Entertainment
Christmas movie production reaches new record

Settling down in front of feel-good festive movies has become a modern Christmas tradition – and has driven the production of seasonal films to record-breaking levels this year.
More than 200 new feature films and TV movies with the word Christmas in the title are listed on the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) for release in 2021.
That number has doubled since 2016 and is four times more than in 2011.
Channels and streamers have discovered festive films are big ratings winners.
Christmas movies have been popular for decades, and classics like Home Alone, Love Actually and It’s A Wonderful Life will be widely watched again in the coming weeks.
But the boom in a new breed of festive films can be traced back to the Hallmark US cable channel’s decision to launch a special season of TV movies in 2009.
Its first Countdown To Christmas featured four original productions and delivered record audiences.
This year, its countdown started even earlier, on 22 October, and includes a record 42 original holiday films.
Boyfriends Of Christmas Past is one of Hallmark’s 42 original festive films this year
“They bet really big on Christmas and everyone else seemed to notice the ratings,” says Brandon Gray, co-host of the Deck the Hallmark podcast and one of the authors of a new book called I’ll Be Home for Christmas Movies.
Rival channel Lifetime was among those to take notice and has made 35 of its own Christmas crowd-pleasers this year, also its highest number yet.
Streaming platforms are tapping into the seasonal demand too, with Netflix offering a dozen original films starring big names like John Cleese, Kelsey Grammar and Brooke Shields.

The IMDB numbers only include movies with “Christmas” in the title, meaning the true number of festive films is even higher.
This season’s big cinema releases include Silent Night, starring Keira Knightley, and Aml Ameen’s Boxing Day, which also stars Little Mix’s Leigh-Anne Pinnock.
When it comes to made-for-TV movies, many are relatively low-budget and use a feel-good formula to tell stories of romance and family – and are cosy and comforting enough to cancel out being corny and cheesy.
“It’s this magical season when the storyline that’s on the screen doesn’t matter as long as there’s a bunch of Christmas trees in the background and it’s snowing,” says Gray.
“For viewers, it’s just a way to escape and to feel for at least two hours this little bit of peace in the midst of the craziness of the holiday season and the craziness of the world in which we have lived in the last couple years.”
Successful formula
Hallmark built its festive empire on films that look and feel the same, Gray says.
“They have the same aesthetic because they figured out what works: ‘If we keep everything basically uniform – not too funny, not too sad – people will go from one movie to the next.’
“So you have the two people that fall in love and there’s some sort of misunderstanding with about 30 minutes to go and then they’ll figure it out, and they’ll kiss.
“And you do it over and over again, and as long as it looks uniform and feels uniform, people will watch one after the other.”
This year is the best crop of films so far, Gray says – partly because channels like Hallmark are beginning to experiment with that formula.
“Especially this year, I feel the change, where they’re putting more emphasis on different types of stories,” he says. “They’re working hard with inclusion and making sure that the stories that are being told match what you’re seeing on the screen.
“So it’s no longer them just putting a person of colour on screen in a white world, but they’re actually telling stories that feel authentic to who you’re watching on screen.”
In the UK, some of those TV movies have been playing on the Great! Movies Christmas channel since 23 September, and on Channel 5 in the daytimes since early November.
Source: graphic.com.gh
Entertainment
Beauty pageants aren’t outdated — Inna Patty

Chief Executive Officer of Exclusive Events Ghana, organisers of Miss Ghana, Inna Patty, has dismissed claims that beauty pageants have outlived their relevance.
She insists pageants such as Miss Ghana have evolved into an empowerment platform that develops female leaders rather than celebrating physical beauty.
Speaking with Daily Graphic, Inna Patty said Miss Ghana, the country’s oldest beauty pageant had deliberately shifted its focus from glamorous prizes to producing socially conscious women capable of leading change in their communities.
The criticism only holds true if a pageant remains strictly superficial. Miss Ghana remains deeply relevant because we long ago pivoted from material-centric prizes to human development and social intervention through the Miss Ghana Foundation and Miss World’s Beauty With a Purpose. We are an empowerment programme disguised as a pageant.”
According to her, at a time when society is demanding stronger female leadership and greater social responsibility, Miss Ghana continues to distinguish itself by placing emphasis on project management, philanthropy, leadership and intellectual development.
She explained that contestants are expected to go beyond the runway by identifying pressing social issues, developing practical solutions and mobilising resources to execute impactful community projects.
“Contestants do not just speak about charity. They are required to identify pressing community needs, draft viable project proposals and actively raise funds to implement them. This transforms them from passive observers into active civic leaders who understand the mechanics of sustainable social impact,” she noted.
Inna Patty added that the pageant has consistently produced positive role models for young Ghanaian girls by highlighting women whose achievements are defined by their intelligence, compassion and service to society.
“We have redefined what a role model looks like for the next generation. By showcasing young women who are brilliant, articulate, educated and deeply compassionate, we teach young girls that their worth is defined by their intellect, character and contribution to society,” she said.
Her comments come as Miss Ghana prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, a milestone she described as a testament to the pageant’s resilience and enduring relevance.
“Reaching seven decades is a monumental milestone that underscores our resilience, institutional strength and enduring relevance. It is a celebration of a legacy that is inextricably linked to the history of Ghana itself,” she stated.
She recalled that the pageant was initiated by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, adding that historical records indicate Parliament once allocated funds for its organisation, underscoring its importance as a national project.
Entertainment
Beauty pageants aren’t outdated —Inna Patty

Chief Executive Officer of Exclusive Events Ghana, organisers of Miss Ghana, Inna Patty, has dismissed claims that beauty pageants have outlived their relevance.
She insists pageants such as Miss Ghana have evolved into an empowerment platform that develops female leaders rather than celebrating physical beauty.
Speaking with Daily Graphic, Inna Patty said Miss Ghana, the country’s oldest beauty pageant had deliberately shifted its focus from glamorous prizes to producing socially conscious women capable of leading change in their communities.
The criticism only holds true if a pageant remains strictly superficial. Miss Ghana remains deeply relevant because we long ago pivoted from material-centric prizes to human development and social intervention through the Miss Ghana Foundation and Miss World’s Beauty With a Purpose. We are an empowerment programme disguised as a pageant.”
According to her, at a time when society is demanding stronger female leadership and greater social responsibility, Miss Ghana continues to distinguish itself by placing emphasis on project management, philanthropy, leadership and intellectual development.
She explained that contestants are expected to go beyond the runway by identifying pressing social issues, developing practical solutions and mobilising resources to execute impactful community projects.
“Contestants do not just speak about charity. They are required to identify pressing community needs, draft viable project proposals and actively raise funds to implement them. This transforms them from passive observers into active civic leaders who understand the mechanics of sustainable social impact,” she noted
Inna Patty added that the pageant has consistently produced positive role models for young Ghanaian girls by highlighting women whose achievements are defined by their intelligence, compassion and service to society.
“We have redefined what a role model looks like for the next generation. By showcasing young women who are brilliant, articulate, educated and deeply compassionate, we teach young girls that their worth is defined by their intellect, character and contribution to society,” she said.
Her comments come as Miss Ghana prepares to celebrate its 70th anniversary next year, a milestone she described as a testament to the pageant’s resilience and enduring relevance.
“Reaching seven decades is a monumental milestone that underscores our resilience, institutional strength and enduring relevance. It is a celebration of a legacy that is inextricably linked to the history of Ghana itself,” she stated.
She recalled that the pageant was initiated by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, adding that historical records indicate Parliament once allocated funds for its organisation, underscoring its importance as a national project.
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