"This is gonna be a fun Christmas party."

A Christmas Party unfolds on Christmas Eve of 2023 in a suburb of Washington, DC. We first encounter our protagonist, Adam, returning from his first semester of college, yearning for excitement as he grapples with the mundanity of his career path and the lack of urgency in his life, which renders the Christmas magic fruitless. Upon his return, Adam finds himself engulfed in the chaos of his annual neighborhood Christmas Party—the sole occasion each year when the entire community convenes to eat, drink, laugh, and celebrate. 

The guest list boasts a plethora of characters, including Adam’s starving father, Jason, his mother, Hale, the anxious host of the party, Juliet, Juliet’s son and Adam’s high-strung best friend, Ernesto, neighborhood oracle, Shaun, resident misogynist, Marco, Hollywood producer and Jason’s brother, Kurt, sleuth-wannabe, CJ, and the young singer, Danny. With such a diverse group, the atmosphere is far from easygoing as party-goers embark on personal quests that test the limits of their community bond.

Jason revives an old childhood rivalry with his brother Kurt, while CJ investigates suspicions of infidelity regarding his wife Layla. Juliet struggles to maintain composure under the pressure of hosting, Shaun rehearses lines for a community play, Danny grapples with overbearing parents, and Marco’s penchant for unwelcome and crude comments adds to the chaos. Amidst the tumult, Adam receives an unexpected gift—his childhood friend Alex, Juliet’s daughter and Ernesto’s sister, returns to town after years away. Adam and Alex, once inseparable, reunite and reminisce about the magic of their childhood and Christmases past. 

WHY ME?

I, Alex Helmer, believe I’m the right person to tell this story because, well, it is my story. The foundation for this script is based on my life and upbringing. Most of the characters are loosely based on real people in my community.

I was also born and raised in DC. There is a culture that is specific to DC and its people due to what is there, and I feel very equipped to handle these specificities in scripted form.

I also grew up in a very culturally diverse household, my mom Iranian and my dad Australian-American. I was constantly seized by varying perspectives and stories, and always had a passion to channel those fascinations.

My goals in my films are to seize audiences with realized, flawed characters within a lens that combines classic cinematic techniques with modern innovations, and a sprinkle of my own irreverent personality. This is exactly what you will find in A Christmas Party.

WHY NOW?

A Christmas Party is comedy featuring the members of a tight-knit community coming together for a post-COVID era party that doesn't shy away from the sheer discomfort that stems from modern family gatherings. We hope to connect with people on that basis and paint a portrait of a community that audiences can laugh at, be entertained by, and feel close to.

The film is also political, and we want to confront the realities of American political disagreements, especially in this critical election year, when this country is more divided than ever. However, our main objective is to show how people can be bigger than their differences and that we can love one another, respect one another, and still maintain our humanity in the face of disagreement. Christmas is the ultimate beacon of joy, and we want to put that magic to its ultimate test in a film that both challenges the holiday and embraces its unifying characteristics. 

As a 15-year-old during Trump's election, I've continually witnessed escalating polarization and hate throughout my politically engaged years. It's vital for me to confront this reality, showcasing how love, excitement, and the enchantment of Christmas can transcend division.

Furthermore, the comedic wit of the film is laugh-out-loud, relatable, and undoubtedly engaging. Writer, Alex Helmer, and Co-Writer, Guy Knoll, a NYC-based comedian, worked together to refine each and every element of the film's relentless comedic sensibilities.

THE STYLE

A Christmas Party is a grounded Christmas comedy driven by character dynamics, blending elements of screwball and satire. The stiff but loving family dynamic is in the vein of other family-oriented comedies like “Meet the Parents” (2000), “Knives Out” (2019), and “Hannah and her Sisters” (1986). We prioritize the juxtaposition of holiday warmth with uncivil chaos, aiming to paint an imperfect picture of families during the holidays that will connect with audiences. 

The film draws heavily from the large ensemble films of Woody Allen like “Everyone Says I Love You” (1996) and the previously mentioned “Hannah and her Sisters” (1986). Woody employs a strategy of letting the blocking lead the way, following the characters from there. We will do something similar by incorporating a lot of long takes that encapsulate the chaotic close quarters of the environment, allowing for fluid camera movement to track characters as they move, making the film feel more dynamic. This strategy is also used by 1940s screwball comedies like “Christmas in Connecticut” (1945) and Ernst Lubitsch films like “The Shop Around the Corner” (1940), which use long takes and dynamic camera movement to emphasize a sense of chaotic togetherness. 

MY PAST WORK

My first film, A Cognac at the Indy 500, concluded its festival run in 2023 and is award-winning everywhere from Budapest to Sweden!

The film tells the tale of the final conversation between a grandson and his dying grandfather.

• - Winner of Best Actor in a Short Film at the Boden International Film Festival

- Winner of Best Student Film at the Crown Point International Film Festival

- Finalist for Best Student Film at the Lulea International Film Festival

-Honorable Mention at the Hercules International Film Festival

My second film, Old Man, was shot in Los Angeles and begins its festival run in the fall of 2024!

The film follows Howard, a young telemarketer masking as a business tycoon, who must confront his unstable identity when the latest victim of his serial killing spree tugs at his heartstrings.

The film is an homage to 1970s and 1980s horror and takes inspirations from Giallo as well as John Carpenter.

The film was made in a culmination of all my newfound horror appreciation and eagerness to make my own stamp on the genre. Both A Cognac at the Indy 500 and Old Man have comedic elements, but A Christmas Party will be my first FULL comedy. Comedy is the genre I find myself gravitating towards the most in my future work.

WHAT YOUR MONEY WILL GO TOWARDS

A Christmas Party will also rely heavily on local connections and in-house resources! This is a film that will be shot in DC, my hometown, and we want to be able to energize the film scene here with a narrative production (unlike the vast amounts of non-fiction and commercials that are shot in the nation's capital) that will take advantage of what the city can provide.

Much of the cast will be brought from the New York area. A vast majority of the money we bring in will be to bring our colorful cast of characters to life via transformative and memorable performances.

Additionally, we will need to finance our efforts in bringing the one-of-kind Christmas environment to life. There is only one location for the majority of the film, so it makes it all the more important to spice it up with the unique Foxhall Christmas magic!

TIMELINE

A Christmas Party will begin principal photography in August of this year. As of April 2024, casting is underway and we shall have our ensemble of wacky characters by May.

Once the film is shot and we complete post-production, it's on to the festival circuit where we expect to make waves with the universality of the film. We believe that with our team, with the wonderful script, and with your financial assistance, A Christmas Party will become nothing short of a phenomenon. This is not an understatement.

It is vital that we meet our goals, and meet them as soon as possible, so we can proceed with all the steps in production for the film at the highest level possible.

SOCIAL MEDIA

You can find more information about the film as well as our production label, TLOC Productions, on Instagram @tloc_productions_ where we post constant updates on our production processes!

FINAL WORDS

With your help, we are confident that A Christmas Party can far supersede its initial small foundation and become something revelatory.