Naman Shrestha
In the Nanea Miyata directorial, OWN’s ‘The Christmas Showdown,’ we get acquainted with two former childhood best friends — April and Chastity. The reason they are no longer friends is that the former moved to Paris to become an event producer, despite having planned to relocate to New York with Chastity. Not long after, April’s career in the City of Lights stalls, forcing her to return home. Meanwhile, Chastity is also out of work and looking to start afresh with a new job.
When the former friends cross paths yet again, they realize that both of them are competing for the same event design job for the Sugar Heights Christmas Eve Spectacular. However, they must work out their differences and join forces if they wish to impress the renowned event producer, Hen. As the rivalry turns into a renewed chapter of their friendship, April and Chastity must make some tough decisions along the way. The story of the comedy-drama film unfolds in various locations, but the theme of the holidays and Christmas is present through the decorations in the streets and the venue of the spectacular event.
Where Was The Christmas Showdown Filmed?
The shooting for ‘The Christmas Showdown’ was conducted in California and Texas, especially in Los Angeles and Houston. From what we can tell, principal photography for the holiday film seemingly took place around September 2025 over the course of a few weeks. With the release date of the film approaching, the director Nanea Miyata took to social media and extended her gratitude to everyone involved with the project, stating, “Such a privilege to be able to direct such a fun screenplay by @twa333 with such an incredible cast, so grateful to @foxentstudios @ninthhousefilms @owntv for the opportunity, and so humbled by the amazing crew and post team who truly made it all possible.”
Los Angeles, California
The production team of ‘The Christmas Showdown’ chose Los Angeles to serve as the filming destination. The sprawling Southern Californian city shapes the visual aesthetic for the events that unfold in the lives of April and Chastity as they vie for the spot to produce the annual town event. For the purpose of filming, the cast and crew likely visited several spots in the city. In particular, the team settled on a property in Sylmar, a neighborhood within the San Fernando Valley. Situated on Little Tujunga Canyon Road, a portion of the movie was taped in the Craftsman-style lodge in the northernmost neighborhood of LA. Besides that, shooting might have seemingly taken place in a few spots across the City of Angels.
Houston, Texas
The establishing shots of ‘The Christmas Showdown’ were lensed in Houston, located in Southeast Texas. Located in Harris County, the city boasts a diverse cityscape with glistening glass skyscrapers, brick-toned buildings, and a lush carpet of green cover. Therefore, its cinematic versatility made it an ideal setting for the OWN production. Over the years, Houston has hosted the production of a wide variety of movies and television shows, such as ‘The 25 Songs of Christmas,’ ‘Screwed Up Christmas,’ ‘In Search of the American Dream,’ ‘Everybody Wants Some!!,’ ’80 for Brady,’ ‘Lucky Girl,’ and ‘The Girls in the Office.’
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The Christmas Showdown Cast Details
The wholesome tale of ‘The Christmas Showdown’ is brought to life through the impressive performances of Corbin Reid, Amber Stevens West, and Loretta Devine. Amber Dawn Stevens is no stranger to the limelight, being the daughter of actor and radio announcer Shadoe Stevens and ex-model Beverly Cunningham. With nearly 50 movies in her filmography, she has carved an impressive path in the entertainment industry. Corbin Michon Reid kick-started her acting career on stage, showcasing her abilities in several Broadway productions right after graduation.
She has since added over 20 acting credits, in addition to taking on roles as director and producer. Having worked together in ‘Run the World,’ Amber and Corbin’s effortless chemistry shines on the screen. The cast also features Loretta Devine, who has established herself as an undeniable force in the industry, with almost 200 titles to her name. The seasoned, multi-award-winning actress brings depth and her unforgettable charm to every scene, thus enhancing the overall appeal.
Corbin Reid as April
Corbin Reid steps into the role of April Simmons, Chastity’s energetic and free-spirited estranged friend. She is best known for her performance as Ashley in ‘Blair Witch,’ Meggy Travers in ‘How to Get Away with Murder,’ Cynthia Hughes in ‘9-1-1,’ and Hunter in ‘Blind Sight,’ for which she also bagged an Award of Excellence at the 2019 Global Shorts awards in Los Angeles. You can also spot her as Jess Kam in ‘Valor,’ Sondi in ‘Run the World,’ Sharon Rice in ‘The Rookie,’ and Maya Taylor in ‘She Went Missing.’
Amber Stevens West as Chastity
In the holiday-themed film, Amber Stevens West essays the character of the reserved and driven Chastity Butler. You may recognize her from her work in ’22 Jump Street’ as Maya, ‘Fired Up!’ as Sara, ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ as Ariel, and ‘Greek’ as Ashleigh Howard. In addition to that, she also gained recognition for her portrayals of Maxine in ‘The Carmichael Show,’ Annie in ‘Ghosted,’ Claire in ‘Happy Together,’ Cheerleader in ‘The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift,’ Whitney in ‘Run the World,’ Janna in ‘To Get Her,’ and Joy Rossi in ‘Criminal Minds.’
Loretta Devine as Hen
Loretta Devine is a name that requires no introduction. In her influential career spanning decades, her most celebrated roles include her depiction of Shaniqua in ‘Crash,’ Marla Hendricks in ‘Boston Public,’ Reese in ‘Urban Legend,’ Amelia AKA M’Dear in ‘Family Reunion,’ Ernestine Sayles in ‘P-Valley’ and Adele Webber in ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’ Her work in ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ helped her win an Emmy award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series in 2011. The 2010 Thespian Award winner has gained immense acclaim for many of her other credits, such as ‘Days of Our Lives: Beyond Salem,’ ‘Kingdom Business,’ ‘Doctor Odyssey,’ ‘Black-ish,’ ‘A Family Reunion Christmas,’ ‘Finding Faith,’ as well as the podcast series ‘Red for Revolution.’ Loretta and Amber both appear in ‘The Carmichael Show.’
In ‘The Christmas Showdown,’ Celeste Clark dons the garb of a younger version of Chastity. The supporting cast of ‘The Christmas Showdown’ features Carla Renata as Sonia, DeVaughn Nixon as Caleb, Sterling Sulieman as Isaac, Obba Babatundé as Jesse, Beverly Todd as Lydia, and Leah Briese as Kendi. In addition, Solyana Girum stars as Young April, while London Stubblefield appears as a Cookie Decorating Parent.
