Prairie Surf Creative

Last week, Prairie Surf’s Creative wrapped principal photography on a project two years in the making—a documentary about the inspiring efforts to revitalize Oklahoma City’s historic Jewel Theatre. This project holds special significance for us, as it served to launch our storytelling division. Built in 1931, the Jewel Theatre is the city’s last remaining historically Black theater. During segregation, it provided a safe and vibrant space for the Black community to enjoy films and performances, standing as a cultural cornerstone. Today, it remains a powerful symbol of resilience and heritage. Community leaders like Arthur Hurst, who grew up attending the Jewel Theatre, and Senator Nikki Nice have worked tirelessly to revitalize this historic space, with critical support from Open Design, Oklahoma’s first woman-led, non-profit design firm. Acting as the architect and project manager, Open Design was invited to apply and secured a competitive $1 million grant from the Mellon Foundation, propelling the restoration forward. Last week, we celebrated the kickoff of the first phase of this transformative project. Working alongside Notis Studios, Prairie Surf is proud to document this journey and share the story of the Jewel Theatre, preserving its legacy as a cornerstone of Oklahoma City’s cultural history.

We’re thrilled to share the video we created for 1Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma’s groundbreaking NIL initiative redefining how athletes and fans connect. It was an honor to work with Coach Bob Stoops, the University of Oklahoma, and 1Oklahoma on this project and to see it premiere in the electric atmosphere of Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium during a huge home win!

Last night, Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium was absolutely electric as OU took down Alabama in an epic home win! ???? What a thrilling opportunity to premiere Prairie Surf’s latest project for OU—right there on the jumbotron, surrounded by the roar of 80,000 fans with the energy dialed all the way up. We'll share a closer look at the 1Oklahoma project soon - so excited to support the University of Oklahoma as they redefine NIL, creating opportunity for athletes and unparallelled access to Sooner fans. It was a night to remember—big plays, big wins, and Sooner pride at its best. We’re honored to be part of it—Boomer Sooner! ???? https://www.1oklahoma.com/

Prairie Surf CEO, Matt Payne enjoyed an inspiring Saturday connecting with Oklahoma’s next generation of filmmakers at deadCenter Film and Oklahoma State Thespians' Filmworks Festival. Speaking to high school students from across the metro, Matt shared insights on screenwriting, storytelling, and the craft of filmmaking. Seeing the passion, creativity, and talent these young storytellers bring to the table reminds us why we’re so excited about Oklahoma’s future in film. As a proud board member of @deadcenterfilm Matt especially appreciates their year-round educational outreach. Events like this are essential to fostering Oklahoma's creative talent and ensuring continued growth for the state’s film industry.

Yesterday, Prairie Surf Media welcomed the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum's Day One Luncheon to our studios, formerly the Myriad Convention Center. For the event, Prairie Surf's creative team produced a project that tells the story of what unfolded within these walls following the bombing. Volunteers, the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, and various government and nonprofit agencies worked tirelessly to transform the Myriad into a 24/7 lifeline for relief, providing Urban Search and Rescue Teams and other first responders with essential food, shelter, and care. In many ways, the Myriad played a pivotal role in establishing the Oklahoma Standard. Seeing leaders return to these halls for this annual reflection on resilience and unity was both moving and meaningful, and we’re honored to help preserve this powerful legacy through storytelling.

The below is from Matt Payne, reflecting on Prairie Surf Media’s recent work with the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum as the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing approaches. This project carries deep significance for us, as we documented the Myriad’s role as a vital center for first responders during those difficult days. Hosting the Day One Luncheon in our studio was an incredibly meaningful way to offer a return to the place where it all began. It’s a powerful reminder of our community’s resilience and the lasting importance of honoring these stories. ------- The Myriad will always have a special place in my heart for obvious reasons. That said, over the last couple of months, that affinity has grown deeper as the Prairie Surf Media team has worked tirelessly to produce a short film documenting the role the Myriad played in the Oklahoma City bombing. In the immediate aftermath and weeks to follow, the building served as the hospitality center for first responders working round the clock. Inside what is now our studio, volunteers fed, housed, and cared for USAR workers and others who came in from all over the country to help in the rescue effort. The short film was part of the programming for the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum’s thirtieth anniversary Day One event. Additionally, we had the honor of hosting the event in our facility. As our time here comes to a close, today was a powerful reminder of how great this city and state really is. -Matt Payne

Prairie Surf's drone logged plenty of airtime on our latest project with The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum Capturing the grandeur of charrería—with its wild roping, graceful horsemanship, and centuries-old traditions—called for a fresh perspective. With Aleksandr Semikopenko at the reins, the camera soared high to capture the cinematic shots this story deserves. The result? Dynamic footage that perfectly showcases the scale, skill, and artistry of Mexico’s national sport. Enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at Alex and the drone in action!

As lifelong film lovers, partnering with the Oklahoma City Museum of Art to produce a mini-documentary on one of Hollywood’s most iconic costume designers was an absolute dream. Edith Head’s work defined the Golden Age of Hollywood, and recreating a classic costume workshop right here in our own studio felt like a perfect homage to her legacy. It was an interesting challenge to capture the magic of her career—working with archival footage and concept sketches and bringing together Oklahoma designers and historians to share their insights and reflect on Head's influence. We hope the resulting project gave audiences a glimpse into her genius. If you haven’t already, visit OKCMOA today for one last chance to experience this brilliant exhibit and dive into Hollywood’s golden age right here in OKC. The exhibit closes on 9/29. Does your organization have a story to tell? Prairie Surf Creative can bring it from sketch to screen. https://lnkd.in/gvFuKuCh

Congratulations to Prairie Surf CEO Matt Payne on joining the Board of Visitors at the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. This partnership is especially meaningful for Prairie Surf, as we’ve collaborated closely with Gaylord's Creative Media Production department for years and witnessed firsthand the incredible talent cultivated there. Gaylord’s influence reaches far beyond Oklahoma. The Broadcast Education Association (BEA) ranks Gaylord #1 in the nation for video and film production based on the number of student awards. It also holds the title of #2 overall program in the country, a testament to the strength of all its majors. Prairie Surf is honored to continue to support this powerhouse in media education, and Matt looks forward to further engaging as board member!

Prairie Surf Creative hit the trail earlier this week with our partners the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, capturing footage for an inspiring project about charros and the art of charrería. For inspiration, our team dove into the museum's displays and archives to uncover the rich history and artistry behind these iconic Mexican horsemen, whose influence has long been felt in cowboy culture. Charrería, like American rodeo, is Mexico's national sport. It originated from the skills charros needed for ranching—rope handling, horse riding, and cattle management—and evolved into a living piece of cultural history that reflects the rugged independence and artistry of the charro. While this project aligns perfectly with Hispanic Heritage Month, it's just one step in celebrating the broader cultural impact of charros and their contributions to ranching and rodeo traditions on both sides of the Rio Grande. Scroll to the end for a peek at some concept art, and stay tuned as Prairie Surf and The Cowboy bring this larger-than-life story straight from the heart of the West to museum visitors.