Have you ever watched any holiday rom-com on Hallmark Channel or Lifetime — or any of the other networks and streamers that now air them — and thought, “I could write that”? It’s harder than you might think – but just as much fun.
The regular writer of Christmas fare for Hallmark Channel, Great American Family and Lifetime shares the ins and outs of writing a Christmas TV movie, the misconceptions and exceptions.
Christmas happens 365 days a year
Some people say the holiday season goes by quickly, but for those whose jobs depend on it, Christmas is always on the mind.
Writers are always looking for their next gig so there’s no real rest or downtime between assignments.
There is pressure to come up with ideas, sell them and write them so that movies can be made and ready to air.
“I feel like when I’m not writing Christmas movies I’m pitching Christmas movies, so I feel like it’s Christmas all year round,” said the executive producer of “The Holiday Junkie,” directed by and starring Jennifer. said author Anna White. Love Hewitt premieres Saturday on Lifetime.
However, it can be challenging to get into the Christmas mindset when life outside doesn’t match the world you’re creating.
Rick Garman, who wrote the 2023 Hallmark Channel hit “Christmas on Cherry Lane” along with its three sequels this year for Hallmark+, often writes Christmas movies in June.
The Savannah, Georgia, resident says the intense heat and humidity can be troublesome.
When those moments arise, Garman has trained herself to think bigger picture. “I come back to the idea that people are going to see this movie and it’s going to make them happy… and then I get over myself.”
cookie cutter stories
Sometimes writing a Christmas TV movie script can be like hearing the same holiday song over and over again.
“If you look at the hundreds of Christmas movies over the years, it’s hard to come up with a different idea or a new twist on an old idea or a classic,” said Kara Russell, executive producer of Christmas Movies. Christmas Under the Northern Lights,” which debuted on Great American Family in November.
Selling an idea or script can lead to déjà vu, says Nina Weinman, whose 2024 offering was “Debbie Macomber’s Joyful Mrs. Miracle” for Hallmark.
Anna White tells how she started writing Christmas movies.
“I pitched a Christmas idea and they were like, ‘It’s great that we already have something similar in development.'” You say, ‘Well, someone else got the first.’ it happens.”
This is where writers have to push themselves to find different ways to tell stories, White said. She asks herself, “What’s the new twist in this? What is something we have never seen? What is that world that we have never seen? What is the topic on which we have never researched? It’s a bit difficult because obviously now every channel everywhere makes millions of Christmas movies, but that’s the challenge.
Garman admits to trying to think of new ideas to keep himself interested. “There are only so many times they can make cookies,” he said.
no prescription required
Many people wonder if there is a formula for writing a Christmas movie that must meet certain criteria such as “mistletoe kiss, check.” Weinman says absolutely not.
“That’s not true. I don’t know where this rumor started that there’s a list. There isn’t.”
Tips for Writing a Made-for-TV Christmas Movie
There’s no real checklist to follow, but the authors say there are some standard practices to keep in mind.
- If you want to write Christmas movies, be prepared to experience Christmas all year long.
- Originality and fresh ideas are welcome but remember your audience too.
- There is no true villain in the Christmas TV movie.
- Every story has a happy ending.
telling different stories
Weinman credits Hallmark Channel for moving forward with its Christmas content in recent years.
“When I first started writing these films there wasn’t a lot of creative freedom. Now they’ve found that if you want people to keep coming back, you have to take a bigger step or be more adventurous. and they are. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback that audiences love the big swings.” He’s particularly proud of a movie he wrote, which premiered on Hallmark last year called “Catch Me If You Claws,” which is more Was entertaining. “I wrote that film 10 years ago. For some time it was very widespread. Finally he said yes.
In recent years, Hallmark Channel and Lifetime also added Christmas movies and Hanukkah-themed movies with an LGBTQ story.
This year, Julie Sherman Wolfe, who is Jewish, wrote both “Holiday Touchdown: A Chief’s Love Story” and “Hanukkah on the Rocks” for the Hallmark Channel. His first Hanukkah-themed film was 2022’s “Hanukkah on Rye”.
“I have to release everything that anyone in my family has ever said or done that is funny or poignant or culturally significant for Hanukkah. I just put it all in there, but then somehow got some more stuff for “Hanukkah on the Rocks.”
White grew up Jewish and said, “One of the great things about these Christmas movies is that they’re so non-religious. They’re just like, what is the pop culture of Christmas? I love that. Is.”
keep the christmas spirit
With no checklist to follow, it’s helpful to remember that the people who attend are fans of the genre. In other words, if you want to sell a Christmas movie to a network, keep it Christmas-y.
“There’s not going to be sex, drugs and rock and roll. That’s never going to happen. It always stays on brand,” Weinman said.
“It’s comfort food. This couple is going to end up together. Nobody’s going to die,” Garman said.
Garman has taught classes on writing Christmas movies and tells students to remember that Christmas drives the story. “How does the Christmas spirit help people achieve their goals or how does it bring these two people together or how do they return to something because of Christmas?”
And, in the world of TV movies about Christmas, the bad guys aren’t “an outright villain or satirist,” Russell said. Instead, Garman describes them as “misguided” people who “usually learn their lesson by the end. Knowing that everything will be okay at the end of these two hours, that’s why people watch.”
The countdown to Christmas starts early
Some people put up their Christmas tree as soon as they are done handing out Halloween candy. Networks are aware of this and are prepared to meet the demand.
Hallmark Channel begins its annual countdown to Christmas with original movies and repeats beginning October 18. Lifetime waited until the Pumpkin Spice Latte cooled off and began its schedule on November 16.
Bill Abbott is the chairman and CEO of Great American Media and before that was head of the parent company of Hallmark. Between both jobs, he noticed that the demand for Christmas movies had already begun.
“I initially thought that Christmas movies would probably be very popular from the week before Thanksgiving until Christmas,” Abbott said. “As it turns out, it’s popular from October through the end of the year.”
It should come as no surprise that Great American Family started its holiday season earlier than any other network. The first Christmas movie to air this year on Great American Family was on October 10, which Abbott says is “beyond my expectations.”
So do you think you can write a Christmas movie? then do it.
“I wrote it on spec, which means, without going anywhere. I sent it to a lot of people and called my manager like this. He connected me with some production companies that make these Christmas movies. The ball kept rolling… there’s always a demand for them and they, I think, sell really well internationally.”
