Matt Payne

Background

About Matt Payne

Matt Payne is an Emmy award-winning filmmaker, writer, photographer, and educator based in Oklahoma City. During his 15 years in Los Angeles, Payne worked as a writer on the hit CBS series “Vegas” and “Defenders”, and TNT’s “Memphis Beat”, additionally he was a part of the production team of Fox’s “24” and CBS’ “Without a Trace.” As a graduate of the film school at the University of Oklahoma, Payne returned to Oklahoma in 2015 with the goal to create an industry that empowers other storytellers, allows them to be the mentors they wish they’d had, and to help shape the rapidly expanding entertainment industry in Oklahoma. Since his return, Payne has taken a key role in the Oklahoma film community, producing documentaries for Griffin Communications and the OETA Foundation, as well as serving as an adjunct professor at Oklahoma City University for three years. Payne was the Travel Editor of 405 Magazine and has been a contributing writer and photographer to National Geographic Traveler, Travel Age West, Explorer Magazine and many other travel publications. He is a member of the Writers Guild of America, the Society of American Travel Writers, is a regular speaker at the deadCenter Film Festival, a participant in the Oklahoma Conservation Leadership Academy and sits on the board of directors of the Oklahoma City Zoological Society, the Moderns Board at the Oklahoma Museum of Art, deadCenter, and the Film Education Institute of Oklahoma. Today, he serves as the Co-CEO and Founder of Prairie Surf Media