Christmas Song (2012)

Romance blossoms between two music teachers who compete for the same job.

Director:

Timothy Bond

Writer:

Kevin Commins

Stars:

Natasha Henstridge, Gabriel Hogan, Amanda Thomson

Cast

Credited cast:
Natasha Henstridge	...	Diana Thiessen
Gabriel Hogan	...	Ken Stoddard
Amanda Thomson	...	Liz Strait
Brittany Adams	...	Amy Barnes
Jack Ettlinger	...	Billy Warren
Kent Nolan	...	Carlo
Brigitte Robinson	...	Principal Jessica Gedler
Ramona Milano	...	Jill Hammond
Joel Keller	...	Gary
Pam Hyatt	...	Estelle Barlow
Ruth Marshall	...	Mrs. Barnes
Ben Mulroney	...	Emcee
Kailea Banka	...	Female Bad Singer
Devon Youngs	...	Male Bad Singer
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Chanelle Larocque	...	Dynamic Duo

Storyline

In New York City, Kasdan Cresswell Academy is the outcome of a just happened merger between an all girls' school with an all boys' school into a coed school. By the start of Kasdan Creswell's first academic term, not all aspects of the merger have been ironed-out. In what was already a threatened music program at both schools, Kasdan's director of music Diana Thiessen and Creswell's director of music Ken Stoddard still have music teaching jobs in the merger running parallel music programs, it not being clear what will happen to either of their jobs based on monetary issues, with the likelihood that both will have jobs by the end of the completed merger low. Diana and Ken already do not see eye to eye on anything music-related, Diana who teaches in an academic fashion primarily of the classics, while Ken wants his students to have free expression of music, his musical teaching bent toward the popular. The easily-stressed school principal, Jessica Gedler, suggests that the two submit ...

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Plot Keywords:

christmas | christmas carol | disabled teenager | christmas present | reference to ethel merman | 

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Music | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

This was Kent Nolan's final acting role before his death on September 8, 2014 at the age of 24.

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Goofs

In one scene, Billy's car front license play reads New York. In another scene, the back license plate of his car indicates Ontario.

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Soundtracks

O Christmas Tree
(uncredited)
Traditional tune, lyrics by Ernst Anschütz
Performed by Kent Nolan

User Reviews

Cooperation

The Hallmark Channel's annual festival of Christmas movies begins with this effort. Gabriel Hogan and Natasha Henstridge are music teachers in two private schools that merge. Only one will have a job long term and it comes down to a competition over who has directed the best Christmas carol performance. Soon enough, all sorts of student and parents' neuroses complicate the plot.

As is usual with Hallmark TV movies, Ms. Henstridge is the more buttoned-down of the two, preferring classical music and technique, while Mr. Hogan holds for creativity and feeling the music. However, both are presented as likable, competent teachers and closer to the middle of that range than most Hallmark movies. There are also several amusing bits, particularly one in which they keep getting matched by an online dating service. Both are likable and relaxed with their characters and the net effect, while no world-beater, is very pleasant.

Details

Country:

Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

3 November 2012 (USA)

Also Known As:

Christmas Song

Filming Locations:

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Chesler/Perlmutter Productions, Cogeco Program Development Fund, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color