US indie 'The Book of Jobs' unique production in Cherokee Nation (exclusive)

The Cherokee Nation Film Commission has lent its support to the Indie coming-of-age story The Book Of Jobs, which wrapped filming in Tulsa on December 12, doubling the town for Silicon Valley, Northern California.

The Book of Jobs, which stars Victoria Pedretti, the rising talent who has credits in You and Haunting of Bly Manor has received support from the Cherokee Nation Film Commission for its shoot in Bartlesville and Tulsa, Oklahoma. 

The Book Of Jobs producer Tom Nuan told KFTV the production was drawn to Bartlesville, centred in the Cherokee Nation, due to many production-friendly reasons. He cited "quiet streets, good for sound recording,  homes and schools that can double for anywhere in the United States, including where our movie takes place,  Silicon Valley, California , and friendly, cooperative homeowners, business owners and school owners."

The Cherokee Nation is located in the northeastern corner of Oklahoma. Its tribal boundaries encompass 14 counties, covering over 7,000 square miles of landscapes and diverse cities and towns. 

In The Book of Jobs, the Bartelsville and Tulsa shoots were able to double for the specific American landscape of Silicon Valley, in Northern California which features suburban streets as well as industrial parks and complexes. Despite it's reputation, Silicon Valley isn't a futuristic tech landscape but an area of south San Francisco Bay Area, with strip malls and small business, that has faced gentrification in the face of rapidly developing tech campuses.

The area is home to 'Old West' inspired architecture, which allows the Cherokee Nation area easy doubling possibilities with its easy ability to double for Civil War and Post-Civil War era.

Jennifer Loren, senior director of Cherokee Film, explained that one of the area's unique draws is its five eco-regions, including Rocky Mountain foothills to cypress swamps, tallgrass prairies, and hardwood forests to pine-covered mountains. This allows extensive doubling opportunities; the Cherokee Film Commission is also working on upcoming screenplays that call for locations including Los Angeles and South Dakota.

Loren revealed the project was approved based on its "potential to stimulate the economy in the Cherokee Nation and create jobs for Cherokee, Native and local cast and crew."

In 2021, the Osage Nation in Oklahoma was home to Martin Scorsese's Killers Of The Flower Moon, which used Osage Nation crew, consultants, and advisors. Similarly, producers on The Book Of Jobs worked closely with Tava Maloy Sofsky, Cherokee Nation Film Commissioner, to incorporate Native below-the-line talent. 

While The Book Of Jobs had a short 21-day shoot, Nuan revealed they will "also be shooting one day, in early 2024, in Florence, Italy. We plan to post-produce the film through the end of March and will aim to sell the film to studios, distributors and streamers after that."

Post-production facilities have yet to be chosen, but, "we've hired our music and post supervisors here in Oklahoma," Nuan confirmed.

The Book Of Jobs wrap location is key, as the Cherokee Nation Film Incentive offers a cash rebate of up to $1m annually based on qualified expenditures after a film wraps production inside the Cherokee Nation. 

The story follows Claudia, played by newcomer Abigail Donaghy, best known for Bupkis, a teen girl growing up in Silicon Valley in the shadow of Steve Jobs’ triumphant return to Apple, and his outsized influence on her imagination, ambitions and relationships.

Judy Greer and Richard Sommer play Claudia's parents, while Pedretti stars as the adult Claudia. Utkarsh Ambudkar,, whose credits includes Ghosts, co-stars in an unnamed role. The Book of Jobs was filmed with support from the Cherokee Film Commission and received a rebate from the State of Oklahoma’s Film and Music office.

Sara E White  executive produces alongside  Concourse Media’s  Matthew Shreder with Shasta Spahn as director of photography. Rebellium Films' co-founders Talia Bella and Randy Wayne provided production services and consultancy in Oklahoma.

The Book Of Jobs shot at Bartlesville High School, Oklahoma Wesleyan University, and a few private residences near Delaware Avenue. "We couldn't have been more pleased with the results," Nuan said.