Because of the vast number of Christmas movies that Hallmark produces, you can imagine that there is an extensive assortment of screenwriters that they regularly employ. While some may believe that there is “nothing” to writing a Hallmark movie, I vehemently disagree! In keeping with my dedication to highlighting everyone possible on my site–especially those behind the camera–, I can wholeheartedly state that there is almost nothing I like better than chatting with a screenwriter. Over the past couple of years, Anna White has quickly risen to the rank of becoming a Hallmark favorite due to the quality scripts she regularly provides in the rom-com category. Before her Christmas movies premiered in 2019, she and I had the opportunity to chat, but because of my insanely busy schedule and subsequent illness, I was unable to post our interview during the Christmas holidays. Thankfully, Hallmark regularly shows Christmas movies throughout the year, so Christmas movies can be mentioned throughout the year. Therefore, it is my honor to share our holiday conversation with my readers today.
RH: Anna, it’s so nice to chat with you today. I’m glad we got connected.
AW: Me too, Ruth. Thank you for reaching out.
I always love getting to interview screenwriters. So how did you get started as a writer?
Well, I always knew I wanted to work in TV or film. I went to school at Loyola Marymount University to study screenwriting. As I majored in screenwriting, I learned the ins and outs and knew that this was definitely what I wanted to do. While I was there, I got to intern on the TV show Smallville. That was the coolest job ever! That’s what got me going.
But in film school, they don’t really explain how incredibly hard it is to break into screenwriting. They really just teach you the craft of it. Once I got into the real world, it was a great wake-up call for me. I worked as a production assistant for quite some time for a lot of different TV shows. I had some ups and downs through that time with my scripts, but nothing really happened in the area of writing for me.
behind-the-scenes
The Ugly Christmas Sweater
That is, until I was watching a Hallmark movie at my friend’s house. Up to this point, I had been writing pilots and such for TV shows. After watching this Hallmark movie, I wanted to know who wrote this genre of movies because I knew I could do that. So I looked up a bunch of them and I decided to write a Hallmark movie on spec, which means as an example piece.
I wrote one, and I sent it to people who represent Hallmark writers. I was afraid I wouldn’t really hear back from them, but one of them is my manager today. He’s the one who did it all and got me going. Because of that script, he got me meetings with different producers with Hallmark and Lifetime. That got me connected with one of these companies, Hybrid, who do a lot with Hallmark and Lifetime. And that year, they were doing all these short Christmas films for Lifetime. They asked, “Do you want to take a shot at one of these shorts?” I was like, “Yes, please!” And that’s how The Ugly Christmas Sweater came about.
I actually saw that one, and I thought it was cute.
Check Inn To Christmas
with Wes and Rachel
That was my first official TV writing credit. And it snowballed from there. Once you show that you can write for the Christmas world and you can turn them out in a timely manner, there’s so many every year, that they just keep coming. It’s been really fun. With some of them, I get assigned a premise. But sometimes, like with Check Inn To Christmas, that was an original script idea from me.
Oh, that’s cool! I loved that one! And there were such incredible people attached to that.
I know! Rachel Boston and Wes Brown who are almost like the king and queen of Hallmark Christmas.
That was so amazing to see them together. I have interviewed them both over the years. And for that to be your script, that’s fantastic! Rachel and I have not met as of yet (hopefully this summer), but she and I have become very close over the years. So I’m always supporting anything she’s in. And Wes is just so multi-talented and always very busy.
with Rachel
They are both amazing. And I got to go to set when they were filming. I was so excited when I found out who would be in this movie. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the show American Dreams about American Bandstand, but I was obsessed with that show, and Rachel was in that show. Check Inn To Christmas was shot in Utah. I got to go to set for two days. And when I was on set, I asked Rachel if she remembered the theme song from American Dreams, and she started singing it right away. And I jumped in and sang it with her. That was a cool moment; I really liked that.
with Director Sam Irvin
That is so neat to hear about that happening to you! You had like the screenwriter’s dream. Hallmark, your original pitch, you went to set…so amazing.
I agree with you. I had two other Christmas movies that I didn’t get to set for this past season, but for this one, I definitely wanted to get to set for it. And it was so special to be there. Everyone was so nice. Sam Irvin, who directed it, also did a couple of my other movies. He directed Sister Of the Bride and Christmas Made To Order. It’s always fun working together with people who get it and enjoy what they’re doing.
with Jonathan Bennett
Christmas Made To Order was a movie I really enjoyed back in the 2018 season. I always appreciate watching something a little different. And speaking of Sister Of the Bride, I thought that was a really unique wedding movie for Hallmark. I watch all the Hallmark movies, and I was really intrigued by this one.
Sister Of the Bride
with Michael Gross
Yes, it was different for Hallmark. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
You mentioned you had a couple of other Christmas movies this past season as well.
Yes, Staging Christmas and Christmas Hotel. Both were on Lifetime this past holiday season.
With Soleil
I was so excited about Staging Christmas because it starred Soleil Moon Frye, who I remember from Punky Brewster.
Oh yeah!
I was a huge fan of that show when I was growing up, and when I saw her name on this movie, I was very excited.
with Director Marla Sokoloff
Christmas Hotel
Honestly, it was pretty exciting to put out there. I think this was her first Christmas movie, and my hope is that people who grew up watching Punky Brewster would watch it.
Well, yeah, and Jaleel White was in that one too. I used to watch Family Matters als well, so I was stoked for that movie. And Christmas Hotel starred Tatyana Ali…I mean how cool is that?
With Denise Richards behind the scenes of The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders
Oh, Ruth, it’s been so exciting! These past two years have just been jaw-dropping! And right now, I’m working on several others–sometimes as many as five at once–and I’ll have to remind myself along the way about the characters’ names and the various details about the scripts. But I couldn’t imagine doing anything else.
To be honest, the only non-Christmas one of yours that I have not seen was The Secret Lives of Cheerleaders. It’s still on my DVR.
Sister Of the Bride
That movie was my first venture into the thriller genre, which was really, really fun. I enjoyed that one a lot, and it was shot in LA, so I got to be on set for that one too. There was some amazing stars in that one too. That one featured a young rising star who has done several things since then I believe, and that was also my first non-Christmas movie. I think it came along before Sister Of the Bride, but it was definitely my first non-rom-com.
I bet it never gets old to see your name come up on the credits.
with her parents
No, it doesn’t get old. It’s always fun to see my name there. And the cool thing about the Christmas movies is they air around the holidays, so a lot of times I’m with my family who live up in northern California. And if never gets old to watch my mom see my name in the credits. It just feels so good making her proud. We will sit there as she is holding her huge camera and wait for my name so she can take a picture of it.
Well, it sounds like you’ve been keeping busy, Anna.
Oh, I keep very busy.
Do you have anything else coming up yet?
Well, I have a lot of projects in development right now, but none have been announced, so I can’t say anything. So the best thing to do is just keep waiting until those movies are announced, which will hopefully be soon. I can say that you will definitely see more from me this year.
Okay, well, that sounds good. I want to thank you, Anna, for chatting with me today.
Thank you, Ruth, it’s my pleasure. I appreciate your support and the support of all the viewers. Thanks for having me today.
To be honest, I have only given you a brief glimpse into the wonder that is Anna White. A swift visit to her links below will demonstrate how incredibly effervescent her persona is and how decidedly committed she is to the arts, especially her projects. Her level of excitement combined with her obvious talent create a stellar product that is unquestionably propelling her works into the spotlight, and Hallmark and Lifetime are assuredly blessed to claim her and her films as a flourishing part of their holiday (and beyond) line-up. As far as I’m concerned, Anna represents the “new face” of screenwriters in the twenty-first century due to her outstanding achievements and her earnest zeal to work and deliver on all of her obligations. She is committed to excellence and takes her projects extremely seriously while desiring to ensure that each one is prosperous in whatever way she can. Her current success has provided her with unprecedented opportunities to visit sets when they are filming her productions, and she never takes a single moment for granted. Sincerely, I urge all of my readers to check out her links below and consider following her on social media so that you will never miss one of her upcoming works. If you have not had the supreme thrill of witnessing some of her productions, I would invite you to consider spending some time searching for them and watching them when possible. In the near future, here’s a listing of what movies of hers can be seen in the U.S.
Hallmark Channel: Sister Of the Bride March 16th
The Secret Lives Of Cheerleaders may be available on Lifetime soon, but it is definitely available to watch on several streaming platforms, including the Lifetime Movie Club.
I am forever grateful to Ann for her patience and the vigorous way in which she approaches her craft. I invite all of my readers to follow her and support her career now and into the near and distant future!
FOLLOW ANNA
behind-the-scenes
Christmas In Wonderland
with Richard Karn
Check Inn To Christmas
With Rachel
Check Inn To Christmas
Related Articles
1 Comment
-
Wonderful Q&A
