By Jené Evans McCracken
Local Niceville resident, Bill McCracken, is one proud Great Uncle! His Great Nephew, James McCracken, is featured in Disney’s new Christmas movie, “Christmas … Again?!” which debuted December 10, 2021, on the Disney Channel and Disney+. Bill graduated from Niceville High School in 1969 and from Okaloosa-Walton Junior College (OWJC)—now Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC)—in 1971. “My Father, Dr. James Edward ‘Ed’ McCracken, the Founding President of OWJC grew up in a family where all of the Arts were valued,” said Bill. “He would be very proud of James, his great grandson and namesake.”
As President of OWJC, Dr. McCracken actively supported bringing the Arts to OWJC and to our local communities. Many people in this area will remember the annual “American Arts Festival” in the early years of “Boggy Tech” which began in Perrine Park in Valparaiso at the original campus of OWJC.” The American Arts Festivals celebrated all the Arts – from wood carving to blacksmithing to ceramics to theater, writing, journalism, music (from folk music to opera), photography, graphics, painting. You name the art or craft, the American Arts Festivals celebrated it! NWFSC is well known for its continued support and promotion of the Arts, a core value that Dr. McCracken instilled at the very beginning of the College.
Dr. McCracken also passed that appreciation along to all his children and grandchildren who, in turn, have passed that legacy to his great grandchildren.
James’ grandfather, Mr. Tom McCracken, now retired, became a librarian specializing in photography, audio-visual media and distance learning. At OWJC, Tom participated in the summer Arts/Humanities course that toured Europe. With the encouragement of both Ed and Tom McCracken, James’ father, Michael McCracken pursued his interests in the Arts which include acting, comedy and music. Michael has his own acting academy in Chicago, the Vagabond Acting School. James’ mother, Becca McCracken, is an award-winning casting agent for theater, film and television.
James, now 7, auditioned for and won the part of “Louie” who is “an annoying future brother” in the Christmas film. James’ personal interests include reading, soccer and playing with his younger brother Hayes.
The movie stars age 11 Scarlett Estevez (from Tampa) as Rowena. “Ro” is troubled by her parents’ impending divorce, her Dad’s new girlfriend and the girlfriend’s pesky son “Louis” (James McCracken) who plays jokes on Rowena, absconds with her Christmas present and interrupts conversations. James plays “irritating” and “annoying” quite well!
“Christmas … Again?!” is a “time loop” movie. Rowena doesn’t want change and her wish to Santa is for things to stay the same. She gets her wish and her day repeats itself over and over again. In this, it is reminiscent of the movie “Groundhog Day.”
In the end, Ro finally extricates herself from this nightmare. Ro and Louie come to appreciate their blending family and welcome new family members and new friends to their Christmas celebrations.
In addition to being available on the Disney Channel and Disney+, “Christmas…Again?” is also available as a DVD and as a book on Amazon.com and at Walmart. The movie (and James McCracken) is featured in the January 2022 issue of J-14 Teen Celeb magazine. James was interviewed on multiple days by ABC Television during the week of the movie debut (check on YouTube or Google “James McCracken Disney actor”).
After completing the movie, James, a public school second grade student, asked his mother, “When’s my next movie?”
