the dollars & donuts christmas special
In lieu of a traditional premiere party, the Dollars & Donuts crew gathers to create a chaotic and hilarious holiday special, blending absurd skits, in-jokes, and spirited bickering. From crafting questionable cocktails to brainstorming increasingly ridiculous ideas for a Christmas-themed project, the team navigates creative chaos, dysfunctional camaraderie, and an unexpected visit from Santa Claus himself (played by Jack Lewkowitz). Equal parts festive and irreverent, this Christmas Special is a celebration of friendship, holiday cheer, and the unique brand of humor that defines Dollars & Donuts Productions.
Credits
Writtem, Directed, & Edited by
DARYL DELLA
Cinematography by
TYLER DELLA
Executive Producers
DARYL DELLA
MICHAEL MARTIN
RAY REVELLO
CHRIS CAIRO
MITCHELL MARTIN
Starring
CHRIS CAIRO
DARYL DELLA
MICHAEL MARTIN
MITCHELL MARTIN
RAY REVELLO
CHRIS ROSS
BECKER VON FELSBURG
CHRIS WHYTE
Also Featuring:
RICHARD CASTROMAYOR
NICOLE HUYNH
KRISTIN MAYER
LORENZO OCON
With a Special Appearance by
JACK LEWKOWITZ
as "Santa Claus"Poster
by Craig Paton
original teaser
17 seconds of Yuletide fun!
Characters
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SANTA CLAUS
JACK LEWKOWITZ
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Movie Santa
CHRIS WHYTE
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Mrs. Claus
KRISTIN MAYER
Behind the Scenes
After the successful 2014 premiere, Dollars & Donuts took much of 2015 off, focusing on smaller projects. This was in line with producer Michael Martin’s vision for the year: more planning, less output. But Daryl Della, drive by momentum, wanted to ride the wave of their recent success and worried that taking a break might squander their growing audience. The tension between Michael’s methodical approach and Daryl’s figure-it-out-as-you-go energy was palpable and ultimately served as the spark for The Dollars & Donuts Christmas Special.
Rather than hosting a year-end premiere party, Daryl proposed creating a holiday-themed project that could be completed in under a month. The brainstorming session, held at Daryl’s Pacifica home, quickly veered into chaos. Arguments erupted over what made a good film, what could realistically be achieved, and a barrage of friendly but biting insults flew across the room. Daryl turned the bedlam into inspiration, scribbling down ideas and dialogue that would form the foundation of the Christmas Special’s script, much of it lifted directly from the heated discussions.
The crew reconvened to film at Daryl’s parents' house, a familiar base of operations for many Dollars & Donuts productions. Regulars like Chris Ross, Rich Castromayor, and Lorenzo Ocon made cameos, while Jack Lewkowitz, the team’s “lucky charm” since Oldtimers, made a memorable appearance as Santa Claus. Jack, who often dressed as Santa for charity events, was a natural fit for the role, and his warmth added a touch of holiday authenticity to the irreverent chaos.
A highlight of the special’s production was the hand-crafted opening credits. Daryl sketched designs for cookies resembling each crew member, and Kirsten baked them into charmingly edible character introductions. This detail added a personal and festive touch, setting the tone for a project that felt as much about the crew’s camaraderie as the holiday itself.
The Christmas Special also built on a growing trend within Dollars & Donuts: showcasing the team as characters in their own right. Daryl aimed to turn the crew into a recognizable “brand” of personalities, reminiscent of the Rat Pack or Jackass, creating a connection with the audience that extended beyond the films. The exaggerated versions of their real-life traits, first introduced in the 2014 premiere interstitials, were further refined here, cementing the idea of Dollars & Donuts as a group you wanted to watch because you felt like part of the crew.
Yet, beneath the holiday cheer, tension was simmering. Unspoken frustrations between Daryl, Michael, and Cairo bubbled to the surface during this production. Cairo felt that Michael’s meticulous approach had turned what used to be a fun hobby into work, while Daryl’s relentless drive left little room for his creative input. These pressures culminated in The Dollars & Donuts Christmas Special being Cairo’s last full appearance with the group. Shortly after, Cairo “retired,” citing creative constraints.
Though Cairo would return for a few surprise cameos in the years that followed, his departure marked the beginning of deeper rifts. By 2021, Michael and Cairo had both cut ties with Daryl entirely, leaving The Dollars & Donuts Christmas Special as a bittersweet reminder of the camaraderie that once defined Dollars & Donuts, and the tensions that would ultimately pull them apart.