Here’s today’s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.

Planning ahead. Production began this week in Vancouver, British Columbia in Canada on the Christmas-themed Angels in the Snow. The UP Premiere Movie stars Kristy Swanson (who played Buffy in the original film version of Buffy The Vampire Slayer) and Chris Potter (of the UP series Heartland) in a drama involving two very different families snowbound together in a luxurious cabin during a severe Christmas blizzard. The film is based on best-selling author Rexanne Becnel’s acclaimed novel Christmas Journey and a treatment by Ken Atchity, Chi-Li Wong, and Julie Brazier (who wrote the script). 
UP SVP of Original Programming Barbara Fisher calls Angels in the Snow “a captivating family drama with heart, strong, diverse characters and more than a couple of surprises.” She notes that the film in UP’s Christmas film to go into production this year says it and will be a key component of the network’s Christmas programming slate in 2015.
Synopsis (from the UP press release): In Angels in the Snow, the affluent, yet troubled Montgomery family hits the road for a special Christmas in the mountains.  Workaholic real estate developer Charles (Chris Potter) hopes to mend fences with his wife Judith (Kristy Swanson), a former NY fashion editor, and reconnect with his cell-phone-dependent, squabbling children – Alexander (15, Nick Purcha), Jennifer (14, Lizzie Boys) and Emily (10, Jaeda Lily Miller) – by surprising them all with a getaway to unveil the ultra-modern, luxurious, fully-stocked cabin in the woods that he has designed and built.  Sadly, his good intentions are quickly dashed when a powerful blizzard descends and traps the Montgomerys in their new “dream home.”   With Judith and Charles arguing, little Emily makes a wish that her parents will stay together.  Hours later, as fierce winds batter the cabin, a knock on the door jolts the family awake.  To their surprise, another family – the Tuckers – are shivering on their doorstep.  While unhurt, they are half-frozen, exhausted and in need of shelter from the storm.  Their van slid off the snow-covered road.  High school history teacher Joe Tucker (Colin Lawrence), his wife/nurse Amy (Catherine Lough Haggquist), and their two kids Robbie (16, Kolton Stewart) and Lucie (15, Alexandra Siouras) are grateful to be welcomed in.  As the families wait out the storm, it soon becomes evident that the Tuckers offer an example of love, togetherness and caring that is seemingly gone from the Montgomerys’ lives.  But perhaps the Tuckers’ example – and friendship – can reignite the Montgomery family’s spirit this season.

Angels in the Snow is a production of MarVista Entertainment and Odyssey Media.  The director is George Erschbamer (UP’s My Mother’s Future Husband, Defending Santa).  

Encourage one another and build each other up – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

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