Rachel Cannon Wikipedia, Age, Mad Men, Steptoes
Rachel Cannon Wikipedia, Age, Mad Men, Steptoes – Rachel Cannon, the co-founder of Prairie Surf Studios, has announced her resignation as CEO of the downtown Oklahoma City studio, a significant player in the state’s rapidly expanding film industry. Cannon, who co-founded the studio in 2020, revealed her decision in an announcement sent to The Oklahoman on Friday.
Prairie Surf Studios CEO Rachel Cannon Steps Down, Leaving a Legacy of Growth in Oklahoma’s Film Industry
“Earlier this week, I tendered my resignation as CEO of Prairie Surf Studios,” Cannon stated. “Three years ago, coming off six seasons of ABC’s ‘Fresh Off the Boat,’ I paused my acting career to devote my energy to establishing the infrastructure we were missing to service high-level productions consistently in Oklahoma. I poured my entire heart into this studio knowing it could bridge the gap for dreamers like me who felt the entertainment industry was out of reach because they didn’t live in Los Angeles.”
Cannon, a Tulsa native, spent two decades in Los Angeles working as an actress, with roles on popular television series such as “Ghost Whisperer,” “Two and a Half Men,” and “Fresh Off the Boat.” In 2020, she returned to her home state with her husband, singer-songwriter Noah Engh, and their young son. Back in Oklahoma, Cannon teamed up with fellow filmmaker and Oklahoma native Matt Payne. Like Cannon, Payne had spent many years in L.A. before relocating to Oklahoma City. Together, they founded Prairie Surf Media.
In a significant move, Cannon and Payne secured a deal with the City of Oklahoma City in 2020 to transform the former Cox Convention Center into Prairie Surf Studios after the new OKC Convention Center was established across from Scissortail Park. This ambitious project aimed to create a state-of-the-art facility capable of hosting major film and television productions.
Last year, Prairie Surf Media expanded its operations with the launch of Prairie Surf Creative, a new creative branch. Payne assumed the role of CEO for the new division, while Cannon continued to lead Prairie Surf Studios. During her tenure, Cannon successfully recruited and hosted major productions, including the first season of the Paramount+ series “Tulsa King” and the upcoming blockbuster movie “Twisters.” These projects brought a combined economic impact of over $300 million to Oklahoma.
Matt Payne praised Cannon’s contributions in an email to The Oklahoman. “Rachel has left a mark on our expanding film industry as Oklahoma continues to become a center for major productions and content creation,” Payne said. “There’s no doubt the state has benefited from her dedication. We remain confident that Prairie Surf will play a significant role in shaping the future of Oklahoma’s growing film industry.”
Cannon also emerged as a strong advocate for the Oklahoma film industry, working closely with legislative leaders to develop a more robust incentive program aimed at attracting more significant productions to the state. Her efforts helped put Oklahoma in the national spotlight, with features in prominent publications such as Variety, “CBS Mornings,” and Deadline.
“I am forever grateful to my investment team, to Oklahoma City for allowing the creative use of this building, and to our state leadership for creating a program that accelerated the growth of Oklahoma film,” Cannon expressed in her announcement. “Together, I believe we have changed the narrative for the next generation.”
As Cannon steps down from her role, the future of Prairie Surf Studios appears bright. The studio’s innovative approach and significant contributions to the local economy have established it as a key player in the film industry, not only in Oklahoma but also on a national scale. Cannon’s legacy is one of vision, dedication, and transformative impact, setting the stage for continued growth and success in Oklahoma’s burgeoning film sector.
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