Screenwriter considers original made-for-TV movie about Red River

The Red River Business Alliance is fundraising money to purchase the rights to a Hallmark movie script written by Karen Schaler, a screenwriter who has written movie scripts for Hallmark, Lifetime and Netflix, as well as several Christmas novels.

Matt Dietz, president of the Red River Business Alliance, said in a letter to the community that he reached out to Schaler at the beginning of 2022 and made a “prospective inquiry” with the Emmy-award winning screenplay writer, who penned the Netflix movie "A Christmas Prince" and Lifetime's "Every Day is Christmas."

Dietz said in the letter that Schaler was “more than an author, she is in fact, the human embodiment of Christmas.”

After some back and forth conversations, Dietz said Schaler made the decision to “entertain the possibility of writing an original screenplay” about the town of Red River, with the goal of promoting the area. The movie would be made for television.

“After much discussion with economic development, Mayor [Linda] Calhoun and our honorable council members, the Red River Business Alliance, in cooperation with the chamber of commerce, has made the decision to take responsibility for this project in hopes to see it through to fruition,” continued Dietz. “We've all said it, and I know we truly believe this little mountain town is ‘like a Hallmark movie town.' Now, we have a potential opportunity to become a Hallmark

Movie.”

In order to purchase the script, The Red River Business Alliance needs to raise approximately $65,000. So far, the alliance has raised $19,800 in contributions from 26 local businesses. They plan to sponsor a raffle to help raise more money.

Those who feel like making donations can contact Matt Dietz at matt@dietzmail.net. Donations are taxdeductible.