Submitted by Barry Fuxa, SPS PR & Communications Coordinator
Stillwater Public Schools (SPS) is excited to announce that Stillwater High School (SHS) will not only serve as a filming location but will also be prominently featured as a core element in an upcoming family-friendly motion picture.
The film is directed by and stars actor Sean Patrick Flanery, known for his roles in The Boondock Saints and The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles. The story follows a young SHS wrestler’s journey of growth and excellence following a personal loss, celebrating the spirit of perseverance deeply rooted in the wrestling community.
Flanery, whose family relocated to Stillwater last year after falling in love with the town during a visit for his son’s wrestling camps, explains his inspiration.
“This movie is a love letter to not only wrestling but also to the town of Stillwater. This community has a reputation for greatness in wrestling, at the college, high school, and youth levels. It’s the home of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame for a reason. When I started writing this script, I knew I wanted it set in Stillwater, to pay tribute to this place and these amazing programs.”
Flanery secured permission to feature SHS and has reserved space for filming on the campus this week and next.
The cast includes Flanery, his sons Charlie and Porter, Eliana Behrend, Australian actress Nicky Whelan, Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys), and Johnathon Schaech (That Thing You Do), as well as John Smith, and Wyatt Hendrickson. Country music star Trace Adkins was briefly attached to the project but was unable to participate due to scheduling conflicts.
This production offers a hands-on learning opportunity for SHS students. Theatre Teacher Elizabeth Ziegler is coordinating the use of SHS acting students as extras and background performers as part of their coursework.
“They’re all really excited to get to experience a different side of the theatre world, as most of what we can do at SHS is on stage and not film. It’s a great opportunity for our students to work with industry professionals and be able to put a really cool project on their resumes as some of them move into collegiate theatre and beyond.”
Filming in Stillwater began on Tuesday, December 9. The production requires a large number of extras for two specific scenes:
Downtown Church Scene: Friday, December 12
SHS Fieldhouse Scene: Sunday, December 14
The Fieldhouse scene is intended to capture the electric atmosphere of a Pioneer Wrestling event.
“There’s something special about Stillwater,” says Flanery. “My family fell in love with this town, and I want to try to capture that, and the feeling of an SHS event, and deliver that feeling to an audience - cheerleaders, a rowdy student section, the band, all of it. We’d love to have as many extras as possible show up to represent Stillwater, wear SPS gear, and cheer on Pioneer Wrestling onscreen.”
Filming with extras is anticipated to begin filming around noon on Sunday, with a call for a large crowd to be in the Fieldhouse around 2:00 PM for key scenes, including the National Anthem sung by SPS students and crowd reaction shots.
Details for Extras: Extras are welcome to attend and observe filmmaking. Those who can commit to several hours may be paid. Snacks and giveaways will be provided.
To Participate: Interested individuals should contact 13foldoffice@gmail.com with “Extras” in the subject line.
"This is an exciting development for SPS," says Barry Fuxa, Public Relations and Communications Coordinator. "Film production is an economic opportunity for our town and one that’s growing in our state. Filming in Oklahoma is on the rise, and thanks to programs like those at Meridian Technology Center, productions are increasingly crewed by Oklahomans. This offers a great educational opportunity for many of our students, and a chance to share the Pioneer culture with the world."
