By Jefferson Jay

Does saying what you’re about seem simple? In just a few words, can you describe who you are or what you do? It may sound easy, but once we start to choose the words, it can quickly get very complicated.

What you want to say may be your focus but how it is said is equally important. Words matter. We sought out the best in the business to consult us on best practices for The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit.

What Is A Pitch Deck?

Title slide from The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit’s 2022 Pitch Deck.

In preparing our pitch materials, we learned we needed a pitch deck. A pitch deck is a slide-show-like document that illustrates the best reasons a project is irresistibly great. Pitch decks feature mission statements, pictures, quotes and statistics that support the power of the project.

Our goals include doing as right as possible by all the people The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit aims to authentically represent. In researching for our pitch deck we came upon some work by an advocacy group called RespectAbility. We were impressed by their efforts for inclusivity and we reached out to introduce ourselves.

RespectAbility’s 2019 Summer Lab Alumni visiting The Walt Disney Company Lot in Burbank, California.

Making Friends

We were delighted when RespectAbility agreed to review our pitch documents and other assets. We met with Jacquill, Vanni, and Isabella from RespectAbility in a Zoom. We were moved by their enthusiasm for their work and their appreciation for what we are doing and how we are doing it.

After a few weeks to take in our animatic, pitch deck, and master pitch (elevator pitch), they provided a thick and thoughtful account of how we need to clarify our points and hone our message.

Diversity Crowd Art by GraphicPapa

Kindness Counts

This was very generous of them to share their time, effort, and expertise. It will greatly help us be our best for our future audience. We took their points very seriously and penned answers to every single one. They were thorough. There were many. 

Jacquill and Vanni said they were impressed that we took the time to address every point. Talking through our answers with them allowed us to share our perspective more completely and led to an illuminating discussion. We made several adjustments based on their feedback and they were pleased with our explanations overall. It was a shiny day.

Mega Gratitude

We are super grateful RespectAbility exists and hugely humble and happy that they have been so generous and supportive. The Good Vibe and our efforts to share our positive experiences in inclusivity are proud to have found not only a consultant, but a friend, in RespectAbility.

We applaud RespectAblity’s efforts to create a more equitable and inclusive landscape in entertainment and humbly give our voice to the cause for authentic representation in entertainment.

By Jefferson Jay

Before I was asked to write and direct The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit (then titled The Hunt for the Great Christmas Tree) I was having a great time as a music therapist at a day center for adults with developmental disabilities in El Cajon, CA. I loved it and found it impossible to be in a bad mood once I walked through those doors and connected with the clientele.

My position as a music therapist enabled me to work with all the different people who went there. There was a wide range of folks, including those with severe conditions. I enjoyed working with everybody, but some folks in each group really shone. These standouts shared electrifying personalities and profound gratitude. 

Mirroring Gratitude

My musical choices would get people fired up: some singing and dancing. Their enthusiasm was contagious. I, too, would get super jazzed from the interactions. One of my favorite singing-partners there was Christina Cali. Her energy, comedy, and charm delighted me and I cherished every chance I got to connect with her.

Christina Cali dressed as the Magic Snowwoman backstage.

Christina was born to perform. A large number of serious, potentially life-threatening conditions made some things difficult for Christina, but she remained irrepressible. She lit up like The Great Christmas Tree in the spotlight and I adored our interactions and collaboration.

The Keys to the Kingdom

When the opportunity to write and direct the holiday musical arose, Christina was cast as the original Magic Snowwoman. She was great: so much personality and talent. Because Christina is blind, I needed to manifest a Braille script for her so she could rehearse and memorize her part.

Christina Cali (seated in a snowy wheelchair on the right) performs as The Magic Snowwoman on stage alongside the cast of <i>The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit’s</i> Pearl kids (left) and her mobility assistant (far right).

San Diego is a big and vibrant city, but there was only one place to get a Braille script printed at that time: Tom Treher, also blind, did it himself in his downtown apartment. I hope to feature Tom in an upcoming blog.

Many Years Later

I miss Christina’s company and magnetism. I hope to have the chance to work with her again. There are lots of overlooked folks with tremendous talent. It may require a bit more effort to provide them with the opportunity and tools (like a Braille script) to succeed, but it is most definitely worth it. 

Like so many things in life, you get out what you put in. Christina helped teach me that. A great attitude can carry us through even the darkest days. If you appreciate and cherish the moments we share, you’ll never walk (or wheel) alone. Great gratitude and blessings make every day special.

By Jefferson Jay

Before The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit was imagined as an animated series, The Hunt for the Great Christmas Tree was a stage show starring adults with neurodivergent disabilities. The year was 2014 and that show changed everything in my life. That show is now our series’ pilot episode and I am immensely grateful.

When One Door Closes, Another Door Opens…

One of the first speed bumps we hit in staging our initial episode involved our actress cast for Kid 1. She needed to resign from the show a few weeks into rehearsal and I was briefly concerned about who we’d get to fill the role of the eldest Pearl kid.

I asked some of the amazing staff I worked with and their suggestions led me to Sam Dupree. Immediately, my concerns vanished. When I think of that moment, I still smile and feel at ease. It was huge for The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit.

Sam Dupree portrays Kid 1 in the live action stage production of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit and is the voice actor of the animated version.

Sam, He Is; Novice, He Is Not

Sam is easy going, ambitious, and an extremely talented actor and singer. He had performed in many plays prior to meeting me and has exceptional abilities to match pitch, memorize parts, and harmonize. He has advanced specialized skills.

Sam played a perfect Kid 1 in all four staged episodes of our show, including 2017’s “The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit: A Christmas, Carole” in which he played Kid 1 as Scrooge to perfection. It was a hot show and not just because it was 85 degrees in El Cajon, CA on the December day of our performance.

Sam Dupree (in blue, right of center) sings at the microphone on stage, surrounded by the cast of the live action The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit (2017).

Sam has laundry lists of projects he aims to star in once establishing himself as an artist. He has dozens of classics he hopes to reimagine on the stage or the screen some time down the road. When he re-entered my studio to bring Kid 1 to life once again, it was like he had been playing him for the entire eight years since we started.

Superior Skills

He rehearsed the materials with less time to prepare than his co-stars, but his incredible ability to memorize and reproduce line-readings allowed him to step up and fully fill Kid 1’s shoes. His voice is perfect for this role and voice-acting in general, due to its sweet and genuine qualities.

Sam Dupree (left) and Jefferson Jay (right) performing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” at fundraiser Fashion Show.

Sam and I get along very easily and I find him a joy to collaborate with. The work is smooth, fun and highly productive. I worked with Sam to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” several years back for a fundraising event. I was happy to learn he is singing it again at this year’s big event. These relationships are the gift that keeps on giving to everyone involved.

Sam is a wonderful, talented, young man. Thanks to guys like him, The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit is some deeply gratifying work. I hope I can see him get the chance to pursue all his dreams. He calls me a lot and checks in on the progress of our project and reminds me that Kid 1 is here for me. I am glad to know him. We could all use that kind of support.

Sam Dupree (left) and Jefferson Jay (right) after a successful recording session.

By Jefferson Jay

In last week’s blog, I wrote about our wonderful experiences working with Anthony Whiteford. I loved directing him when The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit was a stage show and was sad when he moved away. I hoped in my heart to get the chance to work with him again somehow some day.

It’s Like Magic…But It’s Real

In 2018, when The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit began its journey as an animated series, I dreamed of reuniting with members of our original cast. I had stayed in touch with folks as best I could, although with a pandemic and several other factors, finding, much less RECORDING voice actors, was a challenge. But when you stick with people, it comes back around in ways beyond imagination.

Persistence and resilience will show their value over time. As years passed, I stayed in touch with Anthony’s dad, Paul, after their move to Ohio and finally, earlier this year, I called him about the real prospect of Anthony recording his old part of Kid 4 at a studio near their Ohio home.

Paul took my call and told me they had moved to West Virginia. He was pleased with our progress and was happy to have Anthony participate in our project. Anthony was also excited. So was I. Next Step: Find a studio in West Virginia to record Anthony.

A recording room at Big River Media.

Navigating to the Big River

My first call was a dark warning about ongoing events in their area. A frightened fellow answered. He wished me luck, in hushed tones relating that their industry had been ravaged by the opioid crisis. He thought everybody working in recording and production had either died or left.

After that first foreboding phone call, I rang Big River Media (formerly Big River Records) in Dunbar, West Virginia. I caught Karen on my call and it was clear right away that this was a perfect fit. Chemistry, destiny, call it what you will: Karen was moved by our mission with The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit and felt confident that her husband/partner Tony, the recording engineer, would be, too.

We both got progressively more excited as the conversation continued. Big River Media had extensive experience with all kinds of clientele, a true spectrum of talent. We penciled in a date and I confirmed it with Anthony.

Studio space at Big River Media.

Capable and Compassionate

Weeks later, the date arrived. I would have loved to be there in West Virginia, but felt great knowing the task was in such capable, compassionate hands. Tony and Karen reported afterwards that the recording session went GREAT. Tony told me Anthony was excellent, that he was able to overdub the lines as they came up and went by. Anthony was able to place them in the spot perfectly. This is difficult to do.

Placing lines precisely is not the only task our actors pulled off professionally. The circumstances of several of our voice actors did not allow for much rehearsal. Many of them delivered powerful performances based on the ability to remember lines they said in 2014. We all have incredible different talents to share. That is the point of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit. Sharing that is our reason to be.

Scene from the Pilot Episode.

Sharing Is…

We had several hugely gratifying productive recording sessions a few months ago. It was a special time. We look forward to sharing more animated, voiced clips with you in our upcoming trailer. Working with these actors is what started this mission and has been my favorite part the whole time. I was glad Karen, Tony, Paul and the whole Big River crew got to share in that, too. To The Whitefords and everyone at Big River Media, our heartfelt thank you.

To learn more about Big River Media, check out their website here.

Workspace where the magic happens at Big River Media.

By Jefferson Jay

In 2014, I was summoned to the office at a day center for adults with disabilities, where I was a music therapist. They offered me the opportunity to write and direct the holiday musical. I accepted instantly and The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit (then known as The Hunt for the Great Christmas Tree) was born. A short time later, I held auditions and an unfamiliar face answered the casting call. This was the first time I met Anthony Whiteford.

Anthony Whiteford: A Star Is Born

In my few months working at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center in El Cajon, California, I had gotten to know many of the colorful characters around campus personally. It was rare to meet someone I didn’t recognize. Anthony was quiet and introspective, so that part made sense. He was also very talented and earned himself the role of Kid 4, even though he had never acted in a play.

Anthony Whiteford (front and right of center) sings at the mic as Kid 4 in the 2014 production of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit.

Anthony brought a workman-like approach to rehearsals, always well-prepared and pleasant. He was naturally funny, completely respectful, and kind. He memorized his lines quickly. When the performance day arrived, Anthony excelled. He even captured the attention of the director of a local theater group, and was invited to audition for another show.

Anthony earned himself a role in Shrek: The Musical, starring an inclusive cast. The leading role! He was Shrek! Apparently, others saw the same thing I did: Anthony is a gifted actor.

Anthony Whiteford plays the titular character in Shrek: The Musical (2015).

I went to that show. Anthony was an awesome Shrek. He had tons of lines and authored an entirely excellent performance. I was so proud of him and humbled to be part of his journey. I was eager to work with him again as soon as possible.

The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit alumni Anthony Whiteford (right) as Shrek and Bryce Johnson (left) as Donkey.

States Apart, Heads Together

Anthony appeared in all four The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit episodes that I directed, and was the quintessential Kid 4. When we adapted our plays into an animated series, I hoped to add Anthony to our cast as a voice actor, but he had moved, years back, to Ohio. I did what I could to stay in touch with his dad Paul for years.

When I reconnected with them in February 2022, Anthony and his family had moved again, this time to West Virginia. In a touching story slated for an upcoming blog, we were blessed to find Big River Records, a very special recording studio in West Virginia.

Anthony reprised the role of Kid 4, and was again professional and excellent. We here at The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit are beyond thrilled to have Anthony and The Whiteford Family as partners on the path to full inclusion.

Anthony Whiteford (right) as Kid 4 and Bryce Johnson (left) as The Great Christmas Tree.

By Jefferson Jay

After I directed the first episode of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit, (then called The Hunt for the Great Christmas Tree), our cast lost one of its principal actors. When I asked a colleague who she thought would be a suitable replacement, she lit up, and answered enthusiastically, “Michael Mercadante.” I had recently seen Michael in a performance of Shrek. He played Pinocchio. I was excited to meet him.

Talent Scouted

Michael met and exceeded my colleague’s praise. Professional, polite, and a great teammate to his fellow actors, Michael added a lot to our production instantly. As The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit began its transformation into an animated series, I eagerly awaited the opportunity to reconnect with him on this project.

From left to right, Sam Dupree as Kid 1, Michael Mercadante as Kid 3, Anthony Wardlow as Kid 4, Clayton Hauer as Snow Angel, and Bryce Johnson as the Great Christmas Tree in the 2015 production of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit.

I had been conversing with Michael’s parents, Sean and Karen, about this in 2020. Michael was doing other projects as well including appearing in Jason Mraz’s February 2020 inclusive showcase, “Shine.” Then the pandemic happened. Just as we were beginning to record our actors, society stopped and production paused. Our reconnection would have to wait two more years.

A New Road

Finally, in March 2022, Michael and his mother Karen arrived at The Good Vibe’s recording studio, and what a splendid reunion it was! Karen, Michael and I were all excited. As he did on stage from 2015-2017, Michael brought his best self and his considerable talents to the task. 90 minutes of recording later, we were all smiles.

Jefferson Jay, Karen Mercadante, and Michael Mercadante take a stroll along the beach after recording Kid 3’s lines.

Celebrating the Journey

We visited the nearby beach to celebrate. A moment for commemorative photography and reflection, we committed to connecting more in the spirit of this blessed creative experience. We looked out over the great sea and basked in our humble, yet ambitious endeavor. Karen said her husband had a friend at The Hallmark Channel. Seemed appropriate, as at that moment, life was so satisfying and sweet, it may as well have been a greeting card.

Thank you so much to Michael for sharing his kindness and charisma. Thanks to Karen and Sean for all they do with and for Michael. The Mercadantes are a shining example of the power of love, gratitude, and a positive attitude and we at The Good Vibe are humbled to work with them.

By Jefferson Jay

From 2014-2017, I had the pleasure of being the music therapist at a day center for adults with developmental disabilities. Every day, when I entered my workplace, I was greeted with huge smiles, grateful friends, and the occasional ovation. Although the feeling was mutual, I had no idea it would transform my life.

Rainbow Connections

My first day on the job, I met Bryce Johnson. He requested I play The Muppets’ classic, “Rainbow Connection.” He had a beautiful voice. We both sang and a bond was formed that continues to this day.

From left to right: Jefferson Jay, Chelse Voisard, Charlie Lizarraga, and Bryce Johnson performing at The Hilton Bayfront in 2015.

Bryce is a gifted singer, dancer, and actor. He carries a genuine kindness and warmth rarely seen in most circles. We played lots of music and several gigs together. Bryce delightfully crooned soul classics his mother Myra turned him onto as a kid. She passed away from cancer some years back. Myra was a very special woman. She asked me to keep an eye on Bryce and I promised I would. I feel blessed to have known Myra Johnson.

The Magic Begins

When my supervisors at the day center asked me to write and direct the holiday musical, I penned what eventually became our pilot episode of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit. When auditions ended, Bryce had earned the role of The Great Christmas Tree. Bryce tore the house down with his brilliant rendition of “Christmas Tree Don’t Want to Be Cut Down.”

Bryce Johnson playing The Great Christmas Tree in 2014’s The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit live performance.

When we were looking for someone to sing it for our demo, I was ecstatic Bryce was available and interested. Bryce’s voice actor performance as the Tree was impeccable. Bringing our completed animated demo to his house and showing him for the first time has been one of the great thrills of this endeavor so far.

Now That’s What I’m Talking About!

Bryce watched our animation and slapped me a high five. “Yes, that’s what I’m talking about!” he exclaimed. “I killed it,” he continued. You sure did, Bryce. Thanks for being you, slaying, sharing your kindness, charisma, and your fabulous talent with us at The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit. You are a shining example of how we’re our best when all voices are heard. Thank you.

Sam Dupree (left), the talent behind Kid 1, with friend and colleague Bryce Johnson (right), the talent behind The Great Christmas Tree.

By Jefferson Jay

Have you ever known someone who seemed to do everything well? Can you imagine being a brilliant scriptwriter, composing epic-Disney level musical arrangements, performing impeccable music, coaching talent AND being a one-man animation machine? This man can, because he is.

Agustin Andres Cortes: The Animator

Agustin Andres Cortes can do it all and we at The Good Vibe are humbled to have him doing all that and for The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit: our fully inclusive animated holiday musical series. The series originated as a series of plays with a full cast of actors with developmental disabilities in 2014.

In 2018, when these plays were reimagined as an animated series, we were blessed to connect professionally with our gifted friend Andres. His wisdom and talent have been paramount in positioning us to make a deal with a major viewing platform and will help make sure all voices are heard.

Andres, familiarly known as Auggie, remade our humble plays into timeless classics that families will savor for generations. Our songs were adorable. Auggie made them epic. Our characters were endearing. He, with the help of our voice actors, made them come alive.

Andres’ recent work has appeared on major platforms including HBO Max, The Cartoon Network, and several others. However his work on The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit is what he takes the most pride in. When asked for his thoughts about working on our special project, Andres answered, through a giant grin, that the opportunity to focus all his creative energy and imagination on our demo showpiece, “Christmas Tree Don’t Want to Be Cut Down,” has been a dream come true for him. The results certainly support those sentiments.

Manifesting Dreams

Thanks for all you continue to do, Andres! It has been a “dream come true” for us as well and before we’re done, we will make many more dreams come true. Thanks to you, making sure all voices are heard won’t need to be a dream much longer. It will be the new way things are, the way they should have been all along.

Andres (left) thinks deep thoughts about his work during a visit from Jefferson Jay (right).