TMU Cinema and Digital Arts Department begins production on first Christmas movie

Production is being led by TMU communication and CDA professors. Matt Green, assistant professor of communication and CDA director, is the film’s writer and director. He has had a successful career in the film industry, and has written, produced and directed a handful of short films for TMU along with the previous three feature films (The Man from Nowhere (2021), The Descent (2023), and The Descent Part II (2026).

TMU students take up a large part of the overall film crew. A total of 35 are contributing to the production, editing, marketing and journalism processes during the scheduled nine-day shoot, which is taking place during the university’s spring break.

For Grace Watson, a junior CDA major, this is the second TMU feature she has worked on.

“I’m enjoying it a lot,” she said. “I definitely feel more confident this time around and I know what I’m doing. Even though I’m doing a different role, it feels a bit more natural and it’s been really exciting.”

As the production designer, Watson’s job consists of planning out the creative vision for the set, decorating, sourcing props and managing props. Some scenes take place during the 1950s, and some are set in modern day. Watson plays a large role in ensuring that the settings and environment fit the right time period to create a more immersive set.

Filming a Christmas movie during springtime in Los Angeles is no easy task, but it is what Watson is most looking forward to.

“I’m excited to decorate our street for Christmas, we may or may not be having a 12-foot tree coming in,” she said.

A handful of TMU alumni have also been hired on as professionals in their respective industries. Marilyn Cho, who graduated in 2021, now works as a freelance photographer and videographer for brand campaigns. During her time as a student, she participated in the filming of three short films as well as The Man from Nowhere (2021), TMU’s first feature-length film. Now with experience with both TMU films and non-TMU jobs, Cho is returning for the nine-day production as first assistant camera.

“It [brings] back memories of me working. But now I feel more responsible for what I’m doing and should be a good example,” Cho said.

The production will shoot in three locations between March 7-15.