A Hallmark-inspired film, “The Spirit of Pella Christmas,” was filmed in Pella over the weekend. The short film featured local talent in the script as well as behind the camera as former Sully resident Monte Goodyk, shown on the far right with cast and crew, served as a co-creator, cameraman, editor, and more.
It’s the time of year when many are tuning into their favorite Christmas Hallmark movie or catching a new movie release while cozied up with their favorite blanket and sipping hot chocolate. It’s been said the Sully town square could have been a setting for a Hallmark movie this past weekend during the Sully Christmas Celebration. But not far from Sully, the city of Pella was just that, a beautiful backdrop for the filming of “The Spirit of Pella Christmas.” A few locals played important roles in making this feel-good, Hallmark-like short film.
Monte Goodyk, raised in Sully, a former Sully resident, and now a resident of Pella, was one of the masterminds behind the idea of this film and had a key part as the man behind the camera. Goodyk works for the City of Pella where he manages Pella TV for Pella Fiber, a subsidiary of City of Pella. His job is to create content for three local Pella TV channels. Channel 40 is known as the government channel, Channel 41 covers Central College, and Channel 42 features Pella Community Schools and Pella Christian Schools.
Goodyk is the idea generator behind the content of these channels and makes them happen, always working to promote the city of Pella.
Over a year ago, colleagues Christi Vander Voort and Goodyk discussed making a Christmas short film featuring the lovely city of Pella. But due to time constraints, the two put the idea on the back-burner. Fast forward to September 2024, and the duo decided to bring the concept to fruition. Vander Voort reached out to the leading lady who knew the actor who became the leading man. Vander Voort also made connections with her co-host of the “The Healing Her” podcast, Donna Durham, whose husband is a professor who teaches script writing and film in Nashville, TN. Goodyk and Vander Voort had amazing visions of what they wanted from this project, but having an experienced screenwriter on the team was just what they needed to make the idea a reality! Jamey Durham agreed to direct the film for only his expenses to come to Iowa.
The cast and crew included Andy Johnson, Cashen Thompson, Dane Stevenson, Hailey Swan, Jamey Durham, Robert Roos, Vander Voort, and Goodyk. Locals were encouraged to come out on Friday and Saturday, Dec 6-7, as well. “We put the call out for area locals to be extras and were surprised to have over 30 show up,” shared Goodyk. When the time came to film on Saturday, one key member of any Christmas movie was missing. “We had a miscommunication with Pella’s Sinterklass (Dutch Saint Nicholas), and his suit was returned before the filming began. I reached out to my dad, Marv Goodyk, to see if the Sully Lions still had a Santa suit.” Marv said he could do even better than a suit, he could give the names of Santa and Mrs. Claus who just finished up in Sully. Goodyk reached out to Donavan and Ruth Van Wyk of rural Sully, and they said yes. “We initially only had Santa scripted into the scene but after the director saw Mrs. Claus, we just had to include her too!” smiled Goodyk. The Van Wyks’ scene featured a Christmas kiss between the two and a wink from Santa.
“It’s a typical Hallmark-style movie, where the small-town girl comes home for Christmas and runs into her old boyfriend and falls in love again,” shared Goodyk. The film will feature several known landmarks in Pella with the grand finale being the epic love scene at the lighted tunnel in Central Park. Locals may also recognize footage taken on Franklin Street by the Klokkenspel, the Tulip Toren Christmas Tree, and the Pella Mural behind the Peanut Pub. The second biggest scene took place in Mindi Vanden Bosh’s office at Vermeer Manufacturing. The Cheesemaker’s Inn owned by Rob Bandstra will also be featured.
Currently, the crew is editing the short film, and they hope it will be able to air the week of Dec. 15. “It will for sure air before Christmas,” concluded Goodyk. Local Pella residents can watch the five-to-10-minute film on Channel 40. Others can find “The Spirit of Pella Christmas” through links on social media through the Spirit of Pella’s and Pella Fiber’s Facebook pages and YouTube channels. Also, the TV station WHO Channel 13 did a segment on the filming of the movie and will have a link on their website as well.
