The Christmas Chronicles is the exception to the rule, though. If the producers could afford Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, you can assume they could also afford major CGI and all that green screen elfery magic. In The Christmas Chronicles 2, Kurt Russell drives a sleigh with flying reindeer who dodge and slalom their way through the Aurora Borealis in an impressive chase scene. If you want to sell to the market that’s buying most of the movies, be aware of the budget restrictions of making these movies. Just don’t be surprised when you hear the producers took out the reindeer and the rink scene. If you want to write a movie with CGI, talking reindeer, and skating rinks, go ahead. Likewise, having a scene with a pen of reindeer is like saying, “I probably won’t sell this movie.” If they’re reindeer who can talk, that’s even worse. And having a dog and trainer on set jacks up the budget so most of my Christmas movie families no longer have pets. I once had to take a skating scene out of a script because of the cost of replicating an outdoor rink in Atlanta in the summer. The budget is eaten up with fake snow, an essential for Christmas movies. If you aren’t a known screenwriter in Hollywood circles, you may find that writing a movie like the musical Jingle Jangle with expensive CGI (computer-generated imagery), and pricey actors will be harder to sell than a low-budget Christmas romance that takes place mostly in a bakery with a small cast.Ĭonsider this: the bulk of Christmas movies are made with a limited budget and have a four to six-week shooting schedule with no CGI. This brings me to my next point: writing your Christmas movie to a particular market. This year, Hallmark released 40 more, which is amazing when you consider filming was curtailed for most of the year because of COVID-19. Last year, we saw 40 original Christmas movies on Hallmark and many on Lifetime. Then Lifetime got in the game with their event, It’s a Wonderful Lifetime. It used to be the greeting card company/TV channel had the market cornered with their Countdown to Christmas and original programming. Even IMDb, Facebook, Apple, ION and everyone ever associated with entertainment with a built-in audience and viewership is now getting in the game. Netflix, Amazon Studios, Hallmark, and many more channels are making their own content for your viewing pleasure. And no longer is it just the major Hollywood studios like Universal or Warner Bros.
There is so much choice when you scroll through hundreds of channels to see what entertainment to watch.
2020 has made us want to believe in goodness and want to see uplifting entertainment in our final month of an otherwise challenging year. Pop stars are making them A-list actors are making them, even Ashley Greene (Alice in Twilight), Dolly Parton, and Patti LaBelle have made Christmas movies. How could you? There are so many.Ĭhristmas movies are all over the airwaves right now with several coming out each week. If you read my last article on Christmas movies, you’ll know that I love this time of year, love writing about this time of year, and love watching Christmas movies.