Faith film

A new feature film, one with a faith theme, is being produced in Oklahoma.

Production has started in Oklahoma on an animated feature film called “The Woman at Jacob’s Well.”

The Oklahoma Film + Music Office (OF+MO) and producer Jason Behrman, of Highway 9, recently announced that production on the film began in December 2016.

The film is utilizing the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program, which is administered by the Oklahoma Film + Music Office.

In the tradition of William Wyler’s classic “Ben-Hur,” “The Woman at Jacob’s Well” chronicles the transformation of a broken but profoundly strong woman as she encounters an epic moment in history.

Rejected by her community but determined to find her own way, this woman at Jacob’s well encounters Jesus Christ in a scene that many of the time would call scandalous.

The aftermath of their exchange transforms the woman and her village, redirecting their futures forever.

A story of great faith, unconditional acceptance and the healing of broken relationships, “The Woman at Jacob’s Well” seeks to inspire audiences of all ages.

Producer Behrman was born and raised in Oklahoma City. He and his wife, Mellany, a Tulsa native, built their film careers in Los Angeles from 1996 to 2008 when they moved their company back to Oklahoma to raise their children.

Behrman said he is proud to be working with Mark Steele, Kevin Anderson and the animation team at Steelehouse in Tulsa. Behrman and Steelehouse have been collaborating for nearly a decade, and this will be their first animated feature film production which will be animated entirely inside Steelehouse’s downtown Tulsa offices.

“OF+MO has been an absolutely invaluable resource in the process of setting up our independent animated feature in Oklahoma,” Behrman said in a news release. “The office has helped me put all the necessary elements in place to make producing a 3D animated feature film in Tulsa possible. The Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program is an incredible blessing, as it is making it possible to make a better film and helping keep nearly every dollar of this project inside the Oklahoma state lines.”

Tava Maloy Sofsky, Oklahoma Film + Music Office director, said the Oklahoma Film Enhancement Rebate Program continues to attract a diversity of film productions to the state, as seen by “The Woman at Jacob’s Well,” which is the first animated feature film to utilize the program.

“We’re thrilled that Oklahoma’s visual artists and production companies such as Steelehouse will showcase our state’s talent as a leading competitor in these advanced fields of animated film production,” Sofsky said.