Hey everyone! I’m excited to give you a behind-the-scenes look at Johnny Jr., a short film written and directed by my sister, Lily Andrews. What started as a funny family moment became an award-winning holiday dark comedy. Here's how a simple idea turned into a film that's been recognized at festivals around the world.
How It All Started
The inspiration for Johnny Jr. came one night while we were watching this home video where mom caught me lying and told me she was going to send the video to Santa.
Lily thought: "What if Johnny Jr. was a real kid who grew up not knowing why he didn’t get any presents?" That idea turned into a 9-minute holiday dark comedy.
About the Film
Johnny Jr. is a holiday dark comedy short, running 9 minutes and 20 seconds. It tells the story of a boy who hasn’t received a Christmas present from Santa for 11 years. When he learns that another boy’s lie is behind the years of disappointment, Johnny Jr. decides that this year's gift will be unforgettable: revenge. The film is packed with holiday spirit, suspense, and Lily’s signature dark humor.
I play myself in the film, while the role of Johnny Jr. is brought to life by Will Halaas. The cast and crew were a mix of friends and family, which made filming a lot of fun.
Behind the Scenes Highlights
Filming Johnny Jr. came with its fair share of funny moments. One of the standout memories was shooting the cop scene outside the Halaas house. We used a white Subaru Outback and a plug-in cop light that my mom held up to get the light on our faces. It was so realistic that the Halaas family even got a text from a neighbor asking if everything was okay because they saw "police activity" in the cul-de-sac. I thought that was funny.
One of my favorite scenes to film was the chase scene through downtown Enumclaw. The streets were lit up, and it felt like we were inside a dark Hallmark movie. There was one impromptu moment that didn’t make the final cut, where Will and I had a piano battle on two outdoor pianos from a music store. Even though it didn’t make the film, you can catch it in my acting reel.
A fun detail that most people don’t notice is the scene where Johnny Jr. walks through a shop and destroys some ornaments. Those ornaments were actually from the dollar store, and we placed them in the gift shop at Thomasson Family Farm with their permission. They blended perfectly with the rest of the decor, making it hard to tell which ones we brought in!
Recognition and Awards
Johnny Jr. has gained significant attention, with selections and awards from several festivals, including:
• Youth Diversity Film Festival - Official Selection 2024
• Reale Film Festival - Honorable Mention 2024
• Madrid International Short Film Festival - Official Selection 2024
• Flint Youth Film Festival - Official Selection 2024
• New York Tri-State International Film Festival - Official Selection 2024
• Roma Short Film Festival - Official Selection 2024
• Round the Globe Film Festival - WINNER Best Original Holiday Short Film 2024
• Fort Smith International Film Festival - Finalist 2024
• Los Angeles Movie & Music Video Awards - Official Selection 2024
• New York Film & Cinematography Awards - Official Selection 2024
• International Gold Awards - Official Selection 2024
• RED MOVIE AWARDS - Official Selection 2024
• SacFilm Challenge - Official Selection 2024
• Everything Holiday Film & Screenplay Feedback Contest - WINNER Best Actor (Holiday Short) William Halaas 2024
• Student Los Angeles Film Awards - Finalist 2024
• Florence Film Awards - WINNER Silver Award: Student Film 2024
• Paris Film Awards - WINNER Gold Award: Student Film 2024
• LA Film & Documentary Award - Official Selection 2024
• Hollywood Best Indie Film Awards - Official Selection 2024
• Ridgway Independent Film Fest - Official Selection 2024
• New York Movie Awards - WINNER Best Actor (William Halaas) 2024
• Los Angeles Short Film Award - Official Selection 2024
• SF3 Smartphone Film Festival - Finalist 2024
• Yule Film Fest - Official Selection 2024
Lily’s work has been recognized for its creativity, and seeing her direct and bring this project to life has been incredible. Lily’s always coming up with new ideas, and I’m always up for acting in whatever she dreams up. If my sister asks, I’m there!
Have you ever made something fun with your siblings? Let me know in the comments, and as always, remember to keep on shivering!
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