Key Takeaways
- Local Note, a New Media entertainment talk show and music docuseries, is relaunching in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a focus on the city’s creative community.
- The show is produced and hosted by May Hwen, a musician who first created Local Note while in high school, and features conversations with local film professors, subject matter experts, and spotlights on local businesses.
- Local Note plans to produce capsule-style projects, focusing on one production per month, and will include talk show discussions, MTV-style music video features, comedian spotlights, and interviews.
- The show aims to inspire audiences to further study and support local art and artists, and will feature professors from local colleges to encourage deeper engagement with Tulsa’s arts community.
- Local Note is seeking volunteers, co-hosts, and content submissions, and is fundraising through Patreon to support crew and equipment needs.
Introduction to Local Note
Local Note, a New Media entertainment talk show and music docuseries, is relaunching in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a focus on the city’s vibrant creative community. The show is produced and hosted by May Hwen, a musician who first created Local Note while still in high school. After pitching the idea to TPS Channel 20, the program debuted in 2002 and aired in prime time on public access television. Now, more than two decades later, the project is returning in an updated form as both a relaunch and a revival. The name Local Note reflects the show’s musical roots and its broader mission, with the "note" referencing music and the "whole note" in the logo representing the full scope and diversity of Tulsa’s entertainment scene.
The Evolution of Local Note
What began as a music docuseries has expanded to include film, television, comedy, and spotlights on local businesses as Tulsa’s creative industry has grown. Local Note is currently halfway through an eight-part series titled Lowdown on The Lowdown, which features conversations with local film professors and subject matter experts examining the city’s evolving film and television scene. Moving forward, the show plans to produce capsule-style projects, focusing on one production per month — whether that’s a multi-part series or a standalone feature. This new format will allow the show to showcase a wide range of talent and topics, from music and film to comedy and local businesses.
What Sets Local Note Apart
According to Hwen, what sets Local Note apart is its format. "This is an entertainment talk show, not a podcast," said Hwen. The show’s content includes talk show discussions on local film and television, MTV-style music video features, comedian spotlights, and interviews designed to encourage deeper engagement with Tulsa’s arts community. The show also places an emphasis on featuring professors from local colleges to inspire audiences to further study and support local art and artists. This unique approach will allow Local Note to provide a platform for local talent to shine, while also promoting the city’s vibrant arts scene.
Future Plans and Partnerships
Looking ahead to 2026, Local Note plans to focus on fundraising, launching creative workshops for college students and the public, and hosting live shows to promote Tulsa-based talent and media. The production is supported by in-kind partners, including Catalyst Coworking, Big Grass Burgers, and Raw Elements Hair Salon at the 15th and Lewis location. The team is also fundraising through Patreon to support crew and equipment needs, and is seeking volunteers, co-hosts, and content submissions. With the support of these partners and the community, Local Note is poised to become a leading platform for showcasing Tulsa’s creative talent and promoting the city’s thriving arts scene.
Getting Involved and Staying Connected
For those interested in getting involved with Local Note, there are several ways to participate. The show is seeking volunteers, co-hosts, and content submissions, and is fundraising through Patreon to support crew and equipment needs. More information about Local Note can be found at linktr.ee/localnote and YouTube, where new episodes are being released regularly. By supporting Local Note, individuals can help promote Tulsa’s creative community and provide a platform for local talent to shine. Whether you’re a musician, filmmaker, comedian, or simply a fan of the arts, Local Note is a great way to get involved and stay connected with the city’s vibrant creative scene.