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ENID, OK - Paul Dano brought Richard Ford’s American classic “Wildlife” to the big screen, marking his directorial debut. Academy Award® nominees Jake Gyllenhaal and Carey Mulligan were actors in the period drama along with the young actor Ed Oxenbould.
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Although the story was set in Montana, much of the movie was filmed in Enid, Oklahoma and the surrounding area. Filming took place during the end of the year in 2016. Many local residents were used as extras during the filming including myself.
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I spent some time around the filming locations and took some behind the scenes photos. Here are the photos from many local locations. You'll see some of the scenes below in the movie trailer above.
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The film will be released on October 19, 2018. Octotber 19th is for NY/LA dates. Circle Cinema in Tulsa is getting it November 9th and it’s coming to the OKC metro area November 23rd.
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Filmed in downtown Hennessey, Oklahoma. Thirteen of us were picked to be firefighter extras in the movie. We were fitted in Enid for wardrobe and met in Hennessey for filming. In Hennessey we all received make-up that really darkened our skin and appearance. We all posed for a photo on set between takes. While on this set we filmed several scenes with Jake Gyllenhaal.
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In Hennessey waiting in line for wardrobe and makeup.
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My face after makeup. They used dark makeup on our faces, arms, hands and even fingernails.
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A break for lunch while filming in Hennessey. Pizza was on the menu.
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The main actors and director had lunch in the same area.
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A big part of making a film is waiting. Here we were waiting on the next scene to be prepared. We filmed from early morning to after dark in Hennessey.
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A few of our scenes were riding in the back of this truck with Jake. Here they were getting ready for a closeup of Jake in the truck.
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This home on W. Maine and Polk was used for several scenes. They had to spray snow in the yard to make it look more like winter. It was cold outside while filming most of this film in Enid.
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The crew discussing the upcoming scenes at this location.
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Director Paul Dano looking over the location.
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The crew filmed a night scene on W. Maine. They had two huge spotlights located a block away in each direction to help add light to the neighborhood. There were a couple of nights of filming very late at this location.
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Jake discussing things with director Paul Dano.
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Jake checking things out while waiting for the next scene on W. Maine.
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The safety crew discussing the upcoming fire scene at the home on W. Maine.
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Jake pouring liquid on the front porch. There was a fire strip near the house which was lit to look like the spreading of the fire.
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This fire scene on W. Maine took several takes. In one scene the porch actually caught on fire and there had to be repairs made to the home.
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Jake and the crew filming the porch fire scene on W. Maine.
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Some of the night driving scenes were filmed in the Waverly District in Enid. Paul and the crew were preparing to film from the back of a truck on W. Maine.
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The family in the film lived in this house on Cottonwood. Many inside and outside scenes were filmed here. The home was vacant at the time.
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Jake and Ed were out playing football to prepare for one of their scenes on Cottonwood.
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The auto detail shop on E. Broadway was made to look like a working gas station. Although it was cold during filming there was no snow on the ground. The crew had to add all of the station props and snow.
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The pumps, lights and merchandise in the station were all film props. The snow was blown in by a machine.
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The crew blowing snow in for the gas station scene on E. Broadway.
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The Turf Bar on E. Maine near the Main Street Bridge was used as a set. Jake and Ed filmed some of their scenes here.
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Jake Gyllenhaal spent a little time walking around and checking out the Maine Street Bridge.
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Most film locations had the is tent set up for the main actors and directors.
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Ed Oxenbould grabbing a snack before filming outside the Turf Bar.
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United Supermarket on E. Broadway was also a film location. Several local vintage cars were used in the film.
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Ed road his blue bike up and down E. Broadway.
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A scene was filmed on N. Washington above the old upholstery shop.
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Enid Winnelson on N. Independence was made to look like Millers Fine Cars dealership.
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Behind the Scenes of the Wildlife Movie
Where are the photos from Wakita?
Can’t wait to see this movie in Minneapolis. Lived in Enid from 1985 to 2015 and love seeing all the locations. Congratulations on lots of hard work.
They borrowed a very old antique filing cabinet, typewriter, adding machine and a couple 100 yr old red leather bound ledger books from the County Clerk’s Office to shoot the police station scenes at the old Santa Fe Train Station building. They told me they would put a thank you in the ending credits to the Garfield County Clerks Office for using the historical items from my office!
I have four historical Western novels in print, and frequently sell them at gun shows here in SC. Last weekend a retired police officer stopped by to buy my last two; he raved about the first two, said he was from Enid, and said he wanted to “get them in front of two old friends from Enid who have produced several movies, because these books are the sort of thing they would love.” When I said I had just finished the screenplay for my fourth book, BRODIE, he nearly wigged out. Went on and on about the production company; said they shoot inside scenes in their warehouse, which has various stage “rooms,” such as a bar, kitchen, saloon, barn, etc., but that they shoot outdoor stuff in AZ and NM, as OK isn’t especially friendly to the movie biz. I think his name is Karl Allen. Of course I’m excited at the possibilities, but as a writer you know how rarely such stuff pans out. Is any of this sounding legit? He seems to be a truly nice person, with no hidden agendas; has asked for nothing, well-dressed, articulate. As for me, I’m comfortably retired and just accepted a contract offer on my fifth novel from Five Star Publishing (Gale/Cengage), but like every other novelist I dream of a movie or mini-series. I was going to just wait for him to intercede, but when I googled “movie production, Enid, OK,” you popped up, so here I am.
Hey Mike, yes they are legit. I’ve actually been in one of their movies. They are Rick and Larry Simpson. Search for Simpsons Old Time Museum and The Long Riders Series. The last movie was Canyon Trail. Unfortunately Larry has been in the hospital and both brothers are getting older. Not sure how much longer they’l be producing movies.
Just finished watching the movie. It was very good. I would have never known it was filmed here in Oklahoma until I saw at the very end of the credits. Thanks for showing us all the cool stills.