BPS 346: Directing The #1 Christmas Film On Netflix With Janeen And Michael Damian

Michael Damian is an award-winning actor, singer, director, writer,
and producer. He first gained recognition for his 18-year run in
the role of rock star Danny Romalotti on the #1-rated daytime
television drama, THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS. On the stage front,
Damian starred as “Joseph” in the Broadway production of the Andrew
Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice musical JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR
DREAMCOAT, which broke box office records in both Los Angeles and
on Broadway and earned Damian a Grammy nomination.

In addition to his Broadway career, Damian has released five albums
and has had eight Top 40 hits, including the smash single “Rock
On,” which shot up the Billboard music charts landing at #1 and
garnering Damian two gold records.Damian won the BMI Song-writing
Award for his hit single, “Was It Nothing at All,” and has also
written and produced songs for the soundtracks of A PRINCESS FOR
CHRISTMAS, FLICKA 2, FLICKA: COUNTRY PRIDE, MARLEY & ME: THE
PUPPY YEARS and SWEETER SIDE OF LIFE. Damian has also enjoyed a
prolific career behind the camera and has
co-written/directed/produced 15 films and television movies.He is a
filmmaking partner with his wife Janeen Damian and most recently
co-wrote, directed and produced Hallmark’s #1 movie of the year for
2020, CHRISTMAS WALTZ. Some of his other recent credits include the
feature film HIGH STRUNG FREE DANCE and its predecessor, HIGH
STRUNG, Lionsgate’s holiday romantic comedy, A PRINCESS FOR
CHRISTMAS, which starred Sir Roger Moore and Sam Heughan
(Outlander) and launched Hallmark’s smash hit Princess Christmas
franchise.

Janeen Damian is an American writer, director, and producer of film
and television. Together with her husband, Michael Damian she has
made 15 feature films and TV movies. This year she co-wrote and
produced the #1 add-supported cable movie of the year for 2020,
CHRISTMAS WALTZ. She also co-wrote and produced the award- winning
feature films HIGH STRUNG and HIGH STRUNG FREE DANCE which were
released theatrically worldwide and distributed by Sony and Disney.
Ms. Damian also co-wrote and produced A PRINCESS FOR CHRISTMAS
starring Sam Heughan and Sir Roger Moore and distributed by
Lionsgate and received Hallmark’s highest ratings for the year
launching their original Christmas Princess franchise. The Damians
went on to co-write A ROYAL CHRISTMAS and A CROWN FOR CHRISTMAS.All
three films air annually on Hallmark’s power rotation with
continued high ratings.

Some of Ms. Damian’s other Filmmaking credits include 20th Century
Fox’s MARLEY & ME THE PUPPY YEARS and the popular reboot of the
Flicka franchise, FLICKA 2 and FLICKA COUNTRY PRIDE starring Clint
Black and MOONDANCE ALEXANDER, which starred Don Johnson and
garnered Ms. Damian best screenplay honors at L.A. Femme Film
Festival.She also co-wrote and produced THE SWEETER SIDE OF LIFE,
starring Katherine Morris and James Best. LOVE BY DESIGN starring
Jane Seymour and David Oakes, and the award-winning independent
feature film HOT TAMALE starring Jason Priestly and Randy Spelling.
She co-directed the TV Pilot RED EYE for France’s #1 television
broadcaster, TF1. She also co-directed the award-winning film
FINDERS KEEPERS starring James Best.The Damians went on to co-write
A CROWN FOR CHRISTMAS and A ROYAL CHRISTMAS. Damian also directed
three films for 20th Century Fox: FLICKA 2, MARLEY & ME: THE
PUPPY YEARS (which he also wrote), and FLICKA: COUNTRY PRIDE
starring Clint Black.

He directed, wrote, and produced the feature film MOONDANCE
ALEXANDER, which was also released by 20th Century Fox, and
romantic comedies SWEETER SIDE OF LIFE and LOVE BY DESIGN. Damian
also co-wrote, directed, and produced the indie crime comedy HOT
TAMALE and co-wrote and co-directed the television pilot Red Eye
for France’s TF1 network, which he also starred in.Falling for
Christmas is about a young, newly engaged heiress who has a skiing
accident the days before Christmas. After she is diagnosed with
amnesia, she finds herself in the care of the handsome cabin owner
and his daughter.
Enjoy my conversation with Janeen and Michael Damian.




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