Lifetime’s VP of Scripted Content, Sapna Vyas, shares the success formula behind enduring Christmas movie hits.
Chapters
0:00:00 Introduction to the Christmas Movie Screenwriter Podcast
0:01:41 Meet Sapna Vyas, VP of Lifetime Scripted Content
0:09:04 The Importance of Originality in Christmas TV Movie Scripts
Introduction
Preroll: [0:00] This is the Christmas Movie Screenwriter Podcast, episode number 14.
[0:10] Hello and welcome to the Christmas Movie Screenwriter Podcast. This is a podcast about writing, producing, and selling Christmas movies. I publish a transcript with every episode in case you want to take a look at something or read it later. Just go to the website at www.christmasmoviescreenwriter.com and look for this episode, which is number 14.
A quick few words about what I’m working on. My new Christmas movie, Merry Heistmas, is done, and I’m contacting producers now. Also, my new venture into faith-based films is going well. I should have my first script ready this week.
Success Formula: a Co-Production?
I’m also toying with the idea of changing my latest action thriller, which is set to be shot in Italy, into a Chinese-Italian co-production. Some of you may know I went to school in Hong Kong in China and worked in the Hong Kong film industry. When I got back to the U.S., the China market had somewhat cooled. However, reading the news about Filmart this week, I think there could be some potential there. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
I’m also adding a buy me a coffee button on my website. So if you like the content and want to let me know, check out my buy me a coffee button.
[1:22] Today’s guest is Sapna Vyas, Vice President of Lifetime Scripted Content. She talks about how to add originality to your Christmas script, and she’s upbeat about the Christmas movie market. And she ends on a refreshing note on how Lifetime doesn’t want a lot of stuff in development. They want to make what they look at.
[1:42] Here is the main segment.
Meet Sapna Vyas, VP of Lifetime Scripted Content
Host – Caryn: [1:45] Sapna Vyas currently serves as Vice President, Scripted Content for Lifetime. Based in Los Angeles, Vyas, who worked for the network in 2008, is responsible for developing and overseeing feature and original movies.
This is Vyas’ fifth year overseeing the network’s It’s a Wonderful Lifetime holiday movie slate. She simultaneously acted as the lead executive on titles such as Ladies of the 80s, A Diva’s Christmas, starring Lonnie Anderson, Morgan Fairchild, Linda Gray, Donna Mills, and Nicolette Sheridan, and Yes, Chef Christmas, starring Tia Mowry and Buddy Valastro, who also executive produced, and Luke Humphrey.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Leadership
Prior to Lifetime, Vyas was in scripted development at the CW Network, where she worked alongside the teams responsible for Gossip Girl, 90210, and The Vampire Diaries. She began her career in the TV lit department at Creative Artists Agency. In 2016, Vyas was selected to participate in the Women in Cable Television’s Rising Women in Cable Leadership Program.
Originally from Chicago, Vyas graduated from the University of Illinois with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology. She received a Fine Arts Degree from the Natraj Dance Academy. Well, Sapna, thank you for coming on the podcast today.
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [2:56] Thank you so much for having me. I’m so excited to be here to chat. Thank you.
Host – Caryn: [3:01] Well, this is one of my favorite subjects. And I’d love to get, you know, your story. So I told the audience a little bit about you. But why don’t you take a minute and tell us about yourself and your business?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [3:11] Sure. Thank you so much for the opportunity. I am currently an executive at Lifetime. Lifetime has been a wonderful home for me, part of A&E Networks for almost 15 years now.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Great Mentors
And I’ve had great experience, great opportunities, great mentors, teachers, and love what I do and get to work with wonderful people.
Host – Caryn: [3:33] Oh, that’s, well, you’ve got the right attitude. Now, recently, Lifetime grabbed attention for its unconventional holiday announcement about its latest movie, A Cowboy Christmas Romance, which features a sex scene. Can you elaborate on the network strategy in pushing boundaries and embracing an atypical narrative for Christmas movies?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [3:54] Sure. I think everybody, the press out there for Cowboy Christmas Romance is really exciting. We’ve worked with Sarah Drew, the writer, and Jana Kramer, who stars as well, for a handful of years here at Lifetime, both in Christmas and non-Christmas films.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Authenticity
And we’ve always sort of encouraged our storytellers to be bold, be authentic, and be true to life. And so I would say a cowboy Christmas romance, and we have pushed boundaries in other films prior, but I would say this one really got, you know, the buzz.
I do feel there’s a level of, this is a family drama at its core. This is relationships. And also we are, we are wanting to be the ones who are telling the stories where maybe others aren’t, you know? And so it felt true to the story, true to the characters, and we’re very proud of the film.
Host – Caryn: [4:58] Well, it was very refreshing. And it’s, you know, I’d love to see more of that. Speaking of that, is Lifetime open to exploring scripts that blend Christmas with unconventional genres? For example, A Christmas heist, which offers a new twist to holiday themed content.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Creativity
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [5:15] I think we’re always open. And I think that’s how we navigate the films that do get made, right? There’s such a volume of ideas around this space and the genre. I think turning the dial up, even if it’s just a touch, right, whether it’s a setting, a type of character, an unexpected, you know, conflict, a surprise, I think we’re always looking for, you know, creativity that’s going to feel like, Like, have I?
I don’t think I’ve seen that before. And I think we’ve been doing that for a long time. You know, I think we, you know, we were the first to feature in a Christmas Set Up in 2020, an LGBTQ romance at the center.
We were the first to feature a Chinese-American family in Sugar and Spice Holiday. We were the first to sort of tell a story set in Mexico that had a bilingual sort of Spanish English dialogue and a full all Latino cast.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Make it Fresh
We want to start from the concept. Start with the authentic story that feels like, have we seen this? Have we not? And if we’ve seen it, because a lot of these movies have similar themes as we celebrate those similarities, I think. But again, what’s going to make it feel a touch fresh? So a heist movie at Christmas? Let’s see.
Host – Caryn: [6:40] Okay. So how do you find scripts? Do you tend to hire WGA or non-union writers?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [6:47] We work with everybody. You know, I think our partners, writers, directors, executive producers, we work with a lot of great folks. It comes down to your idea, your quality of your script. And but we are open. We’re open to hearing ideas. We know there’s a passion for these movies.
Host – Caryn: [7:14] There’s a huge audience and it’s growing. Or do you this is do you think the audience is or the market is getting oversaturated oversaturated?
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Longevity
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [7:22] I do think generally content creation – it is more than we’ve ever seen across all genres and platforms. But I think it’s about meeting the consumer where they are knowing that they’re going to want to watch when they want. How they want. Where they want. So you know we are still the traditional Saturday night or Sunday night movie premiere on Lifetime. But there’s such a life to these movies.
Like that’s just the onset, you know, that’s just like a piece of the whole story these films get to have. They get to come back year over year, they get to go to Fast, Digital Lifetime Movie Club, other streamers and platforms.
So like the beginning is just the beginning. And then it’s so great to see, The years and years that these movies have that people find for the first time, and maybe it wasn’t the year that we made it, but it’s still… So that’s what I love. I do love that there’s a longevity to our films and when and how the consumer is going to find them.
Host – Caryn: [8:28] That’s great. Now, what is your ideal budget for a Christmas movie?
Guest – Sapna Vyas:
[8:33] I think it ranges. I think any concept and story we look at, it can range from a couple hundred thousand dollars to a couple millions of dollars. It really comes down to what are the elements of this story? What are the locations? What about music? No music? A big ensemble or is it a two-hander? So I think it really just comes down to what are the realistic means to tell this story?
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Originality
Host – Caryn: [9:04] Now, Christmas movies sometimes get a bad rap for being a little cliché. So how important is originality in a Christmas TV movie script? And what advice would you give to screenwriters looking to put a unique spin on a well-loved holiday theme or trope?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [9:19] Yeah, I think, again, it’s this duality. Like there is something so this is about tradition. It’s a time of year that is built in traditions. But at the same time, how do we as a consumer and a viewer feel this is fresh, this is different.
I haven’t seen this way into it or like this character, this. And I do recommend finding what your unique angle is. I’m not saying the whole movie needs to be, you know, a complete departure of the genre, unless that’s your story, which is wonderful.
But just to say, yeah, we do look for originality, you know, and how do you differentiate your film feeling not like the sound, like there’s so many Christmas movies, you know?
Host – Caryn: [10:14] Exactly.
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [10:14] But yet at the same time, people do love watching the same Christmas movies every year, right?
Host – Caryn: [10:20] Yeah.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Nostalgia
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [10:22] There’s the nostalgia factor of like, but that’s my favorite Christmas movie. I watch it every year. And that’s great, too. So it’s a fine line, you know, to find that originality when you’re built in so much tradition. That’s also desired. Exactly.
Host – Caryn: [10:38] Exactly. Now, if you could give advice to your younger self about producing Christmas movies, what would that be?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [10:46] That’s a really good question.
Host – Caryn: [10:49] Thank you.
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [10:50] Have fun. I mean, I do. I do think there’s like, yes, we’re in a business. Yes, we are all. But have respect for each other. And just this is a fun space to be in, you know, to tell these stories and enjoy the collaboration that you get to have with so many intelligent, smart, driven people.
Host – Caryn: [11:11] Now, is most of your mandate Christmas movies or you’re also doing the female led thrillers? So what would you say?
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: A Weekly Premiere
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [11:17] So Lifetime is in our team, our original movies team, we are about 45 to 50 original films a year, pretty much a premiere every weekend. Thus, we are primarily storytellers in true crime, and what we call rip from the headlines.
Lifetime’s Success Formula: Varied Genres
We have music. Additionally, we have musical biopics. Moreover, we have what we call ‘teens in trouble’ films about a parent a parent’s worst nightmare. So we have a lot of lanes. I think story and concept and a strong script. Always the beginning, right? Always the beginning of any story.
Host – Caryn: [12:07] Exactly. Now, what is the best way for screenwriters to connect with you and submit their ideas or scripts?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [12:14] Well, so we partner with a lot of folks, right? So we get a lot of our, submissions via our production partners and studio partners who are actually our partners who are, you know executing these films on the ground and you know um providing services and uh we also get ideas sent through agents and managers and that route and i think um that’s the primary way that we’re getting an incoming of ideas and submissions when.
Host – Caryn: [12:48] You said you have like 45 to 50 original movies a year. Is that, are you talking Christmas movies or is that that?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [12:56] All the genres.
Host – Caryn: [12:57] Oh, okay. Got it. Wow. That’s s a lot. You are busy.
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [13:03] And then we have another division too, of, of films that come in and get curated by another film division. So we are, we’re at a lot of movies a year.
I do find a lot of, value that, you know, most of the things that we look at and collaborate with these writers on. We have the intention to go make these movies. You know, we don’t necessarily want to just sit in development, development, development.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Little in Development
Like there is a need for programming. There’s a need to hit an air date. There’s a need to really make things of quality as it fits these different buckets and lanes of the different times of year is that we’re looking, you know, looking for something.
Host – Caryn: [13:52] OK, well, that’s good. It’s good to hear. Now, would you like to share any links or social media details so our audience knows how to keep track of your work?
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [14:04] That’s a really good question that I don’t have, except if you have my LinkedIn. That would probably be the best.
Host – Caryn: [14:14] Okay, wonderful. And then do you want to promote or plug any movies that are coming up?
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Diversity
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [14:20] Well, I just want to say we’ve been really excited about, I think, every year, Lifetime. And it’s a wonderful Lifetime and all the holiday movies. I think we’re just really proud of our diversity efforts in front of and behind the camera. I’ve been at this network for 15 years.
There’s a lot, again, authenticity in our creatives and, you know, who’s telling these stories, who’s starring in these stories and who’s directing these stories. And this is the whole the whole package.
Lifetime’s Christmas Success Formula: Holiday Spirit
We want our viewers to come to Lifetime looking for that holiday spirit. But also looking for something that they can’t find anywhere else. How do you honor the sort of traditional? Like the traditional holiday movie while finding the nuances and finding what makes our stories a little bit different?
And I guess, you know, I do, I do value our talent, our writers. We’ve had such great partners, you know, through all this. It takes a village to make these movies.
Host – Caryn: [15:27] Of course.
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [15:28] Everyone has their part in it. And to have that sort of camaraderie and collaboration and spirit behind it, you know, it’s important. And these are people’s livelihoods in creating these films, you know, so, you know, honoring that. I think is really important.
Host – Caryn: [15:48] Well, you’ve got the best job. You’ve got like, you know, you’re a film executive and you’re dealing with such a happy, happy subject of Christmas and family and hope. And I think that’s great. Well, Sapna, thank you so much for coming on the Christmas Movie Screenwriter Podcast today and sharing your knowledge and your experience. It’s been very helpful.
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [16:06] Thank you so much. It’s been a pleasure.
Host – Caryn: [16:09] Okay, we’ll see you soon.
Guest – Sapna Vyas: [16:10] Thank you.
Host – Caryn:[16:12] Bye-bye.
TAKEWAYS
I have 3 takeaways from my interview with Sapna.
Turn Up The Dial
If you can dial up the elements in your script – something Lifetime hasn’t seen before in terms of setting, character or unexpected conflict – that will get their attention. Lifetime was the first to have an LGBTQ romance (in “A Christmas Setup”) and the first to feature a Chines-American family in “A Sugar and Spice Holiday”. How do you do this? Sapna suggests you start with an authentic story and figure out what is your unique angle.
Is the Christmas Movie Market Oversaturated?
Sapna says there’s more Christmas movies now than ever. But these films go the extra mile. They can be played year after year. So someone new to the genre can discover them. Also these movies can go to fast channels, the Lifetime Movie Club or other streamers and platforms.
Get It Done
A refreshing thing Sapna mentioned is Lifetime doesn’t want a lot of films in development. They intend to make what they look at. They need to hit those air dates.
Well that’s the show. Thank you for listening. To show your support – please give us a 5* rating on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts. And sign up to be notified of the launch of our membership website. This is where writers will have the opportunity to pitch producers their Christmas scripts. Just go to www.christmasmoviescreenwriter.com and look for the signup button in the toolbar.
I’m your host, Caryn McCann. Thanks for listening! And I’ll see you on the next Christmas Movie Screenwriter podcast. Bye!
The Christmas Movie Screenwriter Podcast – Episode 14
Sapna Vyas, Vice President, Lifetime Scripted Content
Show Notes
HOST: Caryn McCann
Website: https://christmasmoviescreenwriter.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristmasMovieScreenwriter
X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MerryScriptmas
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caryn-mccann-5718058/
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You can now show your support on https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ChristmasMovie
GUEST: Sapna Vyas, Vice President, Lifetime Scripted Content