'Killers Of The Flower Moon' To Begin Production In Spring

Paramount Pictures said it will start filming the movie Killers of the Flower Moon this spring in Osage County, and Pawhuska city leaders said it’s a production that will add new jobs boost the economy. 

“It’s going to have a major effect on us,” said Dave Neely, the city manager of Pawhuska.

He said the film team has plans to rent and re-do several old buildings, giving them life once again.

“It’s going to create some additional wealth for our merchants and that wealth will create jobs. It’s going to allow us to do some additional infrastructure work,” said Neely. 

Neely said the list is long of the positive things the movie will bring. He said Paramount is planning to rent out several homes and bed and breakfasts for the crew to stay in. He also explained that a large factory building, which locals call “The Old Carpet Mill,” is already rented out and will be turned into a place for filming and building the set and props.

The city said they’ve been told this whole north end of Kiehka Avenue will transformed to look as it did in the 1920s, when the story took place. The crew said they also plan to reimburse the city for closing streets, as well as hire local electricians, and artists. Police Chief Nick Silva said his department will be working with other local departments keeping the set secure.

“We fully expect to have a call for more man-power and a lot more hours put in doing security. Not just security for the actors and the production crew, but also add security for the equipment that will be left out overnight,” Silva said.

Chamber of commerce executive director Joni Nash said all of this is going to improve tourism in Pawhuska for years to come.

“It’s going to be big, we’ve already had a lot of tourists excited,” Nash said. “This will be big, we have been pleasantly surprised for people coming to our office, asking for maps and asking about the history. They read the killers of the flower moon, they know there’s a moving coming out and they want to learn more about it, and that will be the case for years,” said Nash.

The city said Paramount Pictures will most likely start filming in April or May and will last through the fall.