Coleman TV, Redlands Receive Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award

Accepting the honor on behalf of both organizations are (l-r) Dayna Rowe, Executive Director of External Affairs; Elizabeth McLeckie, Coordinator of Digital Media and Marketing; State Regents Steven W. Taylor and Courtney Warmington; Chancellor Allison D. Garrett; Nik Coleman, CEO of Coleman Television; Bailey Trammell, Coordinator of Strategic Partnerships; Jena Marr, interim President; Jack Bryant, President; and Janie Thompson, Redlands Community College Board of Regents Chair.With the growth of the film industry in Oklahoma, Redlands Community College is working with Coleman Television to give more students the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the field. Recently, this successful partnership was recognized with the 2023 Regents Business Partnership Excellence Award.

“We are always developing and expanding programs to meet workforce demands,” said Jena Marr, Redlands Community College President. “El Reno has been the site of many television and film productions over the past few years, so our partnership with Coleman Television is not only providing greater opportunities for our students, but we are also supporting the efforts of the El Reno TV & Film Commission.”

Last year Coleman Television moved its headquarters to the Redlands campus, and now a team of editors, producers and writers are serving as guest lecturers at the college and working on local, regional, national and international documentary film projects. 

Coleman Television CEO Nik Coleman worked with Marcia Shottenkirk, professor and department head of Liberal Studies, to develop a Certificate of Mastery in Documentary Film Production. The program launched this Spring with a seminar in documentary filmmaking, and classes in video production, audio production, film and video editing, and screenwriting. Internships are also available. Micro-credentials and digital badges will eventually be incorporated into the program.

“Working with Redlands has been amazing, and the community has been very supportive,” said Nik Coleman, CEO of Coleman Television. “This is an incredible experience for students to be in the studio or on location where we put the film and editing tasks in their hands. These are skills and experiences they are able to put on their resumes and begin pursuing a career in the film industry.”

Coleman Television is an award-winning producer of documentaries that have aired on channels and platforms such as the History Channel, Amazon Prime and Netflix. Subjects range from UFOs and extra-terrestrials to the liberation of Europe and the crisis of missing and murdered indigenous women. 

“It has been exciting watching our students go on location or working in the campus studio on documentary film projects that will be shown on streaming platforms and cable television stations in the U.S. and around the world,” Marr said. “Nik’s team has also been invaluable in helping us expand film projects that support Redlands and our surrounding communities.”