releasing his first film project in October. “Ghost Car” is the tale of a driverless car that assists a man trying to help his brother with a drug habit, Miller said. Most of this film was shot in Norman, with other scenes taking place in the metro area.

Miller plans on releasing the film via the Internet when it is complete.

Fostering a passion for films for several years, Miller lost the drive after he got into the swing of a full-time job. Then he started working with Lagueria Davis, and his passion was reinvigorated.

In the future, Miller would like to work on science fiction films. He has one in mind that deals with reptillians.

· Jeff Leyerle, a filmmaker out of Newcastle, is the director/writer/producer of a short film called “Contactee,” a science fiction film about a guy who is contacted by an alien.

Leyerle said he has always harbored an interest in filmmaking. After taking a class at Oklahoma City Community College in 1999, though, he found himself fully immersed in the art.

“Contactee” was filmed primarily in Oklahoma at the Great Salt Plains and in Newcastle, with some shots taking place in Kansas City.

· Angela Startz is a member of CAN and a budding filmmaker. She directed her first project, a music video for a member of the SongWriter Association of Norman, in August.

“Tom Crider, the musical artist, wrote a song about a man who marries a woman with a daughter who is a little wild. We went with the idea that he was a self-appointed chaperon of this young girl, and when the mom finds out, she wonders exactly what is going on and why he put himself in that role,” she said.

The music video was filmed at the Hilltop Hideaway in Noble and at Crider’s house.

Startz said CAN has been instrumental in building her movie-making skills.

“It’s been a real treat to work with like-minded creative people to expand my experience, both in front and behind the camera,” she said.

CAN is an organization dedicated to providing film opportunities for local filmmakers and just film lovers. They plan to celebrate one year with a party Sept. 30 at the Santa Fe Depot.

Aaron Wright Gray 366-3533 pop@normantranscript.com