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March 3, 2010 - Vol. 104, No. 34

   STOMPING IN THE SNOW: EVO Films was in Frankenmuth this past weekend to film the feature-length movie “A Christmas Wish” using these youthful Frankenmuth dancers dressed in Bavarian attire. This portion of the movie was filmed in Memorial Park and the Palmer Schau Platz, which was transformed into the North Pole.                             (News photo)

Memorial Park Becomes North Pole for the film "A Christmas Wish"

  One of the things Frankenmuth has been known for is its association with Christmas.

  That association grew stronger last weekend as EVO Films visited the city to produce part of an upcoming movie entitled “A Christmas Wish.”

  The producers used the Palmer Schau Platz most of Saturday for the backdrop, with Memorial Park serving as the North Pole.

  On Sunday, the alley between the shuttered Franken Eck German Restaurant and Gill-Roy’s Complete Hardware was used for another scene in the film.

  Twelve Frankenmuth-area youth were the core dancing group, producing a kick line. The group included Sarah Bergman, Brooke Bowden, Ben Carter, Jordan Crawford, Ashley Fairchild, Taylor Gorman, Haleigh James, Sienna Kotch, Cheyenne Kotch, Nicole Reinert, Brittney Reinert and Nick Veitengruber.

  The core dance group was led by choreographer Ammiee Kotch. The month-long practice sessions for the two dance routines took place at the Frankenmuth Dance Academy.

  The dancers and “extras” were required to wear German attire, including dirndls and lederhosen. 

  Kotch heard about the feature-length movie opportunity when EVO Films inquired about renting Fischer Hall for auditions. Kotch works as an administrative assistant for the Frankenmuth Historical Museum, which oversees Fischer Hall. The auditions took place in late January.

  “The dancers were performing as elves and the park was the North Pole, complete with a Christmas tree,” Kotch said.

  The dance routines were filmed 10am until 1pm, with Kotch working with the writers, director and producer to get a feel of what they were looking for. Kotch counted out the beat with no actual music, as it will be added during editing.

  “I still haven’t heard the song because it is an original score written just for the movie,” Kotch explained.

  After 1pm, community members were invited to be extras, dressed in Bavarian garb, to walk around the “North Pole.” Kotch said about 20 locals and one dog arrived dressed ready to participate “and be a part of the movie magic.”

  On Sunday, Brooke Bowden, Ben Carter, Jordan Crawford, Ashley Fairchild, Taylor Gorman, Sienna Kotch, Shaylynne Kotch, Cheyenne Kotch, Nichole Reinert, Nick Veitengruber, Shiloh Kotch, Frank Kotch and Ammiee Kotch were invited to be extras in the alley scene. Carter, Nicole Reinert and Frank Kotch portrayed bums, Bowden was a street musician, Sienna Kotch was a nun and the rest were townspeople walking about the town.

  “Everyone had a wonderful time despite the cold temperatures and long hours,” Kotch noted.

  The basis of the film is as follows: “It’s going to be the first Christmas at the North Pole without Mrs. Claus and Santa is pretty bummed. On the day before Christmas Eve, Santa’s reindeer, Blitzen, flies him to the city so he can meet a woman to take to the annual Christmas Ball celebration at the North Pole. Things go from bad to worse when Blitzen goes missing, his sleigh is towed, and Santa loses his magic dust leaving him stranded in the city. It will take a miracle to save Christmas for Santa and the children of the world.”

  The production crew is not done in Frankenmuth. They plan to film a hip hop routine at the Dance Academy using a “green screen” and it will be inserted into the movie.

  The film will be unveiled in January, 2011 at the Film Festival in Utah. Depending on how well it does, it will make its Michigan debut in Ann Arbor. Eventually DVDs will be made of the movie for purchase.

  “This is the first feature EVO Films has green lit in Michigan. We have a tremendous amount of community support from the people of Frankenmuth who are extremely cooperative in providing us with terrific shooting and casting locations. We are really excited to show our audience what we can do here,” Director Gregory J. Monette said.