OKLAHOMA CITY, Monday, June 6, 2022 – deadCenter Film Festival’s premiere of OKC Thunder Films’ latest project, Seeds of Greenwood, has been set for 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 10 at Scissortail Park in downtown Oklahoma City. It is the main feature at deadCenter’s Friday Night Family Frolic and is free and open to the public. The evening also includes appearances by Rumble the Bison, Thunder Drummers and Thunder Girls.
Seeds of Greenwood posters will be displayed around downtown this week as OKC Thunder Films marks the fifth consecutive year to partner with deadCenter and debut a film at its annual festival.
A century after the Tulsa Race Massacre, Seeds of Greenwood explores how today’s generation is being planted and nurtured within the fertile soil of Tulsa’s historic Greenwood District. The film follows the birth of the Thunder’s innovative after-school program, Thunder Fellows, and the inspirational journeys of students in the inaugural class. The Oklahoma City Thunder and CAA Sports developed the concept for Thunder Fellows following the murder of George Floyd and just prior to the 100th anniversary of the Tulsa Race Massacre.
“Thunder Fellows’ curriculum equips Black high school students in Tulsa with knowledge, skills and connections that can lead to careers in professional sports, entertainment and technology,” said Cedric Ikpo, Thunder Fellows executive director. “It’s exciting to share on film what we’ve seen every day in this first year – how Thunder Fellows is making a difference for these kids and the community.”
For the project, OKC Thunder Films partnered with Notis Studios, a Black-owned film and music production company located in northeast Oklahoma City. Notis used local talent to compose and record four original songs for the film. Their songs Greenwood Roads, Good Morning, Look Out World, and My Life Be Like have a strong rhythm and blues vibe with compelling lyrics that capture the resilient nature of the Greenwood District and the promise of the Thunder Fellows students. The four songs will be available for streaming and download on Spotify, Apple Music and other services in the coming days. Details of a Tulsa public screening of the film the following weekend will be announced next week.