Before Christmas

FORMAT | GENRE | RELEASE

Narrative Short | Dramatic Holiday Puppet Film | 2013

OVERVIEW

This holiday drama focuses on an unnamed elderly man, portrayed by a puppet, who finds himself alone on Christmas eve. Beguiled by the loss of someone very close to him, the old man struggles to find his place in the world- only to make the most unusual of friends in the process. The film was co-produced by Future-Self Productions and Monolopolus Productions for the Holiday 48 Hour Film Fest in NY where it won six awards, including Audience Choice Awards and Best Director.

SYNOPSIS

An old widower finds friendship in the most unlikely of company on Christmas Eve. Spending the entire night with a homeless man known only as Santa, the old man comes to realize the meaning of letting go.

TEAM

Written and directed by Ryan Monolopolus. Produced by Trevor Boyd and Jeremy Cournyea. Puppetry by Future Self Productions, Adam Kreutinger and Cameron Garrity. Director of Photography Brandon Zarbo.

IMDb

Monolopolus Productions presents a short film in collaboration with puppeteering company Future Self Productions: Before Christmas. This film was made for the Buffalo 48 Hour Holiday Film Festival in November of 2013 and has screened throughout the USA. Show in Buffalo, NY and the surrounding Metro area, this film won six awards at the festival including: Best Directing, Best Writing, Best cinematography, Best Use of line, Honorable mention for Best Actor (Scot A. Kaitonowski) and Audience Choice Award. Before Christmas is a short ballad to an aging American generation that often struggles to maintain a sense of purpose and relevance in todays arguably "throw away" world. The main character, a nameless old man, finds himself alone on Christmas Eve after the death of his wife some years ago. The old man sets out into the city where he encounters someone quite opposite of himself- a homeless man known only as Santa (Scot A. Kaitanowski). Together, the two find solace in each other and build an unlikely friendship before christmas. Produced by Trevor Boyd, Jeremy Counryea and Ryan Monolopolus. Monolopolus Productions 2013. www.mono-productions.com

“Its always before Christmas, that I remember how much you meant to me.”

— Old man, Before Christmas