Chicago-Made Holiday Movie ‘Reporting for Christmas’ Premieres on Hulu November 1st

The uplifting, family-friendly holiday movie Reporting for Christmas will premiere on Hulu November 1, where it will be streaming exclusively this holiday season. The film will also be available to  rent or purchase on major TVOD/EST platforms, including Amazon, Apple TV, Google Play, and Vudu. 

Reporting for Christmas follows idealistic reporter Mary Romero on an assignment to do a puff piece about a Christmas toy manufacturer and the charming toymaker who inspires Mary to search her heart to find true happiness. 

Here is your first look at the movie…

The film was directed by award-winning, Chicago-based filmmaker Jack C. Newell (Christmas with Felicity) and stars Tamara Feldman (The CW’s Gossip Girl, Walker), Matt Trudeau (NBC’s Chicago Fire, ABC’s  General Hospital), Kelvin John Davis (Showtime’s The First Lady, NBC’s Chicago P.D.), Maura Kidwell (Hulu’s The Bear, USA’s Sirens), D.B. Sweeney (The Cutting Edge, Eight Men Out), and more. 

Reporting for Christmas is primarily set in the fictitious town of Brunswick, Iowa, but most of the movie was shot  on location in Historic Downtown Long Grove, which Fox News named one of “The ten best Christmas towns  in America” in 2021. Long Grove staples Brothers’ Field, Country House, Enzo & Lucia Ristorante, Sock  Monkey Museum, and The Village Tavern are among the many local businesses featured in the film. 

Additional photography took place at educational toy manufacturer Learning Resources and its sister company,  hand2mind, in Vernon Hills with CEO Rick Woldenberg and his family making cameos. Filming also took  place at The Cherry Tree Inn B&B in Woodstock, which cinephiles will recognize as the iconic bed & breakfast  from Bill Murray’s Groundhog Day, as well as various locations in downtown Chicago, including WTTW’s  Chicago Production Center and Italian Village Restaurants. 

Reporting for Christmas is the second holiday title from Very Merry Entertainment, a joint venture between the Illinois-based Throughline Films and Argonaut Entertainment Partners. Throughline partners John W. Bosher and Chris Charles produced the film. Argonaut’s Jonathan Bross, Long Grove’s own Michael Okun, Vanessa Shapiro of Nicely Entertainment, and Feldman served as executive producers along with Ted Reilly, Kelly Aisthorpe Waller, John Waller, and Markie Glassgow of Chicago Media Angels. 

Post-Production was done at Journeywork Entertainment and Noisefloor in Chicago. Nicely is handling  worldwide distribution and arranged the premiere on Hulu. 

“Long Grove and the surrounding area couldn’t be a more ideal backdrop for Christmas movies,” said Bosher.  “We’re grateful to all the communities and businesses for welcoming us with open arms.” The producers remain  true to their word by creating local jobs in addition to providing everyone involved exposure to a global audience. “We’re huge fans of Hulu and couldn’t be happier partnering with them for the release of this film,” added Charles.

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