“I was very into writing fan fiction as a child,” recalls Hayley Frazier. “I was like, ‘How can I make this a job?’” This early passion for storytelling led Hayley on a path that would eventually bring her to Hollywood, where she and her writing partner Emalee Burditt have made their mark on Disney’s beloved franchise, The Santa Clauses.
Emalee’s journey, on the other hand, began in a family of writers. “I come from a family of writers, including my father and his parents before him,” she explains. “I would write scripts instead of English assignments. I was always obsessed with television and film.” Her unconventional education laid the groundwork for her future in screenwriting.
Both writers faced challenges breaking into the industry. Hayley admits to some unconventional tactics: “I stalked production companies when I first came out,” she jokes. “I was paying money to get production company phone numbers and emails – it worked,” she recalls. “I got in with the post coordinator at Last Man Standing and they hired me.”
Emalee Burditt
Emalee emphasizes the importance of starting wherever you can in the industry. “If you work hard, even if you’re getting coffee, they will remember you,” she advises. This philosophy guided both writers as they worked their way up through various assistant positions. Their paths converged on the set of Tim Allen’s series, Last Man Standing, where they both worked as production assistants.
The Big Break
From there, their careers took them to different shows. “I got a job on The Good Wife,” Hayley shares. Emalee’s path led her to Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. These experiences broadened their skills and industry connections.
The duo’s big break came when they were paper-teamed for The Santa Clauses. Their complementary skills quickly became apparent. “Our strengths are the opposite of each other’s weaknesses,” Emalee notes. Hayley adds, “I’m very good at story and seeing the big picture, and Emalee’s funnier,” she jokes.
Their work on The Santa Clauses allowed them to explore their love for what they call “dumb funny with heart.” Emalee explains, “We realized we got a chance with having little elves in a fantasy world. We got to do a lot of really ‘dumb funny,’ and it was such a freaking treat.”
The opportunity to expand the lore of the Santa Claus universe was particularly exciting for them. “We love digging deeper,” Hayley says. “Everything has a kernel of truth… based in a story, a tale, or a pagan ritual.” This approach allowed them to introduce new elements to the franchise while honoring its heart and humor.
Writing for a Franchise
They relished the chance to answer questions they had as children watching the original movies. “Did he just kill a man? What’s happening here?” Emalee laughs, referring to the premise of the first Santa Clause film. They were able to dive into the history of Christmas, Saint Nick, and various international customs, creating a richer, more expansive world for the beloved franchise.
“Someone will do the bare bones of it and then we just keep flip-flopping back and forth,” Emalee describes. “Until we get to a point where then we can come together and do like we are one unit going through it together.” This collaborative approach extends to their work in the writers’ room. “When we’re on Santa Clauses and we go to outline then we’ll divide it up,” Hayley explains. “She gets half, I get half.”
Hayley Frazier
Working on such an iconic franchise has been surreal for both writers. “It’s very cool, for lack of a better word,” Emalee reflects. “It’s surreal, humbling… and to think that we didn’t completely mess it up is just like, ‘Yay, good job!'” Hayley adds, “I’m always like, ‘Oh, my 12-year-old self would be so happy and proud.'”
The experience has also taught them valuable lessons about writing for television. “Even if you think you have enough samples, they’re going to tell you to keep writing,” Hayley advises aspiring writers. “So just always keep writing.”
Relationship Building
Networking has been crucial to their success. “It really is about timing and about being at the top of someone’s mind,” Hayley notes. “Or if you’ve worked with someone before.” They encourage aspiring writers to reach out to industry professionals and maintain connections with peers.
“Email everyone you know constantly,” Emalee advises, “because it really is about timing and about being at the top of someone’s mind.” Hayley adds, “If you know managers, even if you email a writer and are like, ‘Would you mind reading my script?’ If we like it we will send it to our manager.”
They also stress the importance of starting anywhere in the industry. “Don’t want to do PA stuff when first starting out,” Emalee cautions. “You learn so much information. I started as a writer’s PA, I also did production and just knowing all aspects of how to make a TV show work.”
Looking forward, Hayley and Emalee are excited about creating more content that blends comedy and fantasy. “We love horror and fantasy and then also the dumb comedy,” Emalee shares. “One of our favorite shows is What We Do in the Shadows and that’s a perfect example of just like this is so dumb funny.”
From Fan Fiction to Fantasy
They see potential in blending different genres and styles. “We got a chance with that with having little elves in a fantasy world,” Emalee explains. “We got to do a lot of really dumb funny and it was such a freaking treat.”
Their journey from writing fan fiction and homeschool assignments to crafting scripts for a major Disney franchise is a testament to the power of persistence and collaboration. “It’s fun to pretend for a few months that there’s magic in the world and that Santa’s real,” Hayley reflects, “no matter how old you are.”
The experience of seeing their work come to life on set has been particularly thrilling. “The sets coming to life is like the costumes everyone like that worked on it was insane,” Hayley explains. “You thought you were in the North Pole – it was beautiful.”
For Emalee, a standout moment came during the second season. “I remember like coming out of the writer’s room one day and Eric Stonestreet coming around the corner in his mad fitting and I just I literally gasped,” she recalls. “It was like one of the most surreal moments of my life.”
This interview has been condensed. Listen to the full audio version here.
