Jennifer Ashley Goodman has spent her career doing what many in Hollywood said couldn’t be done. As a writer, producer, actress, and co-founder of Lakefront Pictures, she has built her own path, one project, one fight, one story at a time. With A Snowbound Christmas, her SAG-AFTRA holiday film arriving this season, she is bringing something mainstream holiday cinema has rarely attempted: placing neurodiversity and disability not at the margins, but at the very heart of the story.
The Film
QA Snowbound Christmas centres on a city lawyer snowed in on a rural farm with a single father and his autistic daughter. Where did the idea for this story come from?
I’ve always loved Christmas movies because they take you into a world of love, happiness, away from some of the stress of reality, and they leave people with hope. But for me, I wanted to create one that was more than just a holiday romance. As someone on the autism spectrum, it was important to me to tell a story where people with disabilities are part of the heart of the film not defined by their diagnosis. I wanted audiences to laugh, cry, fall in love with these characters, and leave seeing disability through a different lens.
QWhy was it important to bring disability and autism representation into a mainstream holiday film?
I believe representation shouldn’t be reserved for dramas or educational films. People with disabilities deserve to be in the movies families watch together every Christmas. They deserve to be the heroes, the love, the laughter, and the heart of the story. If even one family feels seen or one person walks away with more understanding, then we’ve done what we set out to do.
“People with disabilities deserve to be in the movies families watch together every Christmas. They deserve to be the heroes, the love, the laughter, and the heart of the story.”
QYou wear multiple hats on this project writer, producer, and actress. Which role challenged you the most?
Producing, without a doubt. Writing is where the story is born, and acting lets me step into the world. Producing means you’re responsible for everything from financing and locations to SAG paperwork, post-production, deadlines, making cast happy, crew, distribution, and solving problems every single day. It was exhausting, but seeing the audience laugh, cry, and connect at our screening made every sleepless night worth it.
QThe film completed post-production in just 50 days. What kept the team moving at that pace?
If you asked our team what kept everything moving, they’d probably laugh and say, “Jennifer’s sense of urgency.” I’m very deadline-driven. From day one, Ryan, my business partner and our Director of Photography and I worked backwards from our delivery date. I spent time building detailed schedules, sending constant email updates, setting internal deadlines well ahead of the real ones, and leaving room for the unexpected. I would make phone calls and ask Ryan for immediate support when it came to technical feedback. Even if it was 2am, I was on it, without waking the team, and then there would be the 4am calls with VFX. I wanted buffers built in instead of scrambling at the last minute. We had an incredible team that communicated constantly, trusted one another, and believed in the film. Everyone was willing to go the extra mile, and that’s how we were able to deliver a feature film in just 50 days of post-production.
QHarry Lennix appears in the film and this isn’t the first time you’ve worked together?
He is a dream and it was actually not the first time we have worked with him. He also played a role in my first TV pilot, Conrad Series, back in 2019 and 2020. It was great to have him back on set with our team again.
The Mission
QWhat does it mean to “elevate” people with disabilities through film and how does A Snowbound Christmas achieve that authentically?
Elevating people with disabilities means showing them as complete human beings. Their disability is part of who they are, but it isn’t the only thing that defines them. With A Snowbound Christmas, we didn’t write characters for people to feel sorry for. We wrote people with dreams, humor, personalities, strengths, flaws, and relationships. Kassidy just happens to be autistic. Maggie, who I play, is autistic too, but she’s also a wife, a sister, and someone who brings warmth and joy to her family. Neurodiversity is at the heart of our company Lakefront Pictures, so intertwining that element in the story from the onset was important. We didn’t want to just be another holiday trope. We wanted to be something people could truly connect to.
QDo you feel the industry is shifting when it comes to representation in holiday films?
I think it is growing, but I love that I was able to take a family holiday movie and make it more than just that to really drive the importance of knowledge and neurodiversity education, especially as it relates to the autism spectrum. It’s very unknown and people have very limited education, and I think educating through the joy of storytelling makes it that much more meaningful and that much more of a positive shift. If we can help make a change and influence, then that makes us happy.
QHow did you approach developing Kassidy’s character, and who brings her to life on screen?
I wanted Kassidy to be the heart of the film and, in many ways, the glue that brings the love story together. More than anything, I wanted audiences to fall in love with her, understand her, and see the world through her eyes. When I created my television pilot Conrad, some people told me they didn’t fully understand the autism behind that character. That feedback stayed with me. With Kassidy, I wanted to make sure audiences could truly connect with her emotionally while also gaining a better understanding of the autism spectrum.
Alegra Carr brought Kassidy to life beautifully. Because I wrote the character and drew from many of my own childhood and adult experiences on the autism spectrum, Director Louise Alston gave me the freedom to work closely with Alegra throughout production. Between takes, we’d talk through Kassidy’s emotions, behaviors, social nuances, and the reasons behind them. I demonstrated many of the subtle traits and experiences that inspired the character so she understood the emotional truth behind each moment rather than simply mimicking behaviors. Alegra embraced every conversation with incredible openness and dedication, and what she brought to the screen exceeded my expectations.
“Kassidy’s lion stuffed animal was inspired by my own attachment to a special stuffed animal. The emotions surrounding change, fear of abandonment, anxiety when people leave – all come from very real feelings I’ve experienced throughout my life.”
QHow much of your own experience on the autism spectrum found its way into this film?
Quite a bit. People who know me well or who have a deeper understanding of autism will probably recognize some of my own quirks, insecurities, and emotional experiences throughout the story. I’ve learned to embrace those parts of myself, and I wanted to bring that same authenticity to these characters. I poured a lot of vulnerability into both Kassidy and Maggie. Kassidy’s lion stuffed animal was inspired by my own attachment to a special stuffed animal. The emotions surrounding change, non-verbal communications, fear of abandonment, anxiety when people leave, and trying to understand why someone is gone all come from very real feelings I’ve experienced throughout my life.
Maggie represents someone who has had more time to develop coping strategies and navigate the world, while Kassidy is still learning those skills as a young child. They’re in different places on the autism spectrum and in different stages of life, but both characters reflect pieces of my own journey. My hope is that audiences don’t just see autism they see two people with big hearts, unique personalities, and experiences that are deeply human.
Lakefront Pictures
QYou co-founded Lakefront Pictures in 2020 with the goal of elevating unheard voices and telling untold stories. How has that mission shaped the projects you choose?
That mission has really become the filter for every project we choose. Whether it’s The Unseen, Conrad, or A Snowbound Christmas, we’re always asking ourselves whose story hasn’t been told enough and how we can tell it in an entertaining, meaningful way. It’s also incredibly fulfilling for me to create opportunities for people who might not otherwise get them. As an actress on the autism spectrum, I often felt misunderstood. I realised that if I kept waiting for the phone to ring, I might spend my life waiting. So instead, I decided to create the opportunities I wished existed not just for myself, but for others.
Before filmmaking, I spent over 20 years in business development and sales. Cold calling, building relationships, negotiating deals, raising capital, and finding creative solutions became second nature. Looking back, it was the perfect training ground for producing. Today, Lakefront Pictures is about opening doors, telling meaningful stories, and giving talented people opportunities they may not have otherwise had.
QYour body of work spans crime drama, horror, and now holiday romance. What draws you to such varied genres?
I’ve always loved crime dramas stories with layers, that explore complex interpersonal relationships, rooted social issues, and moral dilemmas. But after hearing feedback that I should explore something lighter, and with my business partner Ryan recognizing the strength of the Christmas market, we decided to challenge ourselves with a holiday film. What excited me was proving that we could take everything we love about character-driven storytelling heart, emotion, meaningful themes and wrap it inside a feel-good Christmas movie. A Snowbound Christmas still has depth and purpose, but it leaves audiences with hope. As filmmakers, we don’t want to be put into one box.
QWhat does A Snowbound Christmas represent for Lakefront Pictures as a company?
This film represents exactly who we want to be as a company. It’s a commercial holiday movie with heart, but it also proves that meaningful representation belongs in mainstream entertainment. It shows we can tell stories that have broad audience appeal while still making people feel seen. I’m incredibly proud of what our team accomplished, especially delivering the film in such a short amount of time.
The Journey
QChicago PD, Better Call Saul, a Deadline-covered acquisition with The Unseen, Forbes coverage for Conrad how do you reflect on how far you’ve come?
It’s hard to take in because there is so much hard work that goes into it. You forget to celebrate. Sometimes I have to stop and remind myself how far the journey has been. There were plenty of moments where people told me something couldn’t be done. Being on the autism spectrum, I heard “no” more times than I can count. I fell on my face numerous times learning aspects of filmmaking I didn’t go to film school to study my training was creating and building my own projects and learning that way. Sometimes the hard way. But every experience has made me stronger and more knowledgeable. Every project taught me something new, and each one opened another door. I’m proud of where I am but I honestly feel like we’re just getting started.
QYou’ve been named one of the Top 10 female producers by Studio Daily and one of 10 powerful female filmmakers in Chicago. What does that recognition mean to you personally?
It’s incredibly humbling. Awards and recognition are wonderful because they remind you people are paying attention to your work. But what means the most is knowing the stories we’re telling are connecting with audiences. On a personal level, these recognitions have reminded me that I’m growing not just as a filmmaker, but as a person. As someone on the autism spectrum, there have been times in my life when I felt misunderstood. People sometimes focused more on my differences or behaviours than on my heart, my intentions, or what I was capable of contributing. For a long time, I let those experiences shape how I saw myself. Today, I’m learning to celebrate the wins instead of immediately moving on to the next challenge.
QWhat advice would you give to independent filmmakers trying to raise capital, work with A-list talent, and produce at a high level from outside the major studios?
Know your business before you make your movie. Everyone talks about cameras and scripts, but you also need a financing plan, a distribution strategy, investor materials, contracts, marketing, and a realistic understanding of your audience. Making the movie is only half the job. Getting people to actually see it is the other half.
What’s Next
QWhen is A Snowbound Christmas releasing and where will audiences be able to watch it?
We’re incredibly excited for audiences to see the film. While we aren’t announcing the release date just yet, we’ll be sharing news very soon through Lakefront Pictures, our distributor announcements, and our social media channels. We can’t wait to bring it to audiences this holiday season.
QWhat do you hope audiences take away particularly those who have never seen their experience reflected on screen before?
I hope people leave smiling, feeling hopeful, and maybe seeing someone a little differently than they did before. And for families with loved ones on the autism spectrum or with disabilities, I hope they finally get to watch a Christmas movie where they feel represented not because they’re different, but because they’re simply part of the story. I hope people understand autism a bit more, and the different nuances and the spectrum.
QWhat is next for you and Lakefront Pictures after A Snowbound Christmas?
We’re continuing to build stories that entertain while creating opportunities for voices that haven’t always been represented. We have several television and feature projects in development, and we’re excited to continue growing Lakefront Pictures while partnering with talented filmmakers who share that vision.
Connect with Jennifer & Lakefront Pictures
Follow A Snowbound Christmas: @asnowboundchristmas on Instagram and Facebook.
Follow Lakefront Pictures: @lakefrontpictures on Instagram and Facebook.
Follow Jennifer: @jenniferashleygoodman
Website: lakefrontpictures.com | jenniferagoodman.com
“I hope people leave smiling, feeling hopeful, and maybe seeing someone a little differently than they did before. For families with loved ones on the autism spectrum or with disabilities, I hope they finally get to watch a Christmas movie where they feel represented – not because they’re different, but because they’re simply part of the story.”