BY DANI TIETZ
dani@sjodaily.com
Thoughts of gingerbread and sugar plums may be leaving the minds of St. Joseph residents, but the setting for a Christmas tale is coming to life at Geschenk Boutique and Coffee and Tea Haus located at 228 E Lincoln St.
Robin Christian, a screenwriter who has also directed and produced movies such as “Disconnect,” “Act Your Age,” “Below” and “Crab Orchard,” took on the Christmas story set in a cafe near Fargo, N.D..
St. Joseph’s Geschenk Coffee Haus was chosen for the film’s main location after Christian looked at about 30-downstate cafes.
“It was the right size and had a charm that fit the story,” Christian said. “Most were too modern, or too old.”
Geschenk Coffee Haus owner Kathy Lyons said the process has been a whirlwind since she first met with Christian over a year ago.
“I thought this was a hoax, she said. “We have certainly learned differently. I still can’t quite believe it.”
To ready the space for cast and crew, Lyons had to make some changes to her quaint shop.
“We rearranged some of our seasonal merchandise to accommodate more furniture for the movie, but other than that we didn’t need to do much,” Lyons said. “The primary focus is on the coffee shop although the boutique next door has been set up to look like a popcorn shop on the outside.”
While the focus will remain on the coffee shop, seasonal touches have also been made to areas of Lincoln Street.
“They have hung lights on local businesses and homes for instance,” Lyons said.
Filming will run from Jan. 2 until Jan. 16, roughly.
Geschenk Coffee Haus hours will change during that time to accommodate filming.
“We will be open 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and Saturdays 8 a.m.-2 p.m.,” Lyons said.
But Lyons also looks at this as an opportunity to expand the menu for the year.
“We will be catering for the cast and crew and are looking to turn those meals into available options for our customers later in January, maybe sooner,” she said.
Learning about the film industry has been a welcome experience for Lyons.
“Things move fast but almost seem last minute,” she said. “I was surprised when I sat down with Robin at Thanksgiving that the script had just been completed and actors were still be signed to the movie.
“Also, a large part of the crew is local and had not met before this film. They were meeting each other as I was also meeting them. Amazing how fast they all pull together and make things happen.”
Lyons said that she is hopeful that she will be able to meet a few of the actors, as well.
“That would be icing on the cake,” she said.
Christian said that additional scenes will be filmed in 15 different locations, including 10 in North Dakota.
Lyons said that this opportunity is going to shine a light on a “cute, quaint” St. Joseph.
“We are honored to be a part of the film and represent the town in this way,” she said.
To find out more information on how to be an extra in the movie, which does not have a title or release date at this point, contact Alison Lecouris at lecouris@illinois.edu.
