Santa’s gift to B.C.’s film sector: Christmas movies
Cable TV, streaming services are boosting annual demand for festive film productions
By Tyler Orton | December 12, 2019
A Very Vintage Christmas, which is airing on the Lifetime channel and stars Tia Mowry, was filmed in Vancouver over the summer and produced by Canadian production company Lighthouse Pictures Inc. | submitted
Those earnest Christmas movies invading cable TV channels the moment jack-o’-lanterns hit the landfills each year have become such a yuletide staple that even Saturday Night Live has taken to parodying them.
But in Vancouver, made-for-TV Christmas movies that seemingly underpin winter programming for the Hallmark or Lifetime channels are serious business.
“In the under-$3-million world is where Vancouver seems to have found a niche … where we can make these movies, and they look good, and we can produce them for a fair price,” said Shawn Williamson, Lighthouse Pictures Inc. partner and executive producer.
Williamson is best known in Vancouver’s film industry as the president of Brightlight Pictures Inc., which produces fare such as ABC’s The Good Doctor TV series and Seth Rogen’s 2014 comedy, The Interview.
He and business partner Jamie Goehring launched Lighthouse in 2012 after the latter observed a market emerging for mid-budget TV movies known for sentimental scripts and festive musical cues.
The company now produces about 20 movies a year for Hallmark.
“It started slowly and has built into quite a thriving business,” Williamson said.
Christmas Town and A Blue Ridge Mountain Christmas are among Lighthouse productions debuting on the Hallmark Channel, while Lifetime airs A Very Vintage Christmas.
And at least six different Christmas-themed movies from other production companies were filmed in B.C. in July alone, according to activity logged by non-profit agency Creative BC.
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