Screenwriter Zac Hug reveals what Hallmark looks for in a Christmas script. Zac explains why heartfelt moments and crafting tears of joy are key to selling Christmas scripts. He dives into how creating joy-filled, heartwarming scenes can make your script irresistible to producers and networks.
Do tears of joy sell Christmas scripts? I chat with Christmas movie screenwriter Zac Hug about the power of joyful storytelling. Zac emphasizes the importance of delivering emotional moments that resonate with audiences, particularly aiming for tears of joy rather than sadness.
Whether you’re writing for a seasoned audience or aiming to sell your first script, Zac’s insights on crafting joy-filled moments, effective writers’ groups, and pitching strategies will help you stand out in the Christmas TV-movie market.
Chapters
0:11 Welcome to the Podcast
1:09 Meet Zach Hug
4:32 Writing Christmas Movies
7:31 Moving Scripts to Production
11:16 Expanding Your Network
22:23 Balancing Work and Life
24:13 Advice for Aspiring Writers
26:41 Closing Thoughts and Social Links
Action Checklist for Crafting Joyful Christmas Movies
1. WHAT HALLMARK LOOKS FOR: DELIVER JOY TO YOUR AUDIENCE
Focus on creating joy-inducing moments in your Christmas movies.
Think outside the box but stay true to the heart of the genre.
Aim for tears of joy rather than tear jerker moments.
The title of this podcast is Why Tears of Joy Sell Christmas Scripts. What’s the answer? There are three parts Which are:
A. People Crave Joy
Audiences watch Christmas movies to feel uplifted and inspired. By crafting tears of joy moments, you fulfill their desire for emotional highs, making your script more appealing to producers.
B. Emotional Connection:
Joyful emotional payoffs create lasting connections with viewers, giving your story a broader appeal. Producers seek scripts that leave audiences feeling good and connected to the characters. You want to sell your script? Well, tears of joy sell Christmas scripts.
C. True to the Genre:
Christmas movies revolve around joy and hope. Creating innovative, joyful moments while staying true to the genre ensures your script resonates with both audiences and producers. In short, tears of joy are a powerful tool to meet audience expectations, helping your script stand out and increasing its chances of being sold. Do this and you’ll find, tears of joy sell Christmas scripts.
2. WHAT HALLMARK LOOKS FOR: UTILIZE WRITERS’ GROUPS EFFECTIVELY
Create a writers’ group with 3 or 5 members.(odd numbers work best for rotation).
Use a timer for feedback sessions (45 minutes per person).
3. WHAT HALLMARK LOOKS FOR: PITCH MEETINGS
Prepare well-thought-out ideas. Have three pitches ready rather than flooding the producer with loglines.
Tailor your pitch to meet the needs of the producer and their audience.
4. FINISH WHAT YOU START
Finish your scripts before revisiting for improvements.
Don’t rewrite the same material over and over—focus on completing new projects.
Repurpose old material—consider incorporating scenes or ideas from past scripts into new ones.
Well, that’s the show. Thank you for listening! To show your support, please give us a 5-star rating on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.
Fuel more great content by buying me a hot cocoa on Buy Me A Coffee—just look for the page “Christmas Movie.” And explore other inspiring podcasts and blogs on our website at christmasmoviescreenwriter.com.
