Movie in the Making

In this interview from Day 16 of filming, the writers of Nutmeg & Mistletoe discuss the "surreal" experience of seeing their characters and locations come to life on set. Surreal Arrivals: Writers Jen and Deb describe the "magical" experience of meeting the cast and seeing the bed-and-breakfast set, which perfectly matched their visual imaginations.The Development Journey: The project involved a year of development and approximately 12 script rewrites before filming.Character and Costume Praise: The writers felt the casting for Mistletoe and Nutmeg was perfect and were particularly "tickled" by the "incredible" costume designs.Defining Magic Rules: A key discussion centered on the specific "rules" of elf magic: Clarence can slow or stop time at a future cost, Nutmeg must understand mechanics before fixing them, and Mistletoe’s beauty-focused magic sometimes conflicts with physics.Fresh Perspectives: The film stands out from holiday tropes by featuring two flawed female leads as the primary Christmas elves.On-Set Details: The writers were delighted by character-specific prop choices, such as a cupcake-eating habit and a hilarious sleeping mask with open eyes to show a character's "wired" nature.The "Imperfect" Message: The story explores the idea that even beings who live for hundreds of years, like elves, suffer from the same insecurities and blind spots as humans.Favorite Holiday Films: The group shares their top Christmas movies, including A Christmas Story (despite the "horrible" source book), Christmas Vacation, A Muppets Christmas Carol, and the 2004 film Noel.Jen BascomDeb DodgeAlso see their first interview video (or listen to Season 1 Episode 3)Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Celebrating a birthday on the final day of the shoot, moving to the "Disney lot" at Golden Oak for Santa’s Workshop, $500 sets of prosthetic elf ears , operating C-cam to "steal" interstitial footage, using metal balls and color palettes for VFX reference, hacking the script to manage $50,000-per-hour overtime costs, performing "mental gymnastics" for a reverse-motion letter catch, the "contingency" fund, changing the penultimate scene on the fly, wrapping everyone and life "on the road". Time to start post.A framed shot of Santa's workshop: https://imgur.com/a/C1hzwjgOur prop master, Kesli: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm5507420/Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Navigating the "C-Cam" vs. Second Unit distinction, learning lessons about shooting background actors, the "disgusting" reality of the poo truck cleaning out the bathroom trailers, long-standing "last call" traditions with flowers and selfies for wrapping actors, "Snow Globe Gate" where a prop smashed and was fixed in 15 minutes, and filming the Electronic Press Kit (EPK) interviews.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Misty and Nutmeg’s "frenemy" antagonism during the town play, using emergency floodlights and reflectors to film a power outage monologue, hearing about Jen’s work on Disney’s Galactic StarCruiser, Sarah and Madeline treating the crew to a mid-afternoon coffee cart, debating a "startup-style" invite-only launch strategy for distributors, team getting more efficient, and deciding whether to show actors rough assemblies to avoid "hurt feelings", using Shotdeck.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Four-hour rehearsals for the complicated stage play scene, pre-lighting the set to beat the schedule for the first time, meeting screenwriters Jen and Deb in person after eighteen months of Zoom, viewing the first 45-minute rough assembly, concerns over the "Christmas feel" without snow or reindeer, and leaning on "North Star" faith to get through the uncertainty of production.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage! In this episode: Earning a SAG card with the "Groundskeeper Chucky" speaking role, the high-risk relief of swapping out a key production member mid-shoot, capturing "stunning" footage of the misfits in the first falling snow, the camaraderie of "$5 Fridays" where the pot reached $2,700 for three different winners, and a visit from Peter’s viral-video-star mother.Peter's viral Mom: https://www.tiktok.com/@barbiejh?_r=1&_t=ZP-93vLosJe0OUSend a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe." I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like. It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage! In this episode: Festive dance scenes at Church of the Chimes with disco balls and punch bowls , witnessing the mechanical nature of on-screen kisses, listening to Justin Jesso’s (https://www.justin-jesso.com/) original song "Waiting for Christmas" on repeat, Nia Vardalos’s "big fat script" advice for overcoming writing resistance, Big Magic (https://www.amazon.com/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1594634726), fixing uncomfortable personnel drama on set, and legendary producer Rachel Winter providing guidance on high-level emotional tones.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage! In this episode: Heartbroken leaf-raking in 80-degree weather, funny dialogue in the Bed & Breakfast, "school" and teacher on set, receiving scripts from crew members, interest from **** theaters regarding distribution, P&A, and calculating the "4x" investment hurdle required to break even in theatrical releases, the film business is broken.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Tesla self-driving thrills, Church of the Chimes in Sherman Oaks, The Office wedding location, the energy of natural environments vs. soundstages , finishing 75 minutes early, Nia Vardalos as the town’s multi-hyphenate mayor-principal , Charlie’s leaf-raking cameo in 80-degree heat, sprinting into costume , Reid MILLER's as Zak, Melissa Kent editing, the three phases of movie-making , TV pacing vs. film pacing, the DIT’s digital workflow , Frame.IO and the "demoralizing" rough assembly, screenwriter Mike Werb’s "vote of approval", seven days remaining.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Leaving Santa Clarita Studios (thanks Mike!), being a "small" budget movie, union tradeoffs, packing up instantly, showing the misfits for the first time, hair and makeup, using standins (the "seconds"), running late and cuts, everyone pulling in different directions, a little B-cam to fix extras that were too old, reenacting a scene from the previous night, kids looking the wrong way, first blue screen (https://www.instagram.com/p/DUSPT_nDW8E/), "gallery" for the model shoot and movie posters (15 mins!), avoiding stalkers.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: the half-way point, left a little early, waterfall CAMA tool in Lovable, Christmas tree falling, acting coach Chad, me and acting, lunch with key grip Ellis, game crunch in comparison, my tasks, fallout from the scene trimming, don't want to be like Matt on The Studio, shoing up first and leaving last, people enjoy not having their boss around, donuts for morale, starting to move locations, messy offices, SWAT co-filming, trailers vs. warming jackets, fell asleep drivingSend a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Night shoot until 4am, breakfast at 3pm, rewriting a scene to save time and remove extra dialog, @nutmegandmistletoe, letting Mayor Rita improv, profit sharing for the crew (https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/matt-damon-ben-affleck-the-rip-crew-bonus-b2900892.html), film financing, recoup and pools, the downside of profit-sharing, telling the crew to talk about the movie publicly, making the film assemblySend a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Preparing for night shoot for the Christmas tree lighting, drama, AJ (composer) visits set, rough assembly going to the wrong people, lunch at 5pm, self-care, suicide because of strikes which no one is talking about, movie announcement, timelapse on Instagram, adding our crew on Instagram, behind because of lines, 5D capture of sets, losing Santa's office set.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Changing schedule to night, film not for some people, Santa's workshop, reusing soundstage props, inadvertently writing scenes that "ripple" when filming, 2 out of 18 days for one scene, coughing from smoke macnine, scanning in sets for backup, union constraints, Ripcord out of Lovable.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Call with Peter in the am, first day of directing, running through all the shots and inserts, Peter reigns me in a bit, time is of the essence, then day 5 end. What would James Cameron do? 2nd Unit Directing, capturing the sadness of the town, stunt coordinator Tim for screeching tires, cars on set, directing kid Elias, 2nd unit is 2nd fiddle, whispering during takes, canceling and pivoting constantly, credit shots vs. other shots, our key grip.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Coffee bar, planning C-Cam, logistics of transitioning sets while filming, filmmaking is logistics, planning my first shot (long pan down), non-materialism, showing time passed with props, heaviest scenes, brick by brick, teaching room on set.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: 12-hour escalating days, actors improving dumpster scene, rain slowed things.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Cold and bored today. Mads "oner" movie for $26k. One scene today: Angela's coffee shop with 5+ characters. 2nd Unit / C Cam and Electronic Press Kit. Constant juggling and shuffling. I'll be Groundskeeper! First sad scene. Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

We started our 18-day shoot of our Christmas comedy called "Nutmeg and Mistletoe."I decided I would just hit the record button, usually at the end of each day, with my thoughts what was happening that day? What I learned, and generally what being on set for 12 hours a day is like.It is quite unfiltered and unedited (with the occasional beep) - hope you enjoy being backstage!In this episode: Food, level 1 and level 2 Christmas, Katey optimizing, scene repetition, the grind of film vs games, how much do actors need to memorize?, video village and transmitters, comedy over years of script development, grievances, first time directing!, 1st unit always take priority, fish line on mailbox, Jasper's garage is a garage IRL, the Martini shot and the Abby Singer, right person in every position.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

Charlie shares seven essential strategies for giving helpful feedback on creative projects, drawing from his experience transitioning from video game development (Subnautica, Natural Selection) to independent filmmaking.The insights come from months of working closely with writers on their Christmas movie screenplay "Nutmeg and Mistletoe," where they aimed to transform a good B-script into an exceptional A-script through thoughtful feedback.Do no harm - creative work is fragile and requires protectionBe descriptive not prescriptive - focus on symptoms rather than prescribing solutionsPrioritize and filter feedback - don't overwhelm creators with every minor noteMerge stakeholder feedback before sharing - resolve contradictions internally firstEmotion is gold - emotional reactions are the most valuable feedback in creative workTry working sessions instead of back-and-forth notes - 2-3 hour meetings for complex issuesHighlight what you love - creators need to know what's working, not just what isn't🔗 Show Notes🎧 Scriptnotes Podcast – (this is a must for screenwriters): Watch🎧 Rick Rubin on Listening – Watch📘 The Creative Act by Rick Rubin (particularly the "Let It Be" chapter)📗 Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull (”Honesty & Candor”, Chapter 5)✍️ On actor line readings – Read here ✍️ More on Giving Helpful Feedback for Games - My game design blogSend a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

I interview the two writers on our Christmas movie to to how the project got it's start, how they work as a writing pair, how scripts are different than games, how and what a logline and beat sheet is, book recommendations, game pillars in Subnautica, what we feel is essential in a Christmas movie and our favorite Christmas movies and why.YouTube video interviewhttps://youtu.be/OJuBJ01QP3oBook RecommendationsSave the Cat, by Blake Snyder (Loglines, beat sheets)The Hero with a Thousand Faces, by Joseph Campbell (Story structure, the monomyth, Hero’s Journey)The Art of Creative Writing, by Lajos EgriClassic Christmas movieshttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Rankin/Bass_Productions_filmsPillars in Subnautica and game development (re: loglines)https://www.charliecleveland.com/game-pillars/Jennifer Bascomhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-bascom-she-her-5b679a233/Deborah Dodgehttps://www.instagram.com/debi_dodge/Charlie Clevelandhttps://www.charliecleveland.comChristmas Letter (working title)https://www.linkedin.com/company/christmas-letterSend a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

Introducing the other crew on A Christmas Letter - Peter Herro is the director and Julia Knox is a producer. We talk about how we met, their origin stories, moving between games and film, traffic, money and competition for top Fortnite creators, 90s nostalgia in film, open world games and film story.WTF Movie Trailerhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXpShtPI2Og@DirectingPete YouTube - Unreal Editorhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5YM-ZZgw1keO-cyFKa2TOAJulia Knox’s “Barefoot” shorthttps://vimeo.com/861133847/9ab6c32888Gringo Latinohttps://www.imdb.com/title/tt21445250Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram

Welcome to a new podcast, called Movie in the Making!Get a behind the scenes look at a Hollywood film as it's made. We'll show you how the sausage is made - and hold (almost) nothing back. The creator of Subnautica (Charlie Cleveland) will bring lessons from the process of early access video games to the film world.Send a text Questions or thoughts? => [email protected] Get daily work updates on Instagram