What all Christmas movies have in common

Summary

This video explores the differences between high-budget theatrical Christmas movies and low-budget Hallmark-style Christmas films, focusing on how music contributes to their festive atmosphere. Film composer Russ Howard shares insights on budget constraints and the cost of licensing popular songs, explaining that music can take up 3-5% of a movie's budget. Public domain Christmas songs are often used to save money, while reimagined versions of classics add unique twists. The video highlights how composers balance creativity and budget to create the holiday spirit, especially in smaller productions.

Takeaways

• 🎄 Christmas movies vary significantly in budget, with studio films like *Elf* and *Home Alone* having higher budgets than Hallmark’s micro-budget films.
• 🎥 Hallmark Christmas movies are typically made for under $2 million, with many having budgets as low as $400,000 to $500,000.
• 🎶 Music is a small portion of the overall budget, generally 3-5%, but licensing popular songs can be expensive.
• 💸 Traditional Christmas songs often cost around $25,000 per side for licensing (composition and sound recording), making it costly to use well-known songs.
• 🎤 For big-budget films like *Elf*, music licensing can cost over $1.6 million, more than the entire budget of some Hallmark films.
• 🎧 Public domain Christmas songs, like those created before 1928, are free to use, making them popular in Christmas movies.
• 🔔 Composers often rearrange public domain songs to fit different moods, from festive to sinister, as seen in *It’s a Wonderful Knife*.
• 🛠️ Instruments like tinkling bells and sleigh bells are often used to create an instant Christmas vibe in films.
• 📜 Licensing popular Christmas songs without planning can lead to scenes being cut due to cost, as seen in a Hallmark film where *Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer* was removed.
• 🎁 Rearranging public domain songs allows for creative freedom and cost savings, helping composers like Russ Howard tailor the music to specific film scenes.

Q & A

What is the main difference between theatrical Christmas movies and Hallmark Christmas movies?

The main difference lies in their budgets and scale. Theatrical Christmas movies like 'Elf' and 'Home Alone' have medium to small budgets compared to big blockbusters but are still larger in scale. In contrast, Hallmark Christmas movies typically have much smaller budgets, often under $2 million, with some produced for as little as $400,000 to $500,000.

How much of a movie's budget is typically allocated to music?

Traditionally, around 3% to 5% of a movie's budget is allocated to music, with 3% being more common. For movies that are very song-heavy, this allocation could rise to 5%.

Why are songs like 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' more expensive to license than public domain songs?

Songs like 'Baby, It's Cold Outside' require payments for both the composition and the sound recording, each potentially costing $25,000 or more. These songs are not in the public domain and still have copyright restrictions, making them more expensive to use compared to public domain songs, which are free.

What does 'per side' mean when licensing music for a film?

'Per side' refers to the two separate rights that need to be licensed when using a song in a movie: the composition rights (for the music notes and lyrics) and the sound recording rights (the actual performance of the song). Each side generally costs around $25,000, though it can vary.

How do artists like Mariah Carey affect the cost of licensing their music?

Famous artists like Mariah Carey can ask for more than the traditional licensing fee. If one side (the artist’s fee) is increased, the other side (the music publisher’s fee) often matches it, effectively doubling the total licensing cost.

Why are public domain Christmas songs used so frequently in films?

Public domain Christmas songs are used frequently because they are free from copyright restrictions, meaning filmmakers don’t need to pay any fees to use them. These songs are also part of a shared cultural experience and evoke strong associations with the holiday season.

What is an example of a public domain Christmas song, and why is it used so often?

'Trepak: Russian Dance' from 'The Nutcracker' is a public domain song written in 1892, making it free to use. It's commonly featured in many Christmas movies due to its association with the season and its recognizable festive feel.

What can film composers like Russ Howard do with public domain music?

Composers like Russ Howard can rearrange public domain songs without any legal or financial restrictions. They often recombine or recompose these songs to fit the specific mood or tone of a scene, whether it’s upbeat, moody, or even sinister.

How did Russ Howard create a sinister version of 'Joy to the World' for the Christmas slasher 'It’s a Wonderful Knife'?

Russ Howard created a sinister version of 'Joy to the World' by detuning the bells slightly, which made them sound off-key and eerie. This manipulation gave the traditional song a dark and unsettling tone that fit the horror context of the movie.

What is a common musical 'cheat code' for creating a Christmas sound in films?

A common 'cheat code' for achieving a Christmas sound in films is the use of sleigh bells and tinkling bells. These sounds are strongly associated with Christmas and can instantly create a festive atmosphere, regardless of the song.