Patrick Courrielche
In 2015, Courrielche wrote a long form story "St. Nicholas: The Birth Of A Social Weapon" on the origin of Santa Claus and introduced the concept of a "social weapon" - a packaged idea, message, or product that is used by an individual or group to advance their cause. Courrielche argued that New York City elites crafted Santa Claus from St. Nicholas, a widely known patron saint, to stabilize a city plagued by annual misbehavior every December. Santa Claus was then used as a "social weapon" by merchants, craftsman, city rulers, parents, newspapers, and others to benefit their endeavors. The essay was added to the St. Nicholas Center's resource on the Origin of Santa Claus.
Off Season (2001 film)
After the death of his parents in a car crash, Jackson Mayhew (Culkin) is sent to live with his aunt who works in a hotel. He comes across an elderly gentleman named Sam who convinces Jackson that he is Santa Claus. A police officer eventually discovers that "Santa" is a con-artist wanted in several states for grand theft, fraud and other crimes
But eventually Patty (Fenn) discovers that the officer was an actor who was hired by Sam to pretend that he was a criminal. The story ends when Jackson discovers that his psychiatrist was the real Santa Claus.