Successful Actress Returns Home To Oklahoma To Expand Local Film Industry

A television actress has moved home to Oklahoma to expand the local entertainment industry.

Rachel Cannon has reoccurred on shows like Two and Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and Mad Men.

The actress grew up in Yukon and studied film at the University of Oklahoma.

A successful career took Cannon to Los Angeles, where she became a professional actor, writer and producer.

However, after giving birth to her son, August, Cannon decided it was time for a change.

“Being in Los Angeles, once I became a mom, I really started to struggle with just some basic things. Where is he going to learn to ride a bike, and where is he going to climb trees?” she said.

As Cannon's personal life changed, so did the film industry.

“You have these streaming platforms that are producing so much content and they're having to bring their budgets down. So, they're really shifting to these other entertainment hubs like Atlanta and New Mexico and hopefully, Oklahoma’s going to capture some of that very soon,” Cannon said.

Now living in Edmond, Cannon is advocating to expand the entertainment industry in Oklahoma. She’s working with legislators to come up with rebate plans to entice industry executives to shoot productions here.

“There are so many jobs that a big production creates. You need carpenters and accountants and electricians,” Cannon said.

When she's not working with legislators to make Oklahoma a friendlier place for shooting movies, Cannon is acting in and producing local films.

“I think Oklahoma is going to be an incredible place for film and television and I think really exciting things are on the horizon for Oklahoma,” Cannon said.