The Book

"Christmas Through the Eyes of Santa"

An excerpt from chapter one...

I love telling stories, especially about Santa visits. Whenever I share a Santa story, people smile and often tell me, “You should write a book.” My response is always, yes, someday I will finish the book, “Christmas Through the Eyes of Santa.” I think now it is time. Not time to just write a book, but time to share some of the many stories I have collected from 33 years of wearing the big red suit. It is time to write the book and help you, the reader, embrace both the simplicity and complexity of Santa. As I captured my thoughts and stories and gathered the photos and children's wish lists spanning over 3 decades, I laughed and I cried. I remembered not only the children and visits but also the inherent and awesome responsibility of being Santa.

"Santa is in his workshop and neither toys nor cookies can keep a smile on his face, but how will Mrs. Claus and the elves bring joy back to Santa?"

Below is the draft of the screenplay...

"Santa in July - based on a true story" 

(good for media) 

Note the brandable connection that brings the long sought-after, “Christmas in July’

One summer afternoon, in mid-July, Erik and Frances were sitting in a local restaurant (brand placement/partner opportunity).  On the other side of the restaurant sat a family with several children. As Frances and Erik sat and talked, Frances said to Erik, “You’re not listening to me." He replied, “Yes I am.” With the infinite wisdom of a wife, she politely said, “No, you are not. You keep looking at the children on the other side of the room and they keep looking at you.

"You have not visited with children since last Christmas. Please go visit with those children. Then come back with that Santa smile on your face and then can talk.” 

Beaming with delight, he quickly rose and, after visiting with the children, he returned and merrily continued their conversation. 

Logline:

Santa is in his workshop and neither toys nor cookies can keep a smile on his face, but how will Mrs. Claus and the elves bring joy back to Santa?

Premise 

We all need the love and kindness of others to be truly happy. In this movie, Santa represents that a part of all of us needs interaction with others, of all ages, to be truly happy.

Protagonist - Santa

Screenplay and outline:

Opening scene: From high above the slowly spinning earth, we gently travel down through the clouds and the swirling snow. As if traveling by a magical sleigh, we seem to dip and slowly float toward the ground. We begin to see what appears to be a colorful and somewhat magical-looking village. We slowly circle and begin to hear faint sounds of bright laughter, and, is that holiday music? The tinkering sounds of joyful, busy workers come from what appears to be a large workshop. Gathered about we see, still from a distance, what at first appears to be children scurrying about, laughing with much delight, carrying toys, and playing with each other. 

Next to the workshop, we begin to see reindeer playing games. And joyfully bounding among them, are those unicorns we see?

The view fills us with happiness and joy. As our eyes adjust to this magical sight. We begin to see what at first appear to be children, but wait, are they each wearing a colorful, pointed hat? And look, their shoes curl up at the toes in a whimsical fashion. As the swirling snow begins to clear, are those long pointed ears their hats are resting upon?  Could it be...as our vision begins to clear and our hearts begin to swell, could it be? Could they be? Are they really Santa's elves? 

The gentle snow again begins to swirl our view through more of this magical village. We begin to see what looks like a stable for horses, but there are neither saddles nor horses. Our vision again clears for a moment as we see elegant hand-crafted signs over each stall with golden-edged letters. Dasher. Dancer. Prancer. Vixen. Comet. Cupid. Donner. Blitzen. Then finally, a sign with a hint of red... yes, it says Rudolf. Could this really be? Is this the stables where the reindeer of our childhood dreams 

We then continue our journey of wonders and pass by a plain small sleigh with one set of reins. (important for later). 

The music begins to swell with mounting pomp and circumstance as our eyes next behold...a grand sleigh. This sleigh is a bit larger, with rigging and reins for a whole team to pull. The ornately carved sleigh is red with golden runners and bells ready to jingle. We see a single, wide seat. Delicately perched behind, but within easy reach, is an empty, large ornate bag with nine bells attached to a wide golden rope ready to cinch up a load of precious cargo.

Can this truly be? 

Yes, it is Santa’s sleigh!

As we leave the stables, we enter into a grand building.

The music becomes merry and bright - Christmas music!

Inside we see a table with a colorfully adorned tall chair. On the table are two very large books. They appear to be very ancient books with gold letters on the front. Yes, these are the famous Naughty and Nice Lists. Perched on the table, in front of the books, (the books will be important later in this movie and in movie #2) we see a large magnifying glass and a large quill pen. 

We continue into a room with a cozy warm fireplace with two large, overstuffed chairs with matching footrests. The walls are adorned with Wish Lists and a large Christmas tree is decorated with gifts from children. (these will be the real lists and gifts given to Santa over the last 30 years) 

Are these chairs for Santa and Mrs. Claus? 

 Continuing to the next room, we see Mrs. Claus smiling and busy in the kitchen making cookies and hot chocolate. Some of the elves are with her, smiling, laughing, and busily helping.

Our journey continues into a cavernous workshop. Yes, they truly are the elves busy making toys. 

(Note: the elves are children scouted from around the world and brought to Hollywood along with their families for the shooting. This scouting is also to determine how SantaHelpingChildren.org can help the children in their communities)

Continuing the flowing views…

The elves are busy making toys. Some are using tablets and smartphones, and some are even wearing smartwatches. We see the elves referring to big screens that show the numbers of their toy-making progress. 

(the numbers are real numbers provided by the manufacturers of Legos, Barbie, etc. Important for marketing bits, product placement, and soliciting movie partners) We see children's name tags on each toy. Our view continues down what seems like an endless workshop to a large open entry to, our first view of Santa!

Santa is at his workbench.

Santa is not busy making toys.

Santa is not happy.

Santa looks sad.

Mrs. Claus brings a plate of fresh, warm cookies and Santa’s face lights up as he thanks Mrs. Claus, takes a bite…then sadly puts it down on the plate and pushes it away.

The elves bring in a mug of steaming hot chocolate.

Santa's face lights up as he takes a sip.

The elves smile.

Santa puts the mug down and looks even more sad.

Mrs. Claus looks worried.

The elves look worried.

Some elves bring Santa a few toys.

Santa brightens up and starts playing with the toys.

Santa puts the toys down and is sad again.

The elves are all buzzing…what’s wrong with Santa?

Rudolf comes in and affectionally nuzzles Santa.

Santa smiles and hugs Rudolf, but he is still sad. 

Rudolf looks worried.

The buzz of concern is growing throughout the workshop.

Mrs. Claus invites Santa to sit in front of the fire.

Mrs. Claus asks Santa how he is feeling.

Santa just shrugs.

Mrs. Claus ponders…what could be the cause of Santa’s sadness?

She slowly and knowingly smiles.

Does Mrs. Claus know the cause of Santa’s sadness?

Mrs. Claus talks a little about how happy the children were last Christmas and how happy Santa becomes when he visits with the children.

Santa smiles with memories…he remembers and talks about a few of the children. (the stories he tells will be real stories, excerpts from the book. Some of those children will become characters in the second movie)

Mrs. Claus politely suggests, "Santa, you need to visit some children."

Santa’s face beams, Mrs. Claus smiles, and the elves all smile and nod with approval!

Santa excitedly creates a plan…"Call in the reindeer and ready the sleigh. Bring in my favorite red suit and hat, and my boots with the white furry trim!"

Mrs. Claus politely reminds Santa that the reindeer can only fly on Christmas Eve, that is part of the Christmas Magic.

Santa ponders a bit. The elves whisper ideas to each other and shrug their shoulders.

Mrs. Claus suggests, “Santa, everyone will be confused if you wear your red suit, they will think it is Christmas in July! What if you just wear regular clothes?  A pair of regular pants, maybe your favorite red shirt, and of course your shiny red shoes, (back stories will include a pair of Nike (brand placement) shoes that Erik has worn for years for special occasions. They always bring delight to others, and Erik) topped off with a regular hat. I could pack you some cookies and carrots for Rudolf. You two would take the one-reindeer sleigh, ride across the frozen tundra, and visit some children."

She then politely reminds Rudolf, "Remember, Rudolf, your nose only glows on Christmas Eve. It would take a miracle for your nose to glow any other time. (this is a connection to a scene in movie #2) I am sure the elves could fasten a flashlight to the front of the small one-reindeer sleigh.”

Santa booms out, "What a great idea Mrs. Claus, you are so smart! What could I ever do without you!" 

Giving her a polite kiss on the cheek, Santa jumps for joy and all the elves join in, dancing around together with Santa. Mrs. Claus smiles at the revelry.

The whole workshop buzzes while everything is readied. We see the elves working on the one-reindeer sleigh, attaching the flashlight and hitching up Rudolf. Mrs. Claus gently sets a plate of cookies and a few carrots down on the seat.

Mrs. Claus watches and nods approvingly. She places a warm blanket on Santa. (the blanket is a large white hand-made afghan Erik's sister made as a wedding gift - more of the true stories woven into the movie to make it real - media teasers)

Giving Santa a hug and warm goodbye, she affectionately pats Rudolf and steps back to join the elves gathered together for a joyful sendoff.

Now we see Santa and Rudolf riding across the snow waving a fond farewell. From Santa’s Village, we see Mrs. Claus and the elves joyfully waving. We see the reindeer, and a few unicorns, all smiling at Santa and Rudolf. 

(with the same flowing graphic movements from the beginning) 

As they travel they talk about how wonderful it will be to visit children again. They smile and munch on their cookies and carrots. They wonder how long it will take to reach some children. 

Santa closes his eyes and says, "I trust you, Rudolf!" as he begins a long winter's nap.

The scene magically fades to Santa and Rudolf arriving just outside a pleasant and happy town somewhere. They park the sleigh behind a grove of trees. With puzzled looks, Rudolf and Santa say to each other. "Where are we?" Santa says, almost as a question, “Maybe, Rudolf, Christmas magic is not just during the holidays, it can happen all year long.” Rudolf sees some of his friends near the village, the elk, the deer, the moose, and all his other friends who live in the forest. Smiling at Rudolf, Santa gives a nod of approval as Rudolf runs off to play.

Because of his appearance, Santa will have opportunities to talk to children in stores, restaurants, in a park, etc. Two young children stop to look at Santa. One, matter-of-factly says, “Oh, Santa, now I understand how you watch us all year, you just put on regular clothes.” And the second child says, “And he will eat a lot of cookies.” (This is based on a true story that happened one July - hence the movie is based on a true story)

(some of the children from the first movie will be featured in the second movie)

Santa begins to walk through the town. He smiles at folks as they pass by. When he sees a young person holding a door open for another, Santa makes a polite comment, "That is a nice thing to do!"

Santa sees a school bus stopped and children bounding down the steps with their backpacks and lunch pails in hand, ready to go home. He sees a car that stopped for the children and he looks at the driver, smiles, and quietly says, that was a nice thing to do.

Santa stops to watch some children playing in a park. When he sees a child pushing another on a swing, he smiles and nods approvingly. One child is sitting quietly with his mother. He looks a little different than the rest. The others are not letting him join in the fun.  (invoking memories of the song, Rudolf) As Santa walks by he smiles and, calmly says to the child, "We are all different. One day they will understand you and ask you to join in the fun. Then he winks at the child." The mother looks at her child and says, "I love you, you are so nice." Suddenly, a few of the other children approach the child and ask if they will join them and play in the sandbox. The child looks at their mother, then at Santa, and smiles with delight!

(Because the premise of the second movie is Santa’s purpose, his true mission, is helping everyone be on the Nice List, the interactions all center around Santa complimenting and praising children, of all ages, for being nice, and politely helping those who are not being nice to change their ways. Each time a child talks to Santa and he comments that they are being nice, we see the Nice & Naughty books at the North Pole, and we see the child’s name on the Nice List. It glows and a swirl of stars forms a big check mark next to their name, then fades away and we see smaller swirls checking upon other names on the same page. Those names are the real names of the workshop elves who by appearance are from around the world. For some children, we see Santa talking to a child and we see their name on the Naughty List, As Santa helps that child and they begin to understand how to change their behavior, we see their name on the Naughty List rise up as a swirl of dust from the Naughty List and transformed into a swirl of stars that whisps across to the Nice List and floats down onto the page, highlighted with a big check mark of stars.)

One scene would include Santa sitting in a park on a bright, sunny day with local stores along the street. He hears music coming from somewhere across the street. 

Following the sound, he sees a family-oriented gathering place across the street. He properly uses the crosswalk, waving at the drivers that stop for him. (each person smiles back and we see their name on the Nice List highlighted with the check mark) He hurries towards the music. He enters a spacious, warm, and brightly lit roomful of families enjoying a meal and visiting with each other. Santa smiles as he passes each table. When the eyes of a child, and the adults, light up with recognition, he winks at them and their family and friends around them, are almost magically flooded with happiness. 

He moves slowly around the edge of the group, smiling at everyone he sees, and arrives at the side of the stage where a musical group is entertaining the audience. The band is apparently local and dressed in casual clothes. The players are, a piano player, dressed in regular clothes (maybe Elton John), a cellist (maybe Yo Yo Ma), and a few other famous artists, looking and acting unpretentious, just like “normal” folks. Santa likes the music. His smile grows and he starts nodding in time with the music! 

The band members look at the band leader. 

The band leader looks at Santa. 

The band leader looks perplexed towards the other members of the band.  

The band leader looks carefully at Santa, who then, laying a finger aside his nose, and giving a nod and a wink (although a wink was not in the famous story, ‘Twas the night…, this wink will set a new, brandable iconic image).

The band leader turns to the band and, giving them the same inspired wink, they all smile broadly.

Santa walks through the crowd and stops at a few tables.  At each table, Santa winks at one of the adults whose back is to the camera. The person rises out of their seat, everyone at the table smiles, and the person walks onto the stage and begins singing with the band. 

Santa then walks onto the stage and pulling a harmonica out of his pocket, he joins in with the band. Together their song drifts into a brief medley of Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Ode to Joy, and Joy to the World, then goes back into the original song. (the audience members he has invited to the stage are all well-known stars, joining as back-up singers. Each of them are gently swaying together as they sing. We notice that instead of their normal strutting about on stage, each is almost motionless except for their gentle swaying in unison with the music. Imaging Mick Jagger and Tina Turner not strutting about but singing together!)

When the song is over, he nods to the cheering audience, then to the smiling band, with The-Wink. He leaves with a big smile, waving at the audience. 

As he walks out the door, he holds it open for a family just entering. They are a little surprised to hear the applause from inside. They smile at Santa and he smiles back, saying, "What a wonderful place, and the band is pretty good." Then, Santa gives them, The-Wink.

Several other scenes with children focus on how to be on the Nice List, whether they are currently on the Nice or Naughty List. Critical because this is the premise of the final movie.

Santa decides it is time to go home and share his adventures with Mrs. Claus, the elves, and the reindeer. He walks to the edge of town and sees Rudolf in the distance. Rudolf looks at Santa, and just with a slight glow of his nose (this will connect to a scene in movie #2) he says goodbye to his friends. 

Together they walk behind the grove of trees to the sleigh. Santa hitches Rudolf to the one-reindeer sleigh and checks the flashlight. 

Full of happiness and joy they travel through the swirling snow and arrive at the North Pole, greeted by a smiling Mrs. Claus and all the happy and cheering elves and reindeer.

The movie ends by showing the elves happy in the workshop. Some are checking the production numbers of toys. (the production numbers are provided by respective toy manufacturers. Again we see tags on each toy with a child's name. Santa is sitting next to Mrs. Claus in their big, overstuffed chairs. Mrs. Claus passes a plate of cookies to Santa. Santa looks so happy. Mrs. Claus looks so pleased. One of the elves hands Santa a cup of hot chocolate. Santa takes a bite of a cookie and a sip of steaming hot chocolate, and, with marshmallows sticking to the snowy white, curled ends of his broad mustache, he winks to the camera and laughs with a big Ho! Ho! Ho!

...and beams the biggest smile ever!

"Only three days until Christmas and Santa discovers that some of the children he visited last summer are on the Naughty List, but he would need a miracle to save them and still be ready for Christmas Eve, can he do it?"

Protagonist - Santa

The overriding premise is that Santa helps children to be on the Nice List, and until every child is on the Nice List, the Christmas Magic cannot happen.

Nothing catastrophic happens - no monsters, no lost presents, no coal.

The screenplay outline is being created...

"He's making a list, checking it twice..."

Scroll down for:

• VISION AND MISSION STATEMENTS
• SWOT ANALYSIS
• GOALS, IMMEDIATE ACTION STEPS and TIMELINE
• LEGAL STRUCTURE & CONTACT INFO

• SWOT ANALYSIS

1. STRENGTHS 

• Helping children is a common cause
• Santa is the most recognized person on earth
• Book is intended for adults
• Movies are family movies
• Movies have no negative major disasters or villains.

Current audiences: 

• 30+ years of Santa visits
• 13k LinkedIn followers
• 4.3 friends
• Significant professional presence in the Kitchen & Bath Industry ($180b) - Erik was named a Top 50 Innovator for 2019
• Occupational Therapy industry – 5 years national conference speaker
• National Association of Home Builders, plus several other national associations

Business Plan

Book and movies are intertwined. 

Business goals are Smart, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, & Time Bound 

Poised to become the world's most iconic and successful worldwide fundraising for children.

2. WEAKNESS

– Finding teams and money

3. OPPORTUNITIES

· 1.2 Billion Children Worldwide Are Living in Poverty

· Partner with existing organizations that need financial assistance to meet children’s needs

· Create new programs as needed,  based on research during movie actor talent search – the Elves are from communities around the world!

4. THREATS 

· Other Santa books 

· Other Santa movies

· Other Children fundraisers 

BUSINESS STRUCTURE & CONTACT INFO

· Domains - SantaHelpingChildren.org and SantaHelpingChildren.com are reserved

· USTPO and 501(c)(3) need to be filed

The corporation's name and street address;Santa Helping Children
Name and street address of the registered agent for service of process:

Erik Listou, 5376 South High Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439

The name and address of each incorporator--this is the person who signs the articles, it doesn't have to be a member of the nonprofit:

Erik Listou 5376 South High Rd, Evergreen, CO 80439

The corporation will have voting members:

Yes, one voting member, Erik Listou

Purpose clause providing that the corporation is organized for an exempt purpose--these include charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, or certain other purposes:

PURPOSE: Santa Helping Children is a non-profit corporation created for the purpose of helping children worldwide primarily through raising and distributing funds through existing and new programs. The nonprofit will not engage in activities unrelated to its exempt purposes or prohibited political or legislative activity, and if the corporation is dissolved the corporation's assets will dedicated to another 501(c)(3) organization or to the government upon dissolution. 

Contact 720-581-0277 or Santa@SantaAndMrs.com