The beauty and charm of Franklin has always provided the perfect backdrop for filming a Christmas movie– and that is exactly what took place this past summer. Great American Family network will air A Little Women’s Christmas this holiday season, beginning on November 23^rd. Filmed in Franklin, it is described as a contemporary retelling of the classic novel, Little Women. This adaptation follows the lives of the March sisters in a small town at Christmas, brought to life by an incredible cast of talented people. The iconic Gladys Knight also makes an appearance during the movie and performs “Joy” as part of the Christmas Eve church services.

 

Third Coast Film’s Brian Williams was thrilled to be a part of the project. Local to our area, Brian is familiar with Franklin and provided the foresight needed to create the perfect set locations. His company, Third Coast Film, was created in response to the needs of our community. “There are fantastic production companies in town but a lot of what is missing are the other ingredients that surround film-making, such as packaging, development, financing and distribution,” he explains. “There are such amazing creatives in this community and incredible stories and storytellers. What’s been lacking are distribution pipelines and ways to get those stories into the broader marketplace. That is the main focus of Third Coast Film.

 

Brian says the film was several years in the making, starting with a young female writer who was inspired by the Little Women story and wrote the first draft of her script for a screenwriting class assignment. After several drafts of the script with True Brand Entertainment, Brian says they got their hands on it last December and, along with local producer Rodney Eldridge, were able to make what they believe is a truly special movie.

“We had been given the script by our director, Brandon Clark, and loved the modern telling of the original story told around Christmas,” Brian says. “The network we pitched it to, Great American Family, had chosen the original Little Women novel for their book club that month… It was a well-timed pitch! We also loved that it required an ensemble cast and that our partners, True Brand Entertainment, wanted to shoot it in Franklin.”

 

The team felt that Franklin, shown as Alcott Grove in the film, feels like the picture-perfect town especially during the holidays. “We were excited to use these iconic buildings and businesses to supply the perfect backdrop for our film–including The Franklin Theater, Shuff's Music, Stable Reserve, Onyx and Alabaster and Philanthropy. The historical elements of Franklin helped to make the modern-day adaptation of this story feel more grounded and authentic to the original story,” explains Brian.

Brian says the most rewarding thing about doing this project was that it truly felt like a family affair. “So many of our friends and families were able to participate and see it brought to life in our own backyard. Not to mention several familial connections behind the camera. To name a few: Brian Bird, one of our producers got to work with his son who was a writer on the project. Our director, Brandon Clark and his father our Director of Photography, Jeff Clark, and actor Jesse Hutch and his daughter, Charlize, both had roles in the film.”

 

Jesse Hutch, who plays the role of John in the film, enjoyed filming with his daughter in his local town. “The opportunity to act on screen with my daughter Charlize was truly a heartfelt moment for me. This is her acting debut, and I couldn’t be more proud of her,” Jesse says. Charlize, who plays the role of Daisy in the movie, says she was happy to do the film because she loves Christmas and enjoyed being in a movie with her dad.

 

Jesse says this is the first ensemble cast film for Great American Family, and he believes it will be extremely special for the viewers and fans and the film will inspire a message of hope. “No matter what you’re going through. There’s always a faith aspect and a mindset of joy to be pursued,” he says. “I believe everyone has their own ideas of what the spirit of Christmas is. However, I believe that this film will bring to light faith, hope, family and the spirit of overcoming challenges and difficulties. I think we also touch on the theme of new dreams and new love.”

Actress Laura Osnes, who portrays Beth March in the movie, is also a Franklin local and loved filming so close to home. She says that family and faith are at the forefront of this movie. “The sisters share such a special bond (which was the same off-screen!), and each of their unique journeys demonstrate values of patience, discernment, togetherness, service, generosity, hope and joy,” Laura says. “Holiday movies should be more than just the lights, the fake snow, the decorations, or even the romance. This is a film that highlights the importance of family, traditions, community and love. Those are things Franklin represents on its own every day. We are excited to show the rest of the world how Franklin does Christmas.”

 

Actor Kyle Kupecky portrays Laurie in the movie and is also local to the area. “It was a dream to film in Franklin,” Kyle says. “The whole town already looks like a movie set. And the fact that I get to actually live here is just a blessing I'm constantly thanking the Lord for!” He says you can't help but fall in love with the family in this film and that you fall in love with their faith in each other and how they rally around one another. “Their faith in Jesus carries them through every circumstance and this Christmas movie makes you believe again. It makes you believe in yourself, in the kindness of others around you, and ultimately in the presence of God in your life. A Little Women's Christmas does all those things in a beautiful way.”

 

This film truly embraces the reason for the season, while also putting our beloved Franklin in the forefront of the story. It brought many people together to inspire others through a beloved story. Brian says they hired over a 100 cast and crew from the local area–which included my sister and niece, Shelly and Keeling Birdsong, who had the opportunity to be extras during the filming. They both said their experience on set was like no other. From what I have heard, this film was a well-loved adventure for all involved and will bring heartfelt happiness to the viewers.