How Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song Make Their Kids' Christmas Magical

As a child of the ’90s, I can truly say that my life was forever changed by the release of Home Alone in 1990. The movie, with its clever traps and heartwarming family moments, became an instant classic for me and millions of other kids around the world.

When it comes to creating Christmas spirit, Macaulay Culkin is always thirsty for more.

To create a festive, magical atmosphere for their sons Dakota (aged 3) and his unnamed 2-year-old brother during Christmas, Culkin and his fiancée Brenda Song revealed they pull out all the stops at their home. This is because the boys are currently at an age where they still fully believe in the holiday spirit, and the couple wants to encourage and foster that faith.

As a devoted fan, I’m honored to join forces with the star of “Home Alone” for our annual holiday tradition. We spend the time preparing the delectable holiday ham in our kitchen, followed by our favorite task – decorating the house with twinkling lights. This year, we’re really getting into the spirit by taking on the role of Santa Claus with enthusiasm and glee.

Speaking of…

Macaulay Culkin stated that when explaining his absence from home for two weeks, he told people he was working at Santa’s workshop mending toys, as this is a role he plays at home. He added, “Santa Claus himself invited me to the North Pole, and everyone’s completely okay with it.

Particularly if he can put in a good word with the big guy.

In simpler terms, Dakota, the oldest son, expressed his desire for a Spider-Man truck from New York City and additional gifts, as Culkin explained. Meanwhile, the youngest son listened carefully and asked for a garbage truck with bins, along with more presents. It seems they’re wishing for even more wishes, and Culkin humorously remarked that they indeed are his sons.

As a lifestyle connoisseur, let me share a charming detail about my holiday duties. Beyond my handyman tasks, I take pride in filling the stockings that are thoughtfully hung by our chimney with thoughtful gifts and treats.

The individual, who is 44 years old, described himself as a skilled expert or virtuoso when it comes to stockings, possibly using terms like ‘master’ as alternatives. He confidently stated that he consistently manages to create perfect stockings each year, and added that he is currently honing his skills and becoming increasingly proficient in this area.

In my fervor, I’d put it this way: Amazon seems to have a knack for knowing exactly what I’m in the mood for, even before I’ve signed in. The secret, as he revealed, lies in maintaining a rich and diverse array of interests. It’s as if they can read my mind!

He feels he delivers his finest work when Song, aged 36, exclaims, “Wow, where did you find that?” This is reminiscent of selecting unique items like a Zoltar fortune-telling machine, similar to the one in Big. It’s as if he said, “I’m not sure. I think it’s from Switzerland?” His eccentric taste makes people intrigued, doing half the work for him when they ask about his finds.

This year, he has an extra trick up his sleeve due to his collaboration with Uber Eats for their Holiday Hub promotion. On December 7th, this service will provide a team of on-the-spot Uber Carolers for residents in New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Miami, and Washington D.C., along with delivering last-minute gifts or even Christmas trees.

He playfully suggested, “I believe my agreement includes sending carolers to my home. So, I’m inviting everyone over. ‘Drop by, friends! I’ve scored some complimentary carolers, thanks to Uber Eats!’

I diligently prepared my scrumptious microwave macaroni and cheese dinner, taking care to infuse it with subtle references to my role as the resourceful young Kevin from Home Alone in a commercial filled with knowing winks and nods.

As much as I’ve always been proud of my appearances in the 1990 and 1992 films, I must admit there was a certain weight to it. However, once I became a father, I found myself seeing a piece of my own children in every child who revels in watching the underdog triumph over the villains – that little guy being none other than me!

Currently, he expressed that he’s both adapting to it and, in a playful manner, making light of the situation as well. He finds joy in it because it’s not often one gets involved in something significant like this. It’s more enjoyable to accept it than to resist it.

So, yes, Home Alone is basically required viewing in the Culkin-Song household.

Wow, absolutely!” was his reaction when asked if his toddlers recognized his work. Dakota mentioned that they seem to confuse him with Kevin, as he put it. “I ask them if they remember sliding down the stairs on a sled,” he shared, “and they respond ‘Yes, I do.’ Similarly, when I ask about the time he had yellow hair, they also confirm ‘Yes.’

Though the preschooler’s favorite bit is the same as his dad’s.

In his narrative, Culkin described an incident reminiscent of when the Wet Bandits appeared. Instead, he would stage a party scene. He explained that there was a miniature train set with a Michael Jordan figure and music playing, controlling mannequin movements using strings. Initially, he was meant to play the piano and other complex tasks. However, it became too intricate, and they opted for a simpler approach: attaching strings to him and asking him to act foolishly. Culkin responded, “You’ve entered my zone now.

He cherished recollections from filming that particular scene as he rewatched it alongside an 18-month-old Dakota back then.

According to Culkin, he spontaneously joined in on a peculiar dance move that resembled the googly dance, which was when his character swung his fists up and down. Initially, he found the dance amusing, but now it holds a new significance for him.

When his children discover it was him, their father, who had been indulging in junk food and watching low-quality programs, as Macaulay Culkin put it, “They’re going to be utterly amazed.

It’s time to watch a beloved holiday movie again, so here’s your 10-second warning to settle comfortably on your couch for this viewing. However, before we start, let me remind you that I’ve gathered some interesting behind-the-scenes details about the film. So don’t spoil it for us by barging in!

John Hughes conceived his idea during a period of parental worry. In an oral history published in Chicago Magazine in 2015, his son, James Hughes, disclosed that the renowned filmmaker wrote this concept down in a notebook on August 8, 1989, before their initial trip to Europe. Two weeks later, upon their return home, he revisited and expanded on the idea: What if one of the children had been unintentionally left behind?

With great enthusiasm, the writer behind both “The Breakfast Club” and “Pretty in Pink” completed an early version in a mere nine days, culminating in a marathon eight-hour session to reach the final 44 pages. He later admitted his worry that he was moving too slowly, as evidenced by his notes in his journal.

2. Macaulay Culkin doesn’t find his breakout movie, which made him famous, a must-watch during holidays. In an interview with Ellen DeGeneres in 2018, he admitted that he tends to change the channel whenever the blockbuster appears on his television.

In certain cases, he has chosen to make an exception. For instance, if you get a new girlfriend and she’s flipping through the channels and suddenly ‘Home Alone’ comes on, she might say, ‘Ehh, do you want to watch it?’ He recounted this on The Tonight Show that same year, explaining that he has gone along with it, usually mumbling the lines under his breath. It’s a bit peculiar, he admitted, but “Whatever keeps her engine running, I suppose.

Could it be that he found some inspiration to take on the role again, given that the advertisement from 2018 where they portrayed an advanced Kevin as an adult was simply too compelling not to watch?

3. Instead of jokingly saying “Hey @Disney, give me a call!”, it turned out to be “Home Sweet Home Alone” when Disney announced in 2019 their plans to remake the ’90s hit.

4. The movie might have sported a distinctly different style had Chevy Chase not been somewhat rude. Originally, Chris Columbus was intended to direct the 1989 comedy success National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, as he divulged in an interview with Chicago Magazine. However, during their first meeting over dinner, Columbus recalled, “To put it bluntly, Chase was disrespectful to me.

After the second attempt didn’t improve things much, Columbus found himself needing to contact producer Hughes and withdraw from the project. Around two weeks later, at his in-laws’ house in River Forest, he received two scripts. One of them was Home Alone, with a note from John asking if he wanted to direct. He thought, “Wow, this guy is genuinely helping me when no one else in Hollywood seemed willing.” For Columbus, John was like a savior.

5. Despite nearly being cancelled due to a financial disagreement between Warner Bros. and the production team, the movie was in jeopardy. It was then that Joe Roth, who was the chairman at 20th Century Fox, had lunch with Hughes’ agent and learned they were arguing over $700,000.

Roth recalled that he was informed that the production of “Home Alone” was estimated at around $14.7 million, but Warner Bros. would only provide $14 million. He inquired about the plan, and it was explained to him. He agreed, saying if they could make it happen, he would produce it. It seemed like a wise decision since it wouldn’t cost much, he didn’t have a Thanksgiving film lined up, he found the idea appealing, and he admired those involved in the project. Turned out to be a smart move as the movie ended up earning over $476 million at the box office.

6. Culkin was essentially set for the main part. Having worked with him the year before in “Uncle Buck” with John Candy, Hughes felt confident that the 9-year-old was the right choice, “However, as a director, I felt it was important to explore other child actors,” explained Columbus. “John agreed, ‘Take all the time you need, do what you think is best.’

After over 200 tryouts, Columbus recognized Culkin and felt instantly certain that he was the right child for the role. Somehow, I sensed deep down that John understood this moment would unfold, but it was very kind of him to allow me such creative liberty.

7. The inept burglars, Marv (Daniel Stern) and Harry (Joe Pesci), had a close friendship that predated their notorious role as the Wet Bandits.

It was believed that we first worked together in “Home Alone,” but it turns out we had already made each other laugh during a different film, “I’m Dancing as Fast as I Can,” where our scenes were ultimately cut. This revelation was shared by Stern with Chicago. In this earlier production, we portrayed characters in a mental institution. Joe Pesci often carried an architectural drawing tube, which was his character’s prop. During one take, he would put the tube to his nose and pretend to snort Ping-Pong balls, causing me to burst into laughter and making me his friend right there on the spot.

8. Stern deeply desired this particular role. He expressed, “The script resonated with me. It’s been a while since I had the opportunity to showcase that style of physical comedy, reminiscent of my childhood years.” Feeling confident, he thought, “I could smash it out of the park with this.” He auditioned for Chris and yearned for the part. Upon leaving, he felt, “I could’ve done it better.” It was the only time in his life that he called back to say, “Can I try again?” Chris later told him that he had already planned to cast him, but appreciated seeing his audition twice.

9. In reality, contrary to popular belief, Pesci and Stern were not the ruthless, arrogant individuals often portrayed. Instead, as I can attest from personal experience, they had a soft spot for children, and I found great pleasure in my interactions with Mac, as Stern confessed during a 2015 Christmas Eve Reddit session.

During the production of the 1992 sequel, “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York,” my son Henry (now a California state senator) and daughters Sophie and Ella visited me significantly more often compared to the initial film. We all enjoyed spending time together, taking Mac to Central Park for games of tag and catch. In essence, I believe that my character was noticeably softer than Joe’s in this instance.

It aligns with reports suggesting that Pesci intentionally stayed away from Culkin on set, aiming to make Culkin’s character even more frightened of him.

10. However, the stunts were undeniably genuine, with the chilling tarantula incident to the face remaining unsettling even today. Regardless of its unpleasantness, Stern declared it as one of his most enjoyable scenes to film.

He expressed that not only was it enjoyable and amusing to participate in, but it also served as a personal test to conquer my discomfort towards encountering something slimy and dangerous on my face. Additionally, he found it even more terrifying because he had to let out a scream, which meant his mouth was wide open as well – a moment that filled him with fear due to the possibility that the creature might find its way into my throat!

It’s no surprise that he exclaimed it came from a part of his soul he had never explored before and never wishes to revisit!

11. In the making of both Home Alone and Home Alone 2, it was those daredevils who faced the grim reality, as director Columbus confessed to Chicago. “I genuinely believed they were no more on several occasions,” he said. “There was no digital trickery involved. It was quite alarming to witness. It wasn’t until they rose from their ‘deaths’ and came to check the playback that we could finally laugh.

Absolutely, “Stern acknowledged that the stuntmen were the unacknowledged heroes of the show. Whenever someone mentions their favorite moments, he would reply, ‘Ah, that was our man Leon Delaney.’

12. The sound technicians really put their skills to the test with every slip-up, using a chunk of frozen roast beef to create the sound of a body hitting the ground and a hot soldering iron on chicken skin to mimic flesh burning.

13. (As an obsessed fan) It’s incredible how it was Macaulay Culkin who received the scar instead! In that first “Home Alone,” I remember being suspended by a coat hook, and Pesci threatening, “I’m going to bite off every one of your fingers, one at a time.” He actually bit me during one of the rehearsals, breaking my skin, as he recalled in a 2004 interview with Rule Forty Two.

14. Almost making his screen debut with the film, Chris Farley was recognized as such by Ken Hudson Campbell, who landed the role of the church Santa. Recalling the audition, Campbell shared that Farley had just arrived after a night of mischief. “It seems he had been out all night and was dropped off following a night of antics,” Campbell described the early audition. “Farley went first but his performance didn’t go smoothly. He walked in and promptly walked out. I, on the other hand, felt that I delivered what I aimed for. A few weeks later, I received the call.

15. Notable close calls also involve Robert De Niro, Jon Lovitz, and Kelsey Grammer, each declining the opportunity to play Harry, as well as Uncle Frank, which Grammer also rejected. Wow, you guys really missed out on something special!

16. The renowned Winnetka, IL house, located approximately 16 miles from Chicago, was inhabited by its owners during filming. Although the production team rented an apartment for Cynthia and John Abendshien, stating it would only last four to five weeks, they were advised that, under the contract, if they needed to demolish a wall when we weren’t home, they could do so. Thus, Cynthia explained in Chicago magazine that it was best for them to stay on the property.

For nearly six months, the family of three took refuge in their spacious four-bedroom apartment, using a portable stove to prepare meals. “We didn’t need to cook frequently,” John explained, “as we had unlimited access to the food truck utilized by the crew, which our daughter, who was 6 years old then, adored.” Luckily, the scenes requiring destruction of interior spaces were filmed at a nearby closed high school.

17. As a regular in the North Shore neighborhood, I’ve become accustomed to the frequent passersby who travel down our suburban street, drawn by the eye-catching Georgian marvel that fetches a price tag of $1.585 million.

According to longtime resident Ann Smith, who spoke to the Chicago Tribune in 2019, most street dwellers find it enjoyable and exciting. She expressed that it was a significant event for the movie to be filmed there, and it continues to hold that allure. Whenever she passes by that house, she sees people standing out front, snapping photos.

18. I can’t help but call out those episodes of Friends that I believe the producers thought they could sneakily deceive us viewers. Back in 2016, a sharp-eyed fan from 22 Vision discovered a hidden link between the holiday movie and our beloved NBC sitcom. They cleverly pieced together footage that clearly demonstrated Monica and Chandler’s new house in the New York City suburbs was none other than the expansive McCallister pad in Illinois.

19. In the final leg, Chicago’s weather delivered the necessary snowy appearance. The production team utilized snow machines and semis laden with shaved ice to achieve the film’s wintry look.

However, upon capturing the scene where Kate McCallister (Catherine O’Hara) returned home, location manager Jacolyn Bucksbaum reminisced, “It was stunning, real snowfall.” She added, “The largest snowstorm in years happened to occur on Valentine’s Day. In a way, Mother Nature lent us a hand with that.

20. The family’s hurried rush towards their flight in Paris was, surprisingly, filmed live at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport. “We needed to act quickly,” Columbus mentioned. “We managed just a couple or three attempts of the entire family sprinting through the terminal. It was nerve-wracking.

Absolutely, improvisation was welcomed during filming. And it’s not hard to see why John Candy became a staple of ’80s and ’90s productions.

For one day only, the actor took on his brief role as Gus Polinski in The Polka King, which he did out of kindness for John (as Columbus mentioned). O’Hara shared, “We worked tirelessly for 21 hours without a break, improvising scenes.” He continued, “Candy would initiate something, then John Hughes would join in, and Candy would respond, leading us to continue the flow. It was all spontaneous. We’d start an absurd conversation and carry it as far as we could. Chris told me later that most of what we filmed couldn’t be used. He chuckled and said, ‘You were supposed to be searching for your child, but instead you were enjoying yourself with these guys in a truck.’

22. Candy wasn’t the only one who thought swiftly. According to reports, Culkin also devised his threat to Marv and Harry: “Are you two surrendering, or do you still want more?

23. An intriguing detail about Buzz’s girlfriend (woof): It turns out she was portrayed by actor Devin Ratray, who was made up to appear as an unattractive young girl. The producers chose this approach instead of using a real girl to avoid making her look humorous due to her appearance. [Yahoo! was where Devin revealed this information.]

24. The brief scenes from the movie-within-a-movie, the mock-noir film titled “Angels with Filthy Souls“, were entirely penned by Hughes, including the famous line, “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” Local actor Ralph Foody was chosen to embody a 1940s screen star. To this day, Columbus notes, people are deceived by Ralph’s performance; they believe it is an actual old movie.

In the initial version, there was an amusing reference to the movie “Angels” as Marv and Harry found themselves in prison, discovering just how thoroughly they had been tricked while watching the film.

25. Three decades later, that movie continues to captivate audiences globally. As Stern put it in Chicago, “Wherever I go, I’m known as the ‘Home Alone’ guy.” In 2003, he visited troops in Iraq and was taken to a secured jewelry store in Baghdad where he could buy souvenirs for his wife. He was surprised when the soldiers said he could do this, as they took him into Baghdad in cars. As Stern walked into the jewelry store, he was surrounded by about 16 children yelling “Marv! Marv!” These children, amidst a war zone in Bagdad, still recognized him from ‘Home Alone’. That film has truly become universal.

2024-12-07 17:19

How Macaulay Culkin and Brenda Song Make Their Kids’ Christmas Magical

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