Five Takes: 5 Oklahoma Filmmakers

Welcome to Five Takes! Join us at Rodeo Cinema on Thursday, October 9th at 6pm for an evening of discussion, inspiration, and film. Five Takes brings together five Oklahoma filmmakers at different stages in their careers. Each will share a piece of their work, tell their story, and answer your questions in an open conversation. It’s a chance to learn about the ups, downs, and dreams of filmmaking straight from OKC’s creative voices.

ATTENTION: ALL those creative—designers, photographers, copywriters and more—don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with the people shaping Oklahoma’s film community! We're excited for an evening of cross pollination between all the creative fields in our audience, so we hope you'll join us and contribute to the sure-to-be awesome conversations!

Doors @ 6:00pm | Event @ at 7:00pm

Come early at 6pm to hang and network with other creatives!

Food & drink available for purchase at Rodeo's concession counters.

Members FREE | GA $15 | Students $10

Karsten Tate is a Diné actor and enrolled member of the Navajo Nation. A classically trained performer, she holds a BFA in Acting from Oklahoma City University and has studied Stanislavsky, Chekhov, and Shakespeare, with a strong affinity for the Meisner technique. As a vocalist, she has performed around the world, including at Mont-Saint-Michel Abbey in France and Carnegie Hall in New York City. Karsten also appeared at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian in the world premiere of Te Ata with the Chickasaw Nation, showcasing her dedication to sharing Indigenous stories through powerful, authentic performances.

Laron Chapman is an director, screenwriter, actor, and co-producer from Oklahoma with a Bachelor's Degree in Film and Media Studies and a background in journalism and film production. His work spans from reality TV (featured on the Food Network, FOX, and Discovery Channel) to the Oklahoma-filmed, Academy Award nominated film August: Osage County starring Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and others. Laron made his directorial debut in 2017 with his now multi-award winning feature film, You People. He also serves as the Head of Pride Programming for the DeadCenter Film Festival, a member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle, and a Co-host to The Cinematopolis film podcast.

Jacob Leighton Burns is an award-winning filmmaker who specializes in directing, editing, and cinematography. With over a decade of experience, Jacob strives to be a part of projects that are thoughtful, im aginative, memorable, and innovative. Over the years, Jacob has worked on a wide variety of projects of all shapes and sizes, including feature films, documentaries, corporate videos, music videos, and commercials. He has worked with both local and national brands including MTV, CNN, and GQ.

Born and raised in Oklahoma, Ryan Bellgardt began his career in broadcasting in the late ’90s, working alongside legendary radio host Danny Williams. He developed a passion for production, mastering everything from audio recording to video editing and animation. His work on the local TV show Two Movie Guys earned him an Emmy for the Intergalactic Holiday Showdown. Bellgardt made his feature debut with Army of Frankensteins (2013), which was produced entirely in Oklahoma and received worldwide distribution. Since then, he has directed seven more films, including Gremlin (2017), Jurassic Games (2018), and Dinosaur World (2022). His latest project, The Adventures of Jurassic Pet: Chapter 2, begins production this December. His films, several distributed by Lionsgate, can be found on Amazon, DisneyXD, Walmart, and more. Bellgardt also serves on the advisory board for Francis Tuttle’s animation program and regularly speaks at film and gaming conventions.

Co-founder of the Skull Crawlers Movie Club, Cary Thomas Cody aims to use his indigenous roots and his love for 1980's horror films to create truly unique stories through film, podcasting, and prose fiction. Storytelling runs in his veins through generations of oral storytelling, and he loves to tell stories through any medium possible.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Rodeo Cinema, 2221 Exchange Avenue, Oklahoma City, United States