Zoe Hewitt: Last News

Zoe Hewitt When you’re not a minority, role models are everywhere, particularly in mainstream movies. Heterosexual cis-gender people and their relationships are the basis for romcoms and featured in actioners. If you fall outside of that mainstream definition, it becomes harder to see yourself represented by the media in the embodiment of a fully-realized person who exists beyond tokenism and stereotype.

Zoe Hewitt Blake Shelton stays busy with his music career, a bit of acting and a lot of career coaching on “The Voice.” He’s been on the series since the beginning, and his picks have won nine times and counting over the show’s 22 seasons. But despite his busy schedule, he returns to his Oklahoma roots time and time again for relaxation and philanthropy. Though Shelton moved to Nashville after high school, he remains connected his home state with a 1,300 acre ranch near the town of Tishomingo.  As an avid outdoorsman, it stands to reason that he’d support nonprofits with the same values. The Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Foundation launched about four years ago and Shelton was one of the first to come on board with his support. While the organization is part of the State Department with a mission to protect, preserve and conserve wildlife and natural spaces, they don’t actually receive government funding apart from the revenue they generate from licensing and fees for various outdoor activities.  

Zoe Hewitt When it comes to any entertainment industry production, whether it’s a tentpole film or an independent commercial, creative choices must vie against the ever-important bottom line. Working in a state with tax incentive programs means productions can have the best of both worlds. In Illinois, Gov. J.B. Pritzker just signed a 10-year extension for the state’s film-friendly tax incentive program, which guarantees productions 30% back on eligible expenses through Jan. 1, 2033. The credit was recently expanded to include eligibility for nine key positions for non-residents: director, writer, DP, production designer, costume designer, production accountant, visual-effects supervisor, editor and composer.

By Zoe Hewitt