00:00This movie is the second new movie of this year's countdown to Christmas slate on Hallmark and it's the third
00:05of the network's collaborations with the NFL.
00:08What was your experience like leading one of these tentpole projects and what is it about this matchup between Hallmark
00:14and the NFL that really speaks to fans?
00:17Who wants to jump in on this one?
00:19Well, I think, I'll say, I realize, because I think at first if you don't know the previous NFL movies,
00:25you're sort of like, what do sports and Hallmark have in common?
00:28And I honestly, truly believe it is like the most perfect match.
00:32Like your love for the holidays, your love for sports, families coming together, watching together, a little bit of something
00:38for everyone.
00:40So that part of it was really exciting.
00:42You know when a good invention comes out and everyone's like, oh, my gosh, how was this not invented 20
00:48years ago?
00:48When I first heard about the Hallmark and NFL joint production with the Chiefs and the very first one of
00:55those, I had that moment where I was like,
00:56how has this not been done 20 years ago?
00:59It makes so much sense because Hallmark movies bring people together.
01:02The NFL brings people together.
01:04And it was sort of this, I thought, a very sneaky synergy of like people bringing in like, say, like,
01:10if your partner doesn't watch Hallmark movies,
01:11but they're a sports fan, there's the entry point for them and vice versa.
01:15A little something for everyone.
01:16Yeah.
01:16We had scenes with either retired or, you know, present players.
01:21And these guys, these men, they were extraordinary.
01:25I mean, it was a different world to them.
01:28They were curious about it.
01:30But also within the scenes themselves, they had a total kind of naturalness.
01:35Hey, where'd you get those pretzels?
01:37Oh, you see over there by that woman?
01:40You talking about Darlene?
01:41Yeah, you know her?
01:42Of course.
01:43She volunteers every year at the Bears Family Fest.
01:46And immediately responding and relating.
01:50And it was, it was really exciting from that point of view for us, you know?
01:55Outside of Soldier Field, the film takes us to the Irish nobleman in Chicago, which I didn't realize was an
02:00actual real bar.
02:02Did you get to shoot at the real location?
02:05And I have to ask, what are your real thoughts on Malor?
02:15Oh, what is that?
02:19Malor, to write a passage for anyone new to the city.
02:23Don't put it on the brochure.
02:25Maddie.
02:25Everything in the movie is, we were in all those places.
02:28Right.
02:28There were no green screens.
02:29It was, it's like truly, but Malort, I think is how you say it.
02:34Malort.
02:35Pretty good.
02:35Malort.
02:36Malort.
02:37Yeah, Malort.
02:37You tried it, right, Marcia?
02:38It has the accent on it.
02:39Yes.
02:39It's not great.
02:40It was terrible.
02:41Yeah.
02:42It is.
02:43It's terrible.
02:44It was a tough tasting.
02:46It was tough tasting.
02:47It's like if Jaeger had a cousin.
02:49Right?
02:50Well, not knowing Jaeger, I'm not sure if it was a cousin or a sister.
02:56But I mean, too close for comfort.
02:59No, it was really, it was an acquired taste.
03:02Let me say that.
03:03But it was sort of like, what is that other digestif that's like for your stomach or something?
03:11Sort of like, it had that kind of, almost medicinal, thank you.
03:15Medicinal.
03:15Yeah.
03:16Gotcha.
03:16Which is what you're looking for in a, just a tasty little drink, right?
03:20Exactly.
03:20Around the holidays.
03:22Yeah.
03:22Exactly.
03:23Nice little sweet treat.
03:24They're very serious about it in Chicago.
03:25Oh, they are.
03:26They're very serious.
03:27And because we love Chicago and we love the bears, you know, I'll drink it anytime.
03:33Just game.
03:34With them.
03:35I'm game.
03:36That's awesome.
03:37And like Malort, or Malort, I believe.
03:41Malort.
03:41Yes.
03:41Like Malort, this movie embraces a lot of other Chicago traditions and dishes.
03:45What was your favorite to try or do while shooting?
03:49Well, Robert.
03:50Yes, Robert.
03:51The way I like to experience cities is by eating my way through them.
03:54And Chicago was heaven for me.
03:56No exception.
03:57Yeah, truly.
03:58I mean, tavern style pizza that I had a reawakening.
04:02It's spiritual experience, if you will.
04:04It was incredible.
04:05Italian beef dip sandwiches, which I'd never had properly before Chicago.
04:08That was incredible.
04:09And they had to dip twice.
04:11Got to double dip that bad boy.
04:12And the Chicago dog itself is iconic for a reason.
04:16It's incredible.
04:18Did you have a specific place that you'd go to get them?
04:21Yeah.
04:21If you're going to go to get tavern style, I would say Zarella.
04:23If you're going to go to get Italian beef, Mr. Beef, Al's, Portillo's, if you want.
04:30And if you're going to get a Chicago dog, I mean.
04:33They should hire him.
04:34I know.
04:34I should be on the, what is it, like the Board of Commerce or like tourism, you know?
04:38Yeah, you should.
04:39You run it now.
04:40Are you listening, Chicago?
04:41I'm available for a collaboration.
04:43Yes.
04:44This cast is stacked in this movie.
04:46And I loved seeing Barbara Allen Woods play Jody, Avery's mother.
04:50And this also kind of became a One Tree Hill reunion for you and her, if you will.
04:54What was it like getting to reunite with her on set?
04:57Oh, it was the best.
04:58I mean, I love Barbara, but like we never crossed paths on One Tree Hill.
05:03And so we only get to see each other at conventions.
05:05And then right after I had signed on to this movie about two days later, I just woke up to
05:08a text from her saying, if you were to do a Christmas movie with any member of the One
05:13Tree Hill cast, who would you want it to be?
05:16And I was like, oh my God, no way.
05:19So she is just a delight to spend time with.
05:22And she's also fantastic to work with.
05:24So every day that I got to be on set with her was just the best.
05:29I love that.
05:30And is there an NFL team any of you hope to see in a future Holiday Touchdown movie?
05:36The sequel with the Bears.
05:37Yes.
05:38Yes.
05:38We have a lot more to uncover with the Bears.
05:40Yes.
05:41And it's an extraordinary organization.
05:45And their participation with Hallmark made it so much more fun.
05:51And they were really gung-ho with it.
05:53And they treated us so beautifully.
05:55And they take good care of you.
05:58And we got to be with the coach, too.
06:00That was like an amazing thing.
06:02That was fantastic.
06:03That was great.
06:04That was great.
06:04Thanks so much.
