Christmas may be over, but film maker Spencer Folmar is already planning for next Christmas.
Folmar, who grew up in Clearfield County, attended West Branch Schools before going to Grove City College and then the New York Film Academy. Although he lives in Los Angeles, he has returned to the area several times to film his movies. (Shooting Heroin, Generational Sins, Guilt & Sentence and Fortified.)
His latest project is both a movie and a documentary based on Allen Smith of Philipsburg who has been a popular Santa in the area for years.
Initial shooting for the feature film Saint Nick of Bethlehem began before Thanksgiving in Bethlehem, Pa., the hometown of the star, Daniel Roebuck.
The exterior shots were done early to take advantage of the Christmas decorations in the town, Folmar explained.
Filming then was done in Central PA at the giant Santa Claus and the We Are Inn in Philipsburg, Noah’s Nights of Lights in Morrisdale, Downtown Philipsburg and Allport.
The interior shots will be done in March with an expected release date for the film of Christmas 2024.
Folmar had the idea for the screenplay for a while, but it was after Folmar met Roebuck, that the project “really came together” as Roebuck brought in producers to assist them.
Roebuck also helped with the script and is listed as the co-writer and co-director with Folmar.
It stars Cathy Moriarity, Marsha Dietlin Bennett, Duane Whitaker, Elias Kemuel, Timothy E. Goodwin, Stelio Savante, Jennifer Porrata and Bradford Haynes.
While in Central PA, Folmar began interviewing residents for the documentary Sad Santa & the Healing Power of Giving. In all, he talked with more than 30 people about the impact Smith has had on the area.
The documentary may first be released to film festivals with a general release in December 2025.
Both release dates are subject to change, depending on the time needed to finish editing them.
Folmar is also finishing work on another feature Bright Sky, a western, which he directed in Colorado last summer. This is the first of his movies not to be filmed in Central PA.
How did one man inspire Folmar to produce two films?
“I got to know Allen about 10 years ago. He said he played Santa Claus.”
Folmer described Smith as inspiring because he helped people who were down and out or had special needs.
“He seemed to have a unique take on Santa Claus.”
Smith has played Santa for kids as well as residents of nursing homes. He even converted his garage into Santa’s Workshop for children to get their photos taken with him while they enjoy cookies and cocoa.
Then, about four years ago, tragedy struck Smith when he lost his son.
“I thought it (playing Santa) would be over for him. But just a month later, he was out in the community giving joy to others. His story became even more inspiring,” Folmar said.
Smith, in information on the Web site for the film, saintnickfilm.com, is quoted as saying “I did not want to do Santa this year with everything bad that has happened. Then I thought, I have to be Santa, just like I have been. Yes, I’m brokenhearted from losing my son, but the joy I see in the eyes of other children, makes it hurt less.”
This is Folmar’s first feature documentary, which was “a cool experience” to do. It took two weeks to finish the interviews with Smith and those who know him.
“With a documentary you have to take creative license to fit someone’s life into 90 minutes,” he said.
Folmer’s next project may be a teen suicide prevention film from a script he has been working on for a while.
“It’s so sad and so tragic,” he said noting that he, himself, has lost friends to suicide.
Although his subject matter may seem grim, (suicide and the opioid crisis), on his IMDB page, it states his goal is to “shine light in the darkness by telling stories of hope.”
Shooting Heroin, released in 2020, won him the Best Producer Award at the LAIFF Winter Awards, an Award of Excellence for a Feature Film at the IndieFEST Film Awards, and Best Feature Drama and Best Director at the International Symbolic Art Film Festival.
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If you would like to invest in the documentary, go to https://igg.me/at/sadsanta/x#/.
Folmar has plans to return to the area in the future.
“I love filming here. The community is so supportive and always very kind to me.”