Mickey Reece’s movie ‘Agnes’ to premiere at Tribeca and more Oklahoma entertainment news – Oklahoman.com
Mickey Reece’s ‘Agnes’ to make world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival
Prolific Oklahoma City filmmaker Mickey Reece will see his latest film, the horror movie “Agnes,” make its online world premiere as part of New York’s 20th anniversary Tribeca Film Festival, set for June 9-20.
Festival organizers today announced the lineup for Tribeca at Home, a one-of-a-kind online festival experience planned in response to the lingering COVID-19 pandemic, and “Agnes” is literally at the top of the list for the fest’s feature narrative film lineup.
“Agnes” filmed in central Oklahoma in early 2020 — before the pandemic — using the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program. It is the spiritual sequel to his previous horror movies “Strike, Dear Mistress, and Cure His Heart” and “Climate of the Hunter,” which made their world premieres in Austin at Fantastic Fest, the largest genre film festival in the U.S. “Climate of the Hunter” went on to receive a theatrical release and wide streaming release; it debuted this month on the horror streamer Shudder.
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“We’re all elated at ‘Agnes’ playing Tribeca this year. ‘Agnes’ completes the ‘Strike Dear Mistress’ trilogy so it’s fitting that the last one get the largest platform,” Reece told The Oklahoman in a statement. “We’ve been waiting very patiently through the worst year ever and I speak for the cast and crew when I say we’re more than ready to share our baby with the world.”
“Agnes” is written by frequent Reece collaborator John Selvidge (“Climate of the Hunter”) and produced by Jensine Carr and Jacob Snovel (“Mickey Reece’s Alien”).
When the church dispatches a pair of priests to a convent where one of the nuns is possibly under the control of a demon, their arrival signals an intense crisis of faith for one particular nun.
The film features Molly Quinn (“Doctor Sleep”), Jake Horowitz (Oklahoma filmmaker Andrew Patterson’s “The Vast of Night”), Sean Gunn (the “Guardians of the Galaxy” movies), Chris Browning (“Bright”) and “Climate of the Hunter” stars Ben Hall and Mary Buss.
Though the 2021 Tribeca Festival is set to take place largely in-person across New York City, the fest is making select films available to audiences throughout the U.S. via its newly launched online platform, Tribeca at Home, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The lineup for the Online Premieres section consists of 35 films — 24 features and 11 shorts — and tickets are on sale at www.tribecafilm.com/festival/tickets.
On Friday, it was announced that the pilot of the Native American comedy “Reservation Dogs” — which is set in Oklahoma, where additional filming is underway — also will make its world premiere during this year’s prestigious Tribeca Film Fest.
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Flaming Lips’ Space Bubble Concerts featured on ‘CBS Sunday Morning’
“CBS Sunday Morning” correspondent Luke Burbank took viewers inside the production of The Flaming Lips’ first pandemic Space Bubble Concert in Oklahoma City as part Sunday’s broadcast.
“I think I’m descended from like some indestructible Viking guy who if he wasn’t digging his family out of the snow or fighting some battle, he probably was going to go crazy,” Coyne said of developing the Space Bubble Concert idea. “I think I’m kind of like that: if I’m not doing something, I kind of go crazy.”
Burbank chatted with the Lips’ Wayne Coyne and Steven Drozd about the first of 10 unique live “Space Bubble” shows they put on this spring at OKC’s The Criterion in response to the pandemic.
Coyne said he founded in the Lips back in the 1980s with the notion that “We’re doing our art, and if you’re just a normal person on the street, you should hate us. If you like us too much, we must be doing something wrong.”
Burbank also talked with Coyne about music, art and death in the wide-ranging interview with the OKC musician.
“It sounds hokey, but I say you have to do this stuff with love. You can’t do it for these ego reasons or these money reasons. You have to do everything with love,” Coyne said.
Following the overwhelming success and demand for tickets for their hometown Space Bubble Concerts, the Lips announced today their return to the road for a worldwide tour scheduled to begin this summer, with dates extending well into 2022 (and well outside OKC). Tickets go on sale to the public Friday.
Plus, the Grammy-winning art-rockers will finally release “The Soft Bulletin Companion” on vinyl for the first time as part of the Record Store Day drop on June 12. Pressed on double silver vinyl, this exclusive two-LP edition set is limited to just 16,000 copies worldwide and is expected to sell out quickly. It will be available at independent record stores everywhere. The album will be more widely available later this year, according to a news release.
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Oklahoma Film + Music Office moves to Department of Commerce
Last week, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed SB949, which moves the Oklahoma Film + Music Office to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce. The film office was previously part of the Oklahoma Tourism & Recreational Department.
The bill takes effect on July 1.
“We are excited to welcome the team from Oklahoma Film & Music to Commerce,” said Scott Mueller, Oklahoma Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development. “Film & Music is seeing incredible success and already has an impressive economic impact of more than $160 million for our state. We look forward to the opportunity to work alongside them to further grow this industry and its economic impact in our state.”
In mid-April, the commerce department announced a realignment of its business development team to focus on sector-based recruitment of economic development projects. The Oklahoma Film+ Music Office team will join Commerce’s Business Development division, bringing a new industry to the agency’s strategy. Under the commerce department, the film and music team will continue its work growing Oklahoma’s film industry by recruiting film and television projects as well as companies that build necessary infrastructure, like soundstages and production studios.
“Our work at Tourism has successfully brought us to where we are today, having introduced our state’s beautiful natural resources, cultural history, skilled workforce, innovative business and film-friendly communities to thousands of creative professionals and businesses over the years,” said Tava Maloy Sofsky, Oklahoma Film + Music Office director, in a statement.
“We see enormous value with our transition to the Oklahoma Department of Commerce, as we are proud to continue to lead and propel Oklahoma’s film and music industries to the next level. Working under the great leadership of Commerce, we look forward to continue retaining, recruiting and cultivating business expansion and more sustainable jobs for more Oklahomans across our state.”
A recent study by the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Committee found that for every $1 given through the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program, $17.04 was generated in total economic activity, according to a news release.
The impact is felt statewide. Since 2015, at least 125 cities in more than 50 counties were locally impacted as film locations in Oklahoma.
For more information on Oklahoma’s film infrastructure, workforce and other resources, visit okfilmmusic.org.
Greyson Chance to headline OKC Pridefest
Oklahoma singer, songwriter and musician Greyson Chance will headline the OKC Pride Alliance Festival on June 25.
“We are beyond excited to announce OKC’s very own Greyson Chance will be headlining our festival this year,” said Hannah Royce, the OKC Pride Alliance President. “This year will be the first time a Pride parade and festival will be held in Downtown OKC, it’s only fitting that we celebrate our city with an artist that calls OKC home, and is also a member of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. This special weekend wouldn’t be possible without strong community partners and allies like Tower Theatre.”
Oklahoma City Pride Alliance, a local nonprofit organization that creates programs and activities to enrich, empower, strengthen and make visible the unique lives and experiences of LGBTQ2S+ people in OKC and across the state of Oklahoma, announced earlier this year that its Pride Alliance Festival & Parade will be June 25-27 at Scissortail Park. For more information, follow the OKC Pride Alliance on social media and visit www.okcpridealliance.org.
“Headlining Pride, is a dream come true for me,” Chance said in a statement. “When I think about my experience growing up gay here in Oklahoma it was isolating, and I wasn’t sure if I was going to have a home here in my city, and now coming back and performing as a headliner at Pride is truly monumental and a dream come true.”
In addition, Chance is preparing to release his new EP “Trophies” June 25 through Arista Records.
Rob Lake premieres virtual show for the troops, now for public view
For the first time in nearly 15 years, renowned Oklahoma illusionist Rob Lake could not travel overseas with Armed Forces Entertainment to entertain the troops because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
So, Lake, who appeared in 2018 on “America’s Got Talent,” worked with AFE to create a broadcast television special for U.S. military servicemen and women and their families around the world.
“For over a dozen years, it’s been an annual highlight to bring my shows to the troops and their families overseas with Armed Forces Entertainment,” Lake said in a statement. “And while physical travel may still not be possible, I’m so glad I can continue to bring, not only entertainment, but wonder and a bit of home to our troops stationed all around the world. This virtual format allows our service members and their families to experience the show no matter where they are — as now, more than ever, we can all use a bit of magic, wonder, and hope.”
Along with filming in OKC, Norman, Ponca City and more Oklahoma locales, Lake recruited other celebrities to participate in the special. Lake’s streaming performance features special guest appearances by fellow Oklahomans Reba McEntire and Rex Linn, plus Rodney Atkins, Nancy Cartwright, Lauren Cohan, Thomas Schumaker and Gina Torres, all of whom participate in the act.
The special performance also serves as the world premiere of three never-before-seen illusions developed and performed by Lake.
Lake now is streaming his new act to screens everywhere for the first two weeks in May. It is available via YouTube (posted above) through May 14.
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell welcomes new giant robot to Uptown 23rd
Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell welcomed last week the newest Route 66 roadside attraction in Oklahoma: Rt-19, an upscale replica of a classic tin robot statue.
Rt-19 is the second robot in a series to be installed across Route 66 in Oklahoma, leading up to the centennial of the Mother Road in 2026. Standing 8 feet tall and weighing 900 pounds, this statue is reminiscent of the 1950s, the glory days of Route 66.
Rt-19 is part of the “Robots on 66” series, a creative project that adds fun robot statues to popular destinations along Oklahoma’s stretch of Route 66. The project is the brainchild of MaryBeth Babcock, of Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios in Tulsa, where Liliput, the first robot of the series, resides.
A partnership with the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission and Sawyer Manufacturing, the new OKC robot statue will welcome Oklahomans and tourists to the Uptown 23rd Street District from its post across the street from the historic Tower Theatre.
“I’m thrilled to be involved in the creation and installation of Rt-19, a new addition to the Robots on 66 series,” said Pinnell in a statement. “The historic Tower Theatre has been one of Oklahoma’s go-to places for live music, movies, and other events for almost 60 years. The new statue will encourage people to come visit and support small businesses in a growing Route 66 district.”
MercyMe adds another Oklahoma show to new tour
TULSA — Grammy-nominated and Dove Award-winning Christian band MercyMe has announced its fall 2021 “inhale (exhale) tour,” which will play 30 cities across the U.S.
The band, which has Edmond ties, will be touring with fellow Fair Trade Services artist Micah Tyler and will make a stop Oct. 1 at Tulsa’s BOK Center.
Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. May 14 and will be available online at www.bokcenter.com.
MercyMe released its 10th studio project, “inhale (exhale),” last Friday, and the current single, “Say I Won’t” has risen quickly across national radio charts It’s currently No. 4 on Billboard National Christian Audience, Mediabase Christian Audience and Billboard AC Indicator, as well as No. 5 on Billboard AC Monitored and Mediabase Christian AC.
The Tulsa concert is in addition to MercyMe’s Oct. 28 Oklahoma City show at Chesapeake Energy Arena, which was announced before the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently postponed. For information on that show, go to www.chesapeakearena.com.
— BAM