The Christmas Letter
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Every year, Joe Michaels, an unemployed copywriter, finds himself in a familiar and uncomfortable position: reading his wealthy friend's extravagant Christmas letter. This annual tradition, meant to spread holiday cheer, instead serves as a painful reminder of Joe's current struggles. With every word of his friend’s letter detailing vacations, new investments, and family triumphs, Joe’s insecurities deepen. He can’t help but feel like a failure. His own life, filled with missed opportunities and a lack of direction, seems to pale in comparison. The glossy pictures of success in his friend’s letter only highlight the contrast between his life and the life he dreams of living.
For Joe, the holiday season becomes a time of reflection, but not in a positive way. As the Christmas cards begin to pile up, with each one showing smiling families and extravagant parties, he starts to believe that everyone around him has it all figured out. Meanwhile, he’s stuck in a dead-end job, struggling to make ends meet. His creativity, which once flourished as a copywriter, now feels like a distant memory. Joe's career has stalled, and his personal life seems to be in a similar state of disarray. Each year, he tells himself that next Christmas will be different, but it never is. The same feelings of inadequacy and disappointment always seem to resurface.
But this year, Joe is determined to make a change. Instead of simply enduring his friend's yearly update, he plans to take action. He’s tired of feeling like a loser, tired of comparing himself to others and never measuring up. This Christmas, he promises himself, will mark the turning point in his life. He starts by rethinking his approach to work and his creative abilities. As a copywriter, he knows that his skills are valuable, but he hasn’t been able to find a way to translate them into a fulfilling career. In the days leading up to Christmas, Joe sets a goal: to rediscover his passion for writing and to pursue it with determination.
His plan begins with small, but meaningful steps. Joe spends time revisiting old projects he’s worked on, reminiscing about the creativity he once poured into his writing. He also begins networking with old colleagues and seeking advice from others in the industry. Joe realizes that the key to moving forward isn’t to compare himself to his friend’s success, but to focus on his own growth and improvement. With each new connection he makes and each project he works on, he feels more empowered and optimistic about his future.
As Christmas day approaches, Joe’s mindset begins to shift. He’s no longer trapped by feelings of envy or self-doubt. Instead, he’s filled with a sense of purpose and excitement about what lies ahead. The Christmas letter, which once served as a painful reminder of everything he lacked, becomes a symbol of how far he’s come. This year, Joe Michaels isn't just reading about success; he's creating his own path toward it. It’s a Christmas of self-reflection, growth, and newfound hope.
Director: Tori Hunter
Cast: Angus Benfield, Booch O'Connell, Brian Doyle-Murray, Brian Posehn, Caley Chase, Chevy Chase, Emma Hullar, Jeremy Warner, Judah Bonza, Kevyn Morrow, Kristoffer Polaha, Randy Quaid
