Here\u2019s today\u2019s dispatch from the crossroads of faith, media and culture.<\/p>\n
Christmas is nigh.<\/strong> If by “nigh” we mean nearly six months away.\u00a0 Which I guess is nigh if you’re in the business of producing holiday movies. There was a time when Christmas-themed films, specials and series episodes were a staple of network television. But, except an occasional (usually “edgy”) entry here and there, broadcasters have mostly backed away from such fare. Their loss. Fortunately, some cable networks have stepped in to fill the void — most notably UP, Hallmark Channel and the latter’s recently-rebranded sister network Hallmark Movies & Mysteries<\/span>. Here a couple of promising telefilms currently being prepped for this yuletide season.<\/p>\n 1. Paper Angels<\/i><\/b><\/span> – The UP Original Movie, which has been shooting in Vancouver, is described as <\/span><\/span>an emotional, heartwarming Christmas film spotlights\u00a0The Salvation Army<\/a><\/span>\u2019<\/span><\/a>s Angel Tree Program<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Synopsis:<\/strong> With her two kids in tow, abused wife Lynn (Josie Bissett) leaves her alcoholic husband Darryl (Russell Porter) and moves to another town where she works as a waitress to make ends meet. There she meets\u00a0 Kevin (Matthew Settle) whose Marketing & Design company is on the brink of shutting down due to the economy while his wife Jenny (<\/span>Kendra Anderson<\/span>) is undergoing a difficult pregnancy with twins.\u00a0 Meanwhile, Lynn’s son Thomas (Rustin Gresiuk)<\/span> starts a new school and becomes the target of a bully who is threatened by how well he plays basketball.\u00a0 Unable to join the high school team, Thomas goes to the community center where he meets Kevin and the two of them become unlikely friends through pickup basketball games. Little do they know the tremendous impact they will have on each other\u2019s families this Christmas through The Salvation Army\u2019s Angel Tree Program.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n With an adapted screenplay by Bryar Golden, the film is based on country singer\/songwriter Jimmy Wayne\u2019s popular Paper Angels<\/em> song (and book<\/a>).
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