The latest production from Newmarket's Brain Power Studio is a new Christmas movie that leans heavy into the comedic side of rom-com.
Santa's Got Style premiered in a special screening at SilverCity movie theatre on Dec. 9. The film follows Ethan, who goes undercover to work as a stylish Santa in his friend's, who he's secretly in love with, store.
While love is a main theme throughout the movie, there is a lot of comedy, which is something actor Franco Lo Presti, who plays Ethan, was very excited to explore.
“I’ve done a few rom-coms that are more on the romantic side of things so this one was really fun to take the risk and chance and try some big choices,” he said.
Brain Power's executive producer Beth Stevenson said their partners—CityTV in Canada, UPTV and VIZIO in the U.S.—really allowed them to push the comedy on this one.
The studio has made 10 films this year and she said this one is their funniest.
While this movie especially stands out, Stevenson said they strive to make each and every Christmas movie unique.
"A lot of our partners say that we make Christmas movies that are not so cookie-cutter which I think is very, very nice,” she said.
Santa's Got Style was filmed mostly in Barrie at Southshore Bible Church, Grey Pine Studio, Brain Power's 7,000 sq. ft. studio in Barrie and at Drysdale's Tree Farm in Egbert.
Lo Presti is a Canadian actor who lives in Toronto and was thrilled to be able to make a movie so close to home, adding that the 45-minute commute to set was great.
"It means the world to me. This is where I started,” he said of working on a Canadian production.
He has appeared in TV shows like Bad Blood, Hudson and Rex, Workin' Moms, Brain Power's recent movie 14 Love Letters, and other Christmas films like Christmas Catch, Snowbound for Christmas, and another recent release Well Suited for Christmas.
"Christmas is an important time of the year for me as well as for many others,” he said.
As an Italian with a big family, Lo Presti said Christmas is typically the one time of year everyone can all be together, and its always a beautiful gathering with lots of love and cheer.
Stevenson said that love and cheer is what appeals to people about Christmas movies.
“There’s nostalgia and I think the holiday seasons are very universal,” she said.
These stories are often relatable of tug at people's heartstrings. In this case, she said, the audience really empathizes with the leading man, Ethan.
Along with Lo Presti, this film stars Kathryn Davis, Scott Thompson, and Brian Sills.
Santa's Got Style will be broadcast on CityTV in Canada on Friday, Dec. 23 at 7 p.m. EST. In the U.S. it is already streaming on VIZIO and will be playing on UPTV on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. EST.
