Kat Graham is no stranger to Christmas movies but in 2018 while filming The Holiday Calendar, between teeth chattering and consuming mass quantities of piping hot beverages, the 31-year-old actress couldn’t take it anymore. Graham loves holiday movies and holiday cheer, but production life in the middle of winter required allowing her body to thaw out! Perhaps forever.
That is why Graham was a bit hesitant when she received the script for Operation Christmas Drop. Christmas? Sounds chilly! But this Netflix original is h-o-t! (We’re looking at you, Alexander Ludwig!)
Diving into the script, Graham was pleasantly surprised. Recognized almost as much for being a humanitarian as she is for being an actress, the theme of this seasonal flick seemed tailor-made for someone who celebrates volunteering over vanity. Oh, and did we mention the movie was being shot in Guam?
Operation Christmas Drop is about an independent young professional, Erica, who has her eyes set on a political promotion. Erica (Kat Graham) is ambitious, dedicated, and going places. She works for a tough suit that is looking to cut costs so her boss, quite selfishly, asks Erica to forgo holiday with her family to determine whether or not a beachside Air Force base is a necessary expense. Insert happy-go-lucky Captain Andrew Jantz (Alexander Ludwig) who’s smile is almost as bright as the sunshine. Erica’s serious nature doesn’t quite mesh with the Captain’s chill vibes until she is struck by the amount of good he is doing at the Air Force base and the creativity he uses to execute Operation: Christmas Drop, where gifts and supplies are parachuted to families of remote nearby islands.
Kat Graham explains to The Knockturnal’s Kinsey Schofield (above) how Operation Christmas Drop is inspired by a real humanitarian effort.
Operation Christmas Drop is available to stream right now on Netflix! Happy Holidays!
Kinsey Schofield is a contributor to The Knockturnal and you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.