As an author, I always dreamed of having a book turned into a movie.
And a couple of weeks ago, I saw that dream coming true as I visited the set of the Hallmark movie based on Her Knight at the Museum. I flew into Vancouver, then took an Uber to a really cute town about forty-five minutes away to check into my hotel.
I really had no idea what to expect. I hadn’t (and still haven’t) seen the script. I didn’t know who had been cast in the movie. But in the morning, a nice driver picked me up and took me to the location of the shoot.
On the set
The driver took me to a Tudor-style mansion; they were shooting outside on the grounds. It felt like a dream to be led onto a set full of trucks, trailers, tents, equipment, a whole outdoor set, a busy crew, and the lead actors going through the blocking of the scene.
I spent most of my time on set in the “video village” tent with the director, art director, script supervisor, and the programming exec and her colleague from the channel. I actually had lunch with the exec a couple of times when I worked at Hallmark Channel; I like her so much and she’s so smart. Her movies were already among my favorites! I was so happy to get to know the other woman from the channel, and I may have talked her ear off over dinner on the first night.
Because I’m actually working on a romcom novel that takes place on what might as well be a Hallmark movie set, this was a very fortunate experience for me as a writer, and I was taking a lot of notes!
The actors
I met the actors who played Griffin and Emily right away, along with other actors with prominent roles. I thought both lead actors were perfect for the characters, and I told them so. All along, I’d been thinking that Griffin would be a difficult role to cast, but the actor who played Griffin had horseback riding and sword fighting experience, and he looked and sounded pretty much exactly how I imagined him.
Because it was so hot, I actually saw a lot of the leads: they would sometimes come into the video village tent between takes to stand over the portable cooling units in there. The actor playing Emily had just had a baby four months prior; her husband, her adorable little daughter, and her remarkably easygoing baby were on the set. Her husband is an actor, and a Hallmark regular; he’s also in a scene in the movie.
I thought the second lead actor was very good, too. (The second female lead didn’t have a real scene while I was there, though I did get to meet her.) Everyone was so warm and friendly. I worried about the actors and extras who wearing hot costumes, especially suits of armor, but everyone managed!
Dancing…and being an extra!
Over the lunch break on the second day, one of the sound guys (I am sorry I don’t know his job title) performed this fantastic d.j. and freestyle rapping set outside the big house. It included a great rap about the cameraman. He was so talented!
Now, I love to dance. I didn’t say I was a good dancer. But I am an enthusiastic dancer, and I have zero shame about it. So even though it was hot, and even though there was only one other person dancing (and he didn’t dance the whole time), I kicked off my shoes and danced for the whole set.
Later that afternoon, they were shooting a (much more sedate) dancing scene, and the programming exec told me, “You should be an extra in this!” I had mentioned to her before that I wanted to be an extra, but by then I’d sort of forgotten about it.
I didn’t feel that I looked my best. I wasn’t wearing makeup, and I was drenched with sweat from dancing. But when would I get this chance again? So I said, “Yes!”
The programming exec marched me toward the set and said, “I need a man for her!” She grabbed a guy who was probably younger than my nephew and told him he’d be dancing with me.
I enjoyed talking to the other extras, and I gave a few of them cold bottled waters that I snagged from the video village tent. One of the crew guys asked me, “So this is based on your book, and you get to be in the movie?” I said, “Apparently so!” and he gave me a fist bump. The actors were happy for me because I’d gotten onto the set, too.
All that being said, I won’t blame anyone if they decide not to include the very sweaty, non-costume-wearing lady in the scene. It was still a thrill to be part of the experience!
I hardly got any pictures…
The programming exec had warned me against sharing photos before they’d aired anything about the movie, and I didn’t want to make her nervous. I also didn’t want to invade the privacy of crew members. The actors had so much to remember (not just lines, but dance choreography, sword fighting choreography, and more), and they were working so hard, so I didn’t ask them to get photos with them, even though I really, really wanted to.
But! I saw the lead actor at the hotel restaurant after the second day of shooting, and we had dinner together. He is such a positive person, and talking to him, I realized that acting has more in common with writing than I realized. I did get a selfie with him! I will share just a couple of pictures on Instagram right before the movie airs (I am guessing early October.)
PS: WIP Wednesday is this Wednesday!
For those of you who are new to the blog, WIP Wednesday is when I share an excerpt of a work in progress, and if you want to, you can do the same in the comments (400 words maximum, no explicit material.) Here’s last month’s WIP Wednesday, if you want to check it out!
Thank you so much for reading, and have a wonderful week!
I love this so much for you, Bryn! Can’t wait to watch the movie when it airs, and will be keeping an eye open during dancing scenes to hopefully see you!
To answer your question, yes, I do think my “A Graceful Christmas” would make for a wonderful movie, since an angel coming down to Earth at Christmas to interfere in her charge’s love life — and ends up wearing an inflatable pink T-Rex suit in a Christmas parade in the process — is definitely unique. 🙂
How exciting! Thanks for sharing. I’m so happy for you! So deserving.
I’ve been on a commercial set. Not the same.
Thanks for sharing your journey with us. Many people dream. But few live to see their dreams come true. Keep writing. Keep sharing. Keep dreaming.
This is so fantastic! Really happy for you! Can’t wait to see the movie! Am I using enough exclamation points!?! :-0
Aw, Bryn…I’m so happy for you! What a wonderful experience! Definitely a happy ever after for YOUR story.
That sounds like such fun and so exciting! Congrats! Keep us in the loop! 🙂
A dream come true. Congratulations Bryn.
Oh, I forgot to answer your questions.
Yes, during my career at Disneyland, I was an extra in a number of TV specials.
The book of mine that would make an incredible addition to the Hallmark Channel lineup is just about to be published. It’s called Carried Away. It’s a second-chance romance that takes place in 1910. The main character is a widow with two children who’s stepped up to run the family’s citrus orchard in Southern California. She’s fallen for a hunky general store proprietor, who also painted her portrait (at her dead husband’s request) to be featured on the orchard’s crate labels. There’s a country fair with a Wizard of Oz-type hot-air balloon…that sweeps away my two lead characters because of the notoriously nasty Santa Ana Winds. L. Frank Baum is present at the fair. and gives an amazing speech. That’s way more than you asked for, but I can’t wait for it to hit bookshelves everywhere…and for readers to take Hazel and Cal (along with her farm’s guardian goat named William) into their hearts and minds.
As for my favorite Hallmark movies…anything Christmas!!! My mother-in-law is in the final stages of life and Hallmark Channel has been a true God-send for her comfort and distraction.
I’m so excited for you! You are totally living the dream and I’ll look forward to watching the film when it’s released! I have written a couple of books I’d very much like to see on the screen. Maybe someday!
That’s so exciting and I’m going to watch for it.
I’m honestly a little bit jealous, too.
As an author, I’d love someone to make a movie based on my books.
Congratulations!
Brilliant Bryn. What an experience to have and thank you for sharing. I know you will let us all know when the film is finally released. Such a well deserved achievement – onwards and upwards as they say. Enjoy and savour every moment – although that probably goes without saying.
I doubt if my Science Fiction novel (when I finally finish editing it) will ever make a movie. In my mind, as I am writing, I can visualise what it looks like and I hope my descriptions make sense – in my mind it is a movie lol
This is awesome! I’m so happy for you and to be on the movie set is terrific.
I can’t wait to see the movie!! What an amazing experience for you! I love this.
Yes you are a good dancer. With love from one of your old dance buds.
How exciting. I can’t wait to see this movie. I was in a reality TV show once but that’s different than a movie.
I am so happy for you! I’ve been thinking about you the last couple of days, wondering if you had been to the set and I can totally imagine your face lighting up seeing the set and actors. Congrats!! What a thrilling milestone to mark a life of dedication to your craft.