There’s something magical about a holiday movie, isn’t it? Even the Grinchiest of people can find something to like when the Christmas spirit hits the silver screen. The music, the decorations, the treats…they’re all part of the experience, and it is an absolute delight.

You might also have a friend who regularly hosts a holiday party, bringing friends and family together for a last soiree before the new year. For one Los Angeles neighborhood, Christine Weatherup is that friend. And her annual party was part of the inspiration for See You Next Christmas, a film she wrote, directed, and acted in.

We’re talking about the process of making See You Next Christmas, what it’s like to shoot a movie in your own home, and one of Christine’s worst moments on a movie set.