Basic Pitch

We fall for Lifetime's Holly's Holiday, with producer Hayley Pogue.  Today's Special Intro: https://youtu.be/-4b-H4R43Yg Here's a brief history of the mannequin: https://blog.mannequinmadness.com/2016/05/curious-history-mannequins-check-smithsonian-article/      

It’s Sex and the Savanna with Netflix’s Holiday In The Wild, with screenwiter and actress Mary O’Neil, co-writer of Second Chance Christmas.  To learn more about elephant conservation charities, Elephant & Co has a good guide: https://www.elephantand.co/blogs/blog/world-wide-elephant-charities And if you want to paint a portrait of an elephant with Kristin Davis:  https://emptyeasel.com/2013/09/16/how-to-paint-portraits-from-photographs-a-step-by-step-oil-paint-tutorial/

In another outtake from our Bad Ben episode, Jared Rivet tells us the sad tale of his one Christmas project.

Your Old Drinkin' Buddy @JDobbsRosa and @jaredrivet1 let @PaulaHaifley risk answering the door while we talk about Bad Ben's Night Before Christmas in an outtake. Again go throw some dough at https://www.patreon.com/nigelbach/ for making real indie cinema. Happy Boxing Day, Pitchers!

Your Old Drinkin' Buddy JDobbs takes the wheel for his newest favoritest Christmas special, Bad Ben's Night Before Christmas. While he spins a love letter to Nigel Bach's Ban Ben franchise, Holly Jolly hostess Paula and guest screenwriter/actor Jared Rivet, writer on Are You Afraid of the Dark (2019), try to keep up. For more info on the Bad Ben 'verse: https://www.facebook.com/BadBenMovie/ Currently you can only catch the special through Bach's Patreon, which JDobbs highly recommends throwing a few dollars at: https://www.patreon.com/nigelbach/        

We bear down with Netflix's A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby with screenwriter Jeremy Adams, writer on Supernatural and Scooby Doo.  Here's our episodes on A Christmas Prince &  A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding Here's some great tips on throwing a modern, co-ed baby shower: https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/news/a11711/how-to-throw-a-baby-shower-dos-and-donts/ Follow Jeremy Adams Follow Basic Pitch on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.     

We never respond to Freeform’s Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas with filmmaker Trent Haaga, writer/director of 68 Kill. Here’s a starter on blending your own (ghost) tea: https://blog.teabox.com/diy-tea-blends And some cocktail recipes from our favorite tiki drink anthropologist: https://beachbumberry.com/recipes.html

We drink The Spirit of Christmas, with screenwriter Guy Yosub, writer of Mistletoe & Menorahs.    More info about rum running:  http://prohibition.themobmuseum.org/the-history/the-rise-of-organized-crime/rum-running/   Here's our favorite rum runner recipe from Beachbum Barry: 1 1/2 oz fresh lime juice 7/8 oz blackberry brandy 7/8 oz creme de fbanana 5/8 oz grenadine 3/4 oz 151 proof Caribbean rum   fill blender half way with ice, add ingredients, blend until smooth

We stand in the rain, declaring our love to Lifetime’s Four Christmases and a Wedding with screenwriter Jace Anderson, who’s worked with legendary horror directors Tobe Hooper, Clive Barker and Dario Argento. Want to find a Dasher of your own? Here's some good advice on adopting an adult dog: https://thebark.com/content/advice-adopting-adult-rescue-dog

On the 7th Knight of Pitchmas we binge Netflix's The Knight Before Christmas, with filmmaker Darin Scott, one of the creators of the Tales From The Hood series.  Check out the trailer for Darin's amazing Directorial Debut Caught Up: https://youtu.be/QpOR_OTGeWE We demand a Criterion release!  Here's more facts about Christmas trees, which Paula skimmed and then pretended to know all about: https://www.history.com/topics/christmas/history-of-christmas-trees      

We illuminate Lifetime’s You Light Up My Christmas with actress Grey DeLisle-Griffin, who voices Daphne, Wonder Woman, the Loud House sisters, and many many more. You can follow Grey on Twitter @GreyDeLisle.    Also throw @jdobbsrosa and @paulahaifley a follow if you enjoyed the pod.   To learn more about the history of Christmas lights, The Smithsonian has a good primer: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/untangling-history-christmas-lights-180961140/   And here's some fun trivia about The Facts of Life: https://www.theloop.ca/17-facts-you-probably-didnt-know-about-the-facts-of-life/

We search for A Christmas Miracle with filmmaker Sam Wineman, writer/ director of The Quiet Room. Donate to Sam’s AIDS/LifeCycle fundraiser at tofighthiv.org/goto/samwineman, which funds The Los Angeles LGBT Center and The San Francisco AIDS Foundation, two wonderful charities. Supporters can get a free copy of Sam’s holiday albums The Warmest Fire and Snow Covered.  You can find out more about the LA LGBT center here: lalgbtcenter.org And more about The San Francisco AIDS Foundation here: www.sfaf.org

We head into the Sears portrait studio with Hallmark’s Picture a Perfect Christmas with screenwriter Jeffrey Reddick, creator of the Final Destination franchise.   Go Follow Jeffrey on Twitter @JeffreyaReddick If you've just been cast as the Fifth Reindeer, here's the full poem to help you learn your lines: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43171/a-visit-from-st-nicholas

We've never been kissed by Hallmark's The Mistletoe Secret with director Chelsea Stardust and actor/writer Sean Keller, director and co-writer of Hulu's All That We Destroy.  To get Sean Keller's new holiday anthem Holy Fucking Shit Its Christmas, it's only $1 at https://seankeller2.bandcamp.com/track/holy-fucking-shit-its-christmas? Want to try a mistletoe martini? Try one of these recipes:  https://dishesdelish.com/mistletoe-martini/ https://www.liquor.com/recipes/chopin-mistletoe-martini/ https://mixthatdrink.com/mistletoe-martini/  

We cannot tell a lie about Freeform's The Truth About Christmas with screenwriter Josh Miller, writer on Sonic The Hedgehog (2020). Follow Basic Pitch on Instagram and Twitter @BasicPitchPod and on Facebook @BasicPitchPodcast. Follow guest Josh Miller on Instagram @josh_s_miller, his podcast Best Movies Never Made @NeverMadeFilm and his LA film series Friday Night Frights @FriNightFrights If you've recently recovered from a Santa-based toy curse, here's an article on how to run for city council: https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/4xw8mj/how-to-run-for-office-with-no-money-and-little-experience

We're baking for two with Lifetime's A Sweet Christmas Romance with screenwriter Samantha Herman, writer of Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen and Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday. Check out this recipe for a Sticky Toffee Pudding! https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/sticky-toffee-pudding

We start our countdown to Hanukkah with a Guy Yosub interview, writer of Lifetime’s Mistletoe & Menorahs, premiering tomorrow.

We score on Black Friday with our Samantha Herman interview, writer of new Hallmark films Sense, Sensibility & Snowmen and Angel Falls: A Novel Holiday

We catch up on sleep with Amazon’s An Hour Behind, starring Barry Watson, with guest Michael Kennedy, writer of Blumhouse’s upcoming body swapping thriller and co-host of Attack of the Queerwolf.

We score a touchdown with Hallmark’s Love On the Sidelines, starring Emily Kinney, with guest Samantha Herman, screenwriter.

We count down to Hallmark's Royal New Year’s Eve, starring Jessy Schram, with guest Buz Wallick, producer. 

We stay up with Freeform’s No Sleep ‘Til Christmas, starring Odette Annable, with guest Katie Rife, film critic for the A.V. Club.

“It’s Christmas Prince meets Christmas at the Palace!” We play the Elevator Pitch game and discuss the ephemeral nature of the made for TV Christmas film.

Lifetime or Hallmark? We guess the network, and discuss the princely trend of royals in Christmas movies.

Lacey Chabert or Alicia Witt? We play guess the actress and discuss the besties of the made for TV Christmas movie.  

We unbox Freeform’s Life-Size 2, starring Tyra Banks, with guests Spooky Dan Walker and Tammy Sutton Walker, the director/co-writer and executive producer of Slay Belles.

We propose to Netflix’s A Christmas Prince: The Royal Wedding, starring Rose McIver, with guest Rebekah McKendry, co-writer/director of All The Creatures Were Stirring.

We reminisce with Hallmark’s Memories of Christmas, starring Christina Milian, with guest Nathan Scoll, co-writer of American Fork.

We investigate Netflix’s A Christmas Prince, starring Rose McIver, with guest Rebekah McKendry, co-writer/director of All the Creatures Were Stirring.

We sing along with Lifetime’s Jingle Belle, starring Tatyana Ali, with guest Katie Rife, film critic for the A.V. Club.

We skate through Hallmark’s Christmas At The Palace, starring Merritt Patterson, with guest Jared Rivet, writer of Jackals and Earbud Theater.

We crack open Lifetime’s A Very Nutty Christmas, starring Melissa Joan Hart and Barry Watson, with guest Yancy Berns, screenwriter and blogger.

We time travel with Hallmark’s Journey Back to Christmas, starringCandace Cameron-Bure, with guest Heidi Honeycutt, director of programming for Etheria Film Festival.

We waltz into Hallmark’s Christmas Dance, starring Andrew McCarthy, with guest Mike Mendez, director of Don’t Kill It and Lavalantula.        

We hash out Hallmark's A Veteran's Christmas, starring Sean Faris, with guest Jared Rivet, writer of Jackals and Earbud Theater.

We dissect Netflix’s The Princess Switch, starring Vanessa Hudgens and Vanessa Hudgens with guest Karina Wilson, writer and story consultant.

We discuss Lifetime's My Christmas Inn starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict with guest Josh Miller, creator Golan of Insatiable and writer of the 2019's Sonic the Hedgehog movie.  Now with fixed audio thanks to a heads up from listener and friend of the Podcast, Robert LaRoe Silvey.