Virginia Film “Santa Girl” premieres on Netflix!
“Santa Girl” is now available on Netflix. The movie, which was co-created by Shenandoah University students and staff through a partnership with Capital Arts Entertainment, started streaming on Netflix on Nov. 1.
The movie tells the story of how Santa Claus’ only daughter, Cassie Claus, goes off to college while trying to keep her magic powers and famous father a secret. At school, Cassie is pursued by two boys: sweetly awkward Sam and handsome and wealthy J.R. As her impending arranged marriage looms to the son of Jack Frost, Cassie struggles with her feelings for Sam and her obligation to her father and Christmas.
The movie was shot on Shenandoah’s main campus and in surrounding areas in Winchester, with Hollywood actors Jennifer Stone (Wizards of Waverly Place), Devon Werkheiser (Ned’s Declassified School Survival Guide) and Barry Bostwick (The Rocky Horror Picture Show). It was directed by Blayne Weaver and produced by veteran film producer Paul DiFranco. Local actors and students also play characters in the film.
Paul DiFranco, who has worked as a music supervisor for Universal Studios, Sony Pictures and Queen Latifah’s Flavor Unit, paired with Mike Elliott, owner of Capital Arts Entertainment, to bring “Santa Girl” to Shenandoah. DiFranco teaches in the film department at Shenandoah University
“Our goal at Shenandoah University was to educate students by doing,” said DiFranco. “We wanted students to experience working on and acting in a commercial feature film, going beyond the ‘student’ filmmaking model. We think we accomplished that with ‘Santa Girl.’ We feel this establishes the Shenandoah University film department as one of the most unique programs in academia. Capital Arts has informed us that they would very much like to make another feature film with us. That, to me, is a sign of true success.”
“Santa Girl” had 83 Shenandoah University students working on it, including 21 actors, with student Josh Cody in a leading role.
Gravitas Ventures, a Red Arrow Studios company, acquired worldwide rights to the movie. In August, “Santa Girl” ran for one week in Los Angeles; Dallas; Orlando; Washington, D.C.; Seattle; Cleveland; and Minneapolis. It premiered on the Netflix streaming service on November 1.