🎄💕 May your *MAY* Days be *Merry & Bright* with Hallmark's Christmas Movies this Week! #Hallmarkies 🎄💕 DETAILS HERE:

Merry & Bright DVD - available at Amazon
Click Here for current price

The weather may be heating up, but we can still cool off with a little Christmas on Hallmark!

Check out this week -

🌟Kevin Sorbo has a secret identity in "The Santa Suit!"

🌟Hallmark honors our military with Eloise Mumford and Sean Faris in "A Veteran's Christmas!"

🌟Jodie Sweetin and Andrew Walker light up Hallmark's Christmas movies with "Merry & Bright!"

See details on theses movies below...

🌟🌟🌟

Hallmark Drama's
"Home for the Holidays"
classic Christmas movie feature is...
"The Santa Suit"
on Wednesday, May 27th at 9pm/8c..

image: Hallmark Crown Media

Storyline via Hallmark: Drake Hunter, the president of Hunter Marketing, has the perfect plan to boost sales for his father's toy company over the holiday season--hire department store Santas to promote his father's merchandise. When the real Santa Claus turns Drake into a Santa lookalike, Drake finds himself working as a dress-up Kris Kringle to make ends meet. Stripped of power and position, Drake discovers the importance of honesty, compassion, and respect as he helps an unprivileged girl enjoy the magic of Christmas.

"The Santa Suit" is also available to watch on Amazon Prime Video!

🌟🌟🌟

Hallmark Movies & Mysteries
"Miracles of Christmas"
classic Christmas movie feature is
"A Veteran's Christmas"
on Thursday, May 28th at 9pm/8c.

image: Hallmark Crown Media

Storyline via Hallmark: Honorably discharged from the Marines, Grace is driving to Cincinnati, when her jeep breaks down, and Judge Joe Peterson offers his guesthouse until it’s repaired. As they spend time together they fall in love, but Grace worries Joe isn’t over his ex, Marnie, and Joe must decide if he should move to Chicago to be a District Court Judge. If he does, Grace sees no reason to accept a job heading the town’s Search & Rescue. Overhearing Joe talking to Marnie, Grace is brokenhearted, and leaves, until Joe unleashes a surprise that could make Grace stay in River Crossing forever.

"A Veteran's Christmas" is available on DVD!

🌟🌟🌟

Hallmark Channel's
"Countdown to Christmas"
classic Christmas movie feature is
"Merry & Bright"
on Friday, May 29th at 8pm/7c.

image: Hallmark Crown Media

Storyline via Hallmark: Cate is the CEO of Merry & Bright, a struggling small-town candy cane factory. Gabe is a New York consultant tasked with saving the company. With Christmas approaching, Gabe travels to the town, only to find Cate resenting his efforts to restructure her business. Though they initially clash, they soon develop feelings for each other. But when Gabe urges her to accept a high-profile investor’s suggestion to abandon the traditional methods of her business, Cate parts ways with him. On Christmas Eve, Cate wonders if she’ll manage to save her factory and if she’ll ever find a holiday romance again.

"Merry & Bright" is available on DVD!

🌟🌟🌟

I hope you enjoy all three Christmas movies - airing on all three Hallmark networks!

My Christmas Movie Pick of the Week:

"A Veteran's Christmas!" I love the lightheartedness of the sweet little town of River's Crossing, and how they all come together to make Christmas special for Grace, a veteran of the Marines. Eloise Mumford (Grace) and Sean Faris (Joe, the town's judge) are such a sweet pairing. Their chemistry is just as spot on in this movie as it was in "Christmas with Holly!"

"A Veteran's Christmas" is definitely one of those movies that makes you feel good inside and gives American viewers a sense of pride in our country and those who serve, human and canine!

Do YOU have a special TOP Christmas Movie Pick of the week? If so, please share in comments below...

Also, be sure to check my Christmas TV Schedule for even more Christmas movies airing in June!

Blessings to You All, Net

Interview with Hallmark Channel Movie Writer Kevin Commins

I am excited to share with you all today... My Exclusive Interview with Writer, Kevin Commins, who has written several Hallmark Movies... including Two – coming up this Christmas Season! Please See all the details in his interview with “It’s a Wonderful Movie” below! Enjoy....

-------------------------------------

Interview with Kevin Commins,

Hallmark Channel Movie Writer:

-------------------------------------

1: First of all, would you please share with us the titles of all the Hallmark Channel Movies you have written?


Christmas Song

 So far, I've written two dramas, Every Second Counts and You Lucky Dog. I've also done four Christmas movies for them: The Santa Suit, Christmas Magic, Christmas Song, and Come Dance with Me aka The Christmas Dance. And I'm hoping there will be many more to come. I've had a very happy and rewarding history with Hallmark. Their audience is very well defined so they know exactly what they want. It's easy to know what will or won't work for them, and write the script accordingly. It's also nice to have a "safe harbor," a place where I can tell my friends that they can can sit down with your kids and watch this movie together because there's nothing in it that they'll be embarrassed about.


2: Which one, of your own movies, would you consider to be your favorite? (If it is possible to choose!)

Arghh, I hate naming favorites. It implies that I don't like the others which isn't the case. I suppose for Christmas movies, I'd say The Santa Suit because it's the most comedic. In it, Kevin Sorbo plays an executive who believes that Christmas is nothing more than a marketing tool so he is cursed by the real Santa Claus so that he looks like Santa to everyone but the audience.



Kevin Sorbo
The Santa Suit

 Since he now can't get into his office or home, he has to get a job as a department store Santa and, of course, learns the true meaning of Christmas there. It's a high concept comedy which let both me and the cast have a lot of fun with it. Feedback from viewers has been very positive, which is wonderful.

3: Do you ever watch your own movies on the Hallmark Channel?

I do when they air but rarely after that. I watch the various cuts -- rough, director's, producer's, final, etc. -- so that by the time it airs I've already seen it a number of times. But it's fun watching the premiere with friends.


4: Do you, perhaps, have a favorite Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie or Classic Christmas Movie, that you enjoy watching every year?

The two shows I most associate with Christmas are both cartoons: The Grinch who Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Even just hearing a snatch of Vince Guaraldi's jazz score for that show instantly puts me in a Christmas mood.


5: What was Christmas like in the era you grew up?


Norman Rockwell
Christmas Image


It was very Norman Rockwell. I grew up in a small town in Vermont during the 60s and 70s, the oldest of eight kids. Preparations began in early December when my mother would start buying presents and hiding them. That was impossible in our house but luckily, we had a neighbor with room to spare so the gifts were usually stashed there. We painted cookies and made gift baskets of them for friends. We always got a big tree and put it in the picture window at the front of the house. Christmas morning, of course, meant running downstairs and swarming around the tree like hungry locusts and opening presents. Being Vermont, we almost always had a white Christmas and so there was sledding on the hill in back of our house which we did while Christmas dinner was cooking. Oh, and Perry Como and Bing Crosby on the stereo singing carols. It was a lot of fun.


6: Where do you find inspiration for your stories/characters?

As a writer, I'm very plot-driven. I first work on the "hook" or the "twist" that will bring a surprise or twist to the third act. Once I get that, I figure out the basic problem that my characters will have to solve and then build the plot around that. Finally I create the characters to fit the plot. I know it sounds mechanical but it's sort of like learning how to ballroom dance: after both partners learn the mechanics of how the dance works, they can forget about it and have fun.


7: Has there ever been an actor or actress, that was cast as one of your characters – that you thought was a perfect fit? (You may choose more than one!)

I've been very happy with the actors that have been in my films but, honestly, I don't picture anybody in particular when I write. I'm horrible at casting; say the word and I forget every actor I've ever seen. Thank God there are professionals who cast for a living.


8: Are you ever on set when your movie comes to life - off the written page?

Yes, I've visited the set on several movies. It's a very strange sensation, sort of like having a dream come true. But by that, I don't mean "oh, it was wonderful, a dream come true..." Instead, it's suddenly seeing and hearing people say things that, until then, I have only heard inside my head. It's a little disconcerting...


9: Have you ever been, or would you ever like to be, an extra in one of your movies, much like Alfred Hitchcock used to be in his films?

It never occurred to me to do that. No, not really. Being an extra -- or a film actor, for that matter -- means a lot of sitting and standing around until it's time for the camera to roll. I'd rather be doing something else.



Come Dance with Me


10: What do you hope that viewers will take away from watching your movies?

I'd like to think they give families a chance to sit down, take a deep breath and forget about everything they HAVE to do to prepare for the holidays, and just be together sharing a happy moment. When I was a kid, Christmas was really about presents and what toys were waiting for me under the tree. Now that I'm an adult (well, sometimes) I don't remember the toys anymore but I do remember the enjoyment of being with my family. There are a lot of distractions in modern life. It seems like everything and everybody is shouting at you, trying to grab your attention, and diverting you from what is real and valuable in life, which really is the people around you. I'd love it if my movies gave audiences a chance to share a few laughs and maybe even a few tears together.

Do you, perhaps, have a web-site, twitter, or facebook account where fans can follow you?

I'm on the Internet Movie Database, imdb.com, but other than that, no.



Thank You so much, Kevin, for sharing your Movie Experiences with us and taking the time to answer these Questions. Many of us – have already thoroughly enjoyed watching your movies – so we wish to say "Thank You" to You and we look forward to your New ones, too!

Also, I liked your choices for favorite Christmas Specials – the animations of The Grinch who Stole Christmas and A Charlie Brown Christmas! Both are Terrific Classics! Another answer I enjoyed of yours – was your response to your Childhood Christmas, as you said, “It was very Norman Rockwell”. That is so beautiful. I, too, am blessed to say mine felt much the same.

I sincerely hope you all enjoyed reading Kevin's responses and will also enjoy his new Hallmark Channel Christmas Movies – “Christmas Song” and “Come Dance with Me” - this Christmas and many Christmas Seasons to come! As Kevin wrote above... "I'd like to think they give families a chance to sit down, take a deep breath and forget about everything they HAVE to do to prepare for the holidays, and just be together sharing a happy moment."

I hope you all enjoy sharing “The Moment” of your next Family Movie Night, Net

*See the “Christmas Song” and “Come Dance with Me” pages for more Movie Details!

*See the Christmas TV Schedule to see when these Movies will air on TV!

*Share your thoughts on this Interview by clicking below on Comments or Post a Comment.


-------------------------------------
*Pictures via Hallmark Crown Media Family Network.

The Santa Suit Premieres Tonight!

December 2, 2010

The Hallmark Channel Premieres a New Movie Tonight - The Santa Suit starring Kevin Sorbo!

A Greedy CEO is suddenly transformed from Fortune 500 phenom to Santa Claus!

Click Here for Plot Details & more Images from the Movie!

*Visit the CHRISTMAS TV SCHEDULE for air dates and times.

The Santa Suit - Hallmark Channel Christmas Movie

MOVIE REVIEW

The Santa Suit

Network: Hallmark Channel

Original Air Date: December 2, 2010



CAST:

Kevin Sorbo ... Drake Hunter
Jodie Dowdall ... Nancy
Briana D'Aguanno ... Gemma

PLOT:

from Hallmark press release-

In "The Santa Suit," Sorbo plays greedy elitist and Hunter Toys CEO Drake Hunter who looks down on the whole of humanity until he is suddenly transformed from Fortune 500 phenom to Santa Claus to learn that when people are stripped of worldly splendor, and have nothing except their humanity to define them, they tend to make more heartfelt and purposeful choices.

Drake Hunter belongs on the cover of GQ. In his Savile Row suits and Caine Oxford shoes, the Hunter Toys' topper is the cover boy for corporate success. But Hunter has an odd disdain for Christmas, its symbols and sentiments, and everything else, except the green he pockets in profits. Hunter has come up with a deliciously deceitful marketing plan this Christmas. He has dispatched mall Santas throughout the city to whisper into the ears of boys and girls, "It isn't a great toy, unless it's from Hunter's!" There's only one problem: Santa is watching, and he isn't amused.

In an instant, Santa Claus transforms Drake into his own image - full, round face and belly, long, flowing beard. Now Drake has a problem: He's mistaken for a vagrant "Kriss" and forced into a homeless shelter. With no family or friends to miss him, Drake/Kriss strikes up a relationship with Nancy (Jodie Dowdall, "Termination Point"), a social worker, and must take a job as a mall Santa himself to maintain his living arrangement at the shelter. Drake also befriends Gemma (Briana D'Aguanno, "Flashpoint"), a young girl from an impoverished family who has become a latchkey kid because her mother has to make ends meet by pulling double shifts at Hunter Toys.

Humbled and broken, Drake realizes the joy his toys will bring to children everywhere and the hope and security his company can be to parents who work there. Firm in his belief that Drake will be a transformational figure in the lives of others from now on, Santa returns the man to his original identity. Drake is teeming with energy and enthusiasm. Christmas is coming and there are many dreams to fulfill!

"The Santa Suit" is a C/P Xmas Productions Inc. Lewis Chesler, David Perlmutter and Rob Vaughn are the executive producers, and Marek Posival is the producer. Rob Vaughn directed from a script by Kevin Commins.

The Hallmark Channel is owned and operated by Crown Media Holdings, Inc.

Movie Review:

Coming...


See or Skip:

Coming...

--