The film follows a woman named Mac, the reigning champion of the Kris Kringle Cup.
“Reindeer Games Homecoming” is a personal story for the film’s star,Sarah Drew.
Not only is she the leading lady, but she also wrote the script herself.
The true inspiration behind her Christmas film
What inspired you to write “Reindeer Games Homecoming”?
I assumed, “We’ll just hire a writer.”
They said, “No.
You should go home, buy Final Draft, and write it yourself.
You know this story.
You know this world.
We believe you might do it.”
I had my first draft written in three weeks.
I had a very clear outline.
I’d even written bits of scenes inside of the outline already.
That didn’t work out.
How did you choose which Reindeer Games to include?
I wanted things that felt absurd and fun and high octane.
I thought it would be really fun.
I’ve always been a big fan of games.
I’m super competitive.
I like the costume elements.
That’s what I love so much.
If you tell me that your party [has] a theme, I will be there.
I’m less interested in a non-themed party.
[Laughs]
Was there a Reindeer Game that was your favorite to film?
Probably the human dog sled derby.
I didn’t know what to expect.
I didn’t know how it would all turn out, given that we were not shooting in wintertime.
It wound up looking so great, and the details were so fantastic.
It’s like being a kid again.
You said it wasn’t during the winter.
It wasn’t during the winter, but it was still very cold.
[Laughs] So we were trying to block them.
I was like, “No, it’s winter!”
It was a little crazy.
It felt a little intense to … Actually, Justin was like, “You’ve got this.
You’ve got this.”
He was doing the opposite of what my character was doing for him.
We role-reversed when we were getting ready to leap into the water.
You’re like, “Okay, this is my experience now.
There’s no way I can’t do this.
So I did, and I’m like, “Okay, I’m living this reality right now.
This is my reality.”
She also was my biology and AP biology teacher and is a brilliant scientist who has her PhD.
She did scientific research before she started teaching.
There was a time in her life when she thought she might go into the medical field.
She has a million of those T-shirts that have silly science jokes on them.
A lot of Mac is wrapped up in my mom.
They’re really into that stuff.
For one thing, I wanted to make it as big and fun and quick-moving as a …
I wanted it to be a fun ride.
I wanted it to be funny and sexy and moving.
I wanted to have all those different colors of the emotional experience in these characters.
Finding the paths to take was fun.
I just wanted to make a fun story, and then I had to deal with the repercussions.
It was a huge education for me.
There is a constant …
The day-to-day [routine] is that I was activated on all cylinders all the time.
There was very little [time to] chill out, rest, relax.
I basically slept all weekend for all the times that I was there.
It’s very activating, and I felt very alive.
From a writer’s perspective, you’ve got the option to get so attached.
That story is your baby.
To be able to pivot is an amazing skill to have in this business.
That was the biggest thing I learned.
The other thing, [which] I’ve always known I’m good at, is collaboration.
That’s not interesting.”
I want the project to be the best it can be.
I’m a very big believer in “best idea wins.”
“Do we still need that?”
“Actually, I love that idea.
Let’s do that.”
What are we going to do instead?
And how do we make it sing still?"
On reuniting with Justin Bruening
You starred alongside Justin Bruening in this movie.
You two have also played love interests in “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Indivisible.”
What was it like to be reunited for “Reindeer Games Homecoming”?
It was so fun.
Justin and I have now been working together for a decade.
[Laughs]
He’s one of the best.
He’s such a good human, and he is a tremendous collaborator.
He’s such a team player.
On “Indivisible,” I remember, we were running behind.
That is who Justin is.
We adore working together.
It’s always a joy.
Is there a chance we’ll see your character, April Kepner, again eventually?
I don’t know.
Not that I know of.
It often happens very quickly, if it does.
I always love popping back in there and saying hello.
It’s always really, really good to see everybody.
You’ve also talked publicly about wanting a spin-off series about April and Jackson.
Is that a possibility?
What do you want to see happen in that series?
A lot of people keep asking me about that.
I’m not in charge.
It’s not something I’m interested in diving in[to] and writing myself.
[Laughs] It’s up to the powers that be.
Do you want to write another Christmas movie again soon?
I’m working on a few other writing projects right now.
Everything is up in the air, but I’m still very much in writer land.
I’m shooting a movie right now, actually.
I’m in the middle of shooting a Western that I’m also producing.
“Reindeer Games Homecoming” premieres Saturday, November 12 at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on Lifetime.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
