Drover Alum Since Day One: Reagan Elkins
Filmmaker and business owner Reagan Elkins is inspiring the film industry to consider Chickasha.
Elkins is an award-winning filmmaker from Oklahoma. Growing up in Chickasha, where his family has deep roots, he spent countless hours making videos with his two brothers using his dad’s camcorder. His passion for storytelling eventually led him to a successful career in filmmaking and the launch of his own company, Intellego Media.
“My great-grandmother Mildred DeHart graduated from OCW, my grandmother Nellie (DeHart) Miller attended OCLA, my parents Billy and Crystal Elkins met at USAO, and I met my wife Madison in 2012 at an event at USAO. That, plus the affordable tuition and location, were the deciding factors for me,” Elkins said.
After winning a national video competition hosted by the American Bankers Association, Elkins pursued filmmaking professionally, enrolling in the film program at Oklahoma City Community College in 2013. There, he studied under prominent figures such as Gray Frederickson, the Oscar- and Emmy-winning producer of The Godfather, and Emmy-winning writer and director Greg Mellott. After earning his film degree, Elkins continued his education at the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, graduating in 2016 with a bachelor’s degree in history.
“The history program changed the way I perceived the world by emphasizing important and true stories that altered history,” Elkins said. “My passion in life and my business motto is to ‘tell moving and impactful stories.’”
Elkins’ time at USAO gave him a better passion for storytelling and a respect for the research behind it. The skills he learned directly impacted his documentary work.
Elkins quickly built an impressive portfolio after graduating. He has produced commercials for prominent companies such as First National Bank and Trust, Standley Systems, and Hart Trailers. He also directed music videos for artists like Hinder, Darci Lynne, Aranda, and The Imaginaries, with his work featured in publications such as MTV, American Songwriter, People, Cowboys & Indians, and The Oklahoman.
“My first degree was in Film and Video Production with an emphasis in Documentary Filmmaking from OCCC. The BA history program at USAO was a great next step to build my documentary skills,” Elkins said.
Elkins’ career has taken him across the globe, filming documentaries and a TV show in multiple countries. He has worked as a location manager on feature films, served as executive producer and co-producer on a Netflix feature film, and earned international recognition for his work featured in film festivals in Oklahoma, New York, and Portugal.
“I’ve worked on a handful of feature films in my career, but getting the opportunity to executive produce and co-produce a feature film on Netflix has to be at the top of the list,” Elkins said. “The film is called A Cowgirl’s Song and was filmed almost entirely in Chickasha, including at USAO for a handful of scenes. There are so many other projects I could mention, but that’s top of the list at the moment. I would also mention some recent music video projects and heading up Art Wrecker’s Wrecking Ball Film Festival alongside USAO’s own, Jordan Vinyard.”
Elkins has worked as an editor, location scout, location manager and business owner. “I certainly improved goal setting and time management during my time at USAO which came in handy for these rolls,” Elkins said. “The history program also helped me with my story telling abilities, which of course I use constantly at Intellego Media.”
From commercials to feature films, Elkins continues to champion impactful storytelling while highlighting the creative possibilities of Chickasha and Oklahoma on the world stage.
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.