The Screenwriting Life with Meg LeFauve and Lorien McKenna 275 | How Holiday Movies Get Made (ft. Screenwriter Maggie Lane & Producer Eric Jarboe)
Dec 11, 2025
In this engaging discussion, screenwriter Maggie Lane, known for her work on 'Hotel for the Holidays,' teams up with producer Eric Jarboe, co-CEO of Happy Accidents, to explore the magic of holiday films. They reveal the secrets behind crafting compelling rom-com premises and the need for irresistible titles. Eric shares insights on rapid filming schedules and the importance of producible scripts. Both guests highlight collaboration and quick rewrites as keys to success, offering invaluable tips for aspiring writers and producers.
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Birds In The 12 Days Party
- Maggie watched dailies and realized the 12 Days of Christmas party had too many birds for production.
- They substituted a parrot for a partridge and changed the line to fit what was available.
Turn Sale Into Production Plan
- After sale, break the script into a shooting schedule and a preliminary budget to test viability.
- Finance typically combines license fees, tax credits, and equity; casting then locks prep timelines.
Write To Be Producible
- Keep set pieces and costly locations realistic; interior-heavy scripts are cheaper and easier to shoot.
- Let producers pare expensive elements for lower budgets and restore them for streamers.