I was an Executive Producer and Franchise Creative Director on a 2 hour live action movie event called Northpole, and championed the first-ever collaboration of its kind between Hallmark Cards & Hallmark Channel. The movie starred Tiffani Thiessen, Josh Hopkins, Bailee Madison and Max Charles and featured Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, and Candice Glover. Working closely on the story from script to completion, I also provided creative direction to production designers, costume designers, as well as the visual effects supervisor on the CG animation to bring the magical city of Northpole to life. Additionally, I worked closely with the PR and marketing departments at Hallmark Channel on various creative executions to raise awareness of the movie event in social media.

I co-developed the original concept and storyworld for Northpole which was a completely new re-imagining of Santa’s home town as a real, and thriving modern city.

The movie premiered in mid-November 2014 exclusively on the Hallmark Channel and was available in stores on DVD. It features organic story-driven product placement of key items in the Northpole retail program from Hallmark Cards.

The movie was the top program for the day on cable among HH ratings, as well as the network’s most watched and highest-rated original film of 2014 to-date among HH’s, W25-54, A25-54, and total viewers. Hallmark Channel is working on a second film in the franchise, Northpole: Open for Christmas, which will air later this year.

via press releases from Hallmark Channel:

“Developing a hugely successful film in partnership with Hallmark Cards was a tremendous accomplishment and we look forward to creating an even more spectacular second installment with ‘Northpole 2’ … We are honored to work with one of Hollywood’s most sought-after stars, Dermot Mulroney, who brings his charm and talent to a very special holiday movie alongside two of the network’s most beloved leading ladies, Lori Loughlin and Bailee Madison,” said Michelle Vicary, Executive Vice President, Programming for Crown Media Family Networks.