John Paget & James Waugh – Believe

John Paget and James Waugh are filmmakers from New York who’s film Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas will be screening at the Utah Film Festival monthly screening on December 2nd at the Towne Hub in American Fork Utah. 

John Paget has worked as a documentary filmmaker and freelance director of photography since 1992. He has shot and directed several award-winning and nationally broadcast feature documentaries on iconic American topics including Route 66, Elvis Impersonators and Alcatraz Prison.

Paget’s exceptional storytelling instincts and craftsman-like approach to cinematography have put him in high demand as a freelance director of photography; he’s traveled worldwide to produce commissioned projects for international non-profits, TV networks, and Fortune 500 companies.

What was the inspiration to make Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas?

One summer, we saw a man at a restaurant, eating with his wife. He had a white beard, red shirts, red shorts, red sandals.

We were intrigued and suspected we had found Santa in the off-season.   We met him and discovered he is part of an entire fraternal order of real bearded Santas.

I had previously made a feature doc on Elvis impersonators (“Almost Elvis”), and could see the parallels and the story potential in exploring this subculture.

I like stories that have both humor and heart. I could see how this documentary could be funny but also thought-provoking and heartwarming.

From idea to completion, how did Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas change?  

We originally thought the film would build toward and end at the Santa convention / reunion.

But during editing, we realized that the film should start there – to introduce and immerse us in their world – and then build to Christmas, which is the real high point of the year for all Santas.

What was the biggest challenge in getting this show made?

Doing it entirely on our own – no outside funding. This made it difficult to find the time to work on, so it took way longer to finish than we expected.

What do you think is the most important takeaway from your film?

Santa Claus is real!

If you could have a do over with your film is there anything that you would have done differently? If so, what would you change?

It would have been great to make it more global – and profile Santa characters in other countries.

What do you have in the works?

John is currently working on a series of documentary shorts “Small Town Spirit” and a feature doc on the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the famous highway.

Believe: The True Story of Real Bearded Santas chronicles a year in the life of real bearded Santas from across the country, exploring the lives of men who not only still believe in Santa Claus…they think they are Santa Claus.

Along the journey into this strange subculture we visit the prestigious Charles W. Howard Santa Claus School in Michigan, the Beverly Hills costume shop specializing in authentic suits for the most elite Santas, and join several hundred Santas at the almost unbelievable annual trade show and convention of the Fraternal Order of Real Bearded Santas.