Wedding Bells Meaning
Someone asked, "So how handsome is Christopher Russell in person?"
He's ridiculously handsome. And he eats like nonstop. I was like--how is is possible? Every time we had a moment where we could walk away from the set, he would be at craft service eating something. Anytime anyone would ask, 'Where is Christopher?" He's at craft service, I can guarantee it. He's ridiculously handsome and just so lovely. It was a real pleasure working with him.
Without revealing too much about Wedding Bells, what message do you hope the viewers will take away from the film?
It's interesting because there's two kind of main story lines. There's Molly and Nick and me (Amy) and Christopher (James)--actually there's kind of three. We talked a lot about that--how …show more content…
there's three different story lines that all kind of come together. But I think that the main thing is to not be afraid to listen to your heart. There's where it really stands out for me. And it kind of follows all of the story lines. You've got to be free to listen to your heart whether it's good or even if it might be bad.
So in addition to Wedding Bells, I believe you have at least one other thing coming up really soon, don't you? Can you tell us about your upcoming film?
Yes, it's called Menorca. I shot it last summer in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was pretty cool to go back (home) there and work with a bunch of people that I had originally worked with. And we also shot for a week in Menorka, Spain. It's an independent feature. And it's interesting because when we were shooting it, I thought it was really dark material and that it was really heavy material for me. But I went to Winnipeg earlier this year to do a lot of ADR for it 'cause there is sort of a running narrative throughout the movie. And it's a lot more funny than I thought it was going to be. It was surprising in a good way.
So I'm playing this--I'll give you the tag line for it-- I'm playing a hedonistic soccer mom who indulges in her fantasy world breaking away entirely from her family and life of motherhood. As she embarks on a journey through bad decision-making, she comes to the conclusion to the singularity of her life's purpose--to win back her son's affection. So for me, it's like this woman. She's kind of going through a mid-life crisis. She's in a situation that she didn't expect her life to be in. And she's totally miserable. And it's either she makes a change or literally, I felt like, she would die. And so she makes the decision to leave her family. But in the process of making this journey, she realizes what's (or who's) the most important thing.
Wow--that sounds very deep but rather intriguing. So since this is independent, where will it be available for people to see it?
We're hoping for film festivals, for sure. Right now, we have Canadian distribution through a production company in Toronto. So at the very least, if we don't get into any festivals--but I'm hoping and praying we get into tons--we'll be screening across Canada for sure. And so hopefully if get into some film festivals, we'll get a U.S. distributor, and then you'll get to see it in the States.
Best of luck to you on that.
Oh, thank you.
I remember you talking about that film. It sounds like something to watch for. Do you have any other upcoming works that you can talk about?
For right now, that's pretty much all I have on my slate. I am going to the Leo Awards on Saturday as I am nominated for a Leo Award for Best Guest Performance for my role in Ties That Bind. It will be quite a weekend. We have the premiere of Wedding Bells on Friday and Saturday, the Leo Awards.
I do remember reading that now. And that's pretty cool because Ties That Bind only made it for one season. I know I've heard rumors...
I've heard rumors as well. Sheryl J. Anderson was the creator and show runner. She's been putting hinty messages on Twitter. It would really be exciting if it came back. I really loved working on the show. It was a fun show, and I felt like the Kelli Williams storyline was really interesting.
Well, I can say, best of luck to you (at the Leo Awards) too.
Oh, thanks.
It would be awesome to win, but the fact that you got nominated is an honor.
It is, that's for sure.
What would be your dream role?
I would definitely say like more of the actiony stuff. I love it. I got a taste of it on Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I was falling out of helicopters, falling down a cliff. I was shooting guns. But that to me was so exciting and so fun. I would love to do some sort of super spy, secret agent kind of stuff. That would be like the best.
I could see you doing that. They should put you in some more of the Hallmark mystery films.
Ah, for sure!
That would be super fun. I could be like the killer.
Is there someone you would like to work with one day? It's probably a long list, but who are the top people?
Yeah, super long list. But for sure, Meryl Streep hands down. Cate Blanchette absolutely. The list is so long. A lot of women stand out for me for some reason. Not only are those two women such strong actors, but they have such a broad range to them. Especially Meryl Streep. She does comedy so well and she does drama so well. But I also like Cate Blanchette--she played Bob Dylan.I'm trying to think of a director I'm dying to work with. There just are so many. Martin Scorsese--I can't even imagine, you know, it'd be so amazing.
What are your thoughts on gender inequality in Hollywood?
Well, it's interesting 'cause being an actor, generally if you watch the majority of any movies or TV shows, there's always more male roles than female. Hallmark's pretty good in that they do have a lot of female-driven--well, all of their stuff is basically female-driven content. Which I think is really incredible because there's a giant market for it. Women want to see shows and movies about women. And I think what's amazing is that slowly some of the bigger studios and the bigger budget features are leaning towards that. For example, the female Ghostbusters--there's such an uproar about it, but I'm dying to see it! Like those women are funny! It's interesting and tough because I feel like film and TV should be representative of our society as it is and studios need to see that women want to see shows and movies about
women.
It's also very hard to find female directors, producers, and writers.
I find that there are definitely more female producers than female directors. Even when I look at my own career, I've really only worked with three or four female directors, which is kind of sad in a way. Women bring such a different perspective, I find. Last summer, I directed and produced a web series. It was my first time directing something. It was interesting because I did definitely get backlash from males that were not happy being told what to do by a woman. And it was really shocking to me. I was like, "Woh! Really? Really!?"
I think you're right that a lot of guys don't want to be told what to do by a woman, which is kind of sad in this day and age.
What I've heard is that the networks and the studios are changing things and even for financing in Canada, some of them are making it a mandate that you have to give fifty percent of the financing to women. So definitely things like that, if they're starting to implement they're going to help change things because it gives women more opportunity for sure.
Hearing Tammy speak from a women's perspective was so invigorating and inspiring for me as a fellow woman. Furthermore, being regaled with her behind-the-scenes stories she told about each of her films confirmed to me what every actor has always insisted about Hallmark--they are superlative when it comes to the people that work for them. And, of course, one would scramble aimlessly to ever find a woman as gifted, gracious, and exquisite as Tammy. What you see on the screen is who she is--a woman who thrives on challenges and adventure, but still keeps her unweilding pragmatism when it comes to the work, toil, and sweat necessary to create a memorable role that truly connects with her audiences. Be sure that you catch Tammy in her new Hallmark film Wedding Bells, premiering tonight (June 3) on the Hallmark Channel. Oh, and she and co-star Danica McKellar will be live tweeting tonight, so don't miss it!
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About Wedding Bells
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He's ridiculously handsome. And he eats like nonstop. I was like--how is is possible? Every time we had a moment where we could walk away from the set, he would be at craft service eating something. Anytime anyone would ask, 'Where is Christopher?" He's at craft service, I can guarantee it. He's ridiculously handsome and just so lovely. It was a real pleasure working with him.
Without revealing too much about Wedding Bells, what message do you hope the viewers will take away from the film?
It's interesting because there's two kind of main story lines. There's Molly and Nick and me (Amy) and Christopher (James)--actually there's kind of three. We talked a lot about that--how …show more content…
there's three different story lines that all kind of come together. But I think that the main thing is to not be afraid to listen to your heart. There's where it really stands out for me. And it kind of follows all of the story lines. You've got to be free to listen to your heart whether it's good or even if it might be bad.
So in addition to Wedding Bells, I believe you have at least one other thing coming up really soon, don't you? Can you tell us about your upcoming film?
Yes, it's called Menorca. I shot it last summer in Winnipeg, Manitoba. It was pretty cool to go back (home) there and work with a bunch of people that I had originally worked with. And we also shot for a week in Menorka, Spain. It's an independent feature. And it's interesting because when we were shooting it, I thought it was really dark material and that it was really heavy material for me. But I went to Winnipeg earlier this year to do a lot of ADR for it 'cause there is sort of a running narrative throughout the movie. And it's a lot more funny than I thought it was going to be. It was surprising in a good way.
So I'm playing this--I'll give you the tag line for it-- I'm playing a hedonistic soccer mom who indulges in her fantasy world breaking away entirely from her family and life of motherhood. As she embarks on a journey through bad decision-making, she comes to the conclusion to the singularity of her life's purpose--to win back her son's affection. So for me, it's like this woman. She's kind of going through a mid-life crisis. She's in a situation that she didn't expect her life to be in. And she's totally miserable. And it's either she makes a change or literally, I felt like, she would die. And so she makes the decision to leave her family. But in the process of making this journey, she realizes what's (or who's) the most important thing.
Wow--that sounds very deep but rather intriguing. So since this is independent, where will it be available for people to see it?
We're hoping for film festivals, for sure. Right now, we have Canadian distribution through a production company in Toronto. So at the very least, if we don't get into any festivals--but I'm hoping and praying we get into tons--we'll be screening across Canada for sure. And so hopefully if get into some film festivals, we'll get a U.S. distributor, and then you'll get to see it in the States.
Best of luck to you on that.
Oh, thank you.
I remember you talking about that film. It sounds like something to watch for. Do you have any other upcoming works that you can talk about?
For right now, that's pretty much all I have on my slate. I am going to the Leo Awards on Saturday as I am nominated for a Leo Award for Best Guest Performance for my role in Ties That Bind. It will be quite a weekend. We have the premiere of Wedding Bells on Friday and Saturday, the Leo Awards.
I do remember reading that now. And that's pretty cool because Ties That Bind only made it for one season. I know I've heard rumors...
I've heard rumors as well. Sheryl J. Anderson was the creator and show runner. She's been putting hinty messages on Twitter. It would really be exciting if it came back. I really loved working on the show. It was a fun show, and I felt like the Kelli Williams storyline was really interesting.
Well, I can say, best of luck to you (at the Leo Awards) too.
Oh, thanks.
It would be awesome to win, but the fact that you got nominated is an honor.
It is, that's for sure.
What would be your dream role?
I would definitely say like more of the actiony stuff. I love it. I got a taste of it on Signed, Sealed, Delivered. I was falling out of helicopters, falling down a cliff. I was shooting guns. But that to me was so exciting and so fun. I would love to do some sort of super spy, secret agent kind of stuff. That would be like the best.
I could see you doing that. They should put you in some more of the Hallmark mystery films.
Ah, for sure!
That would be super fun. I could be like the killer.
Is there someone you would like to work with one day? It's probably a long list, but who are the top people?
Yeah, super long list. But for sure, Meryl Streep hands down. Cate Blanchette absolutely. The list is so long. A lot of women stand out for me for some reason. Not only are those two women such strong actors, but they have such a broad range to them. Especially Meryl Streep. She does comedy so well and she does drama so well. But I also like Cate Blanchette--she played Bob Dylan.I'm trying to think of a director I'm dying to work with. There just are so many. Martin Scorsese--I can't even imagine, you know, it'd be so amazing.
What are your thoughts on gender inequality in Hollywood?
Well, it's interesting 'cause being an actor, generally if you watch the majority of any movies or TV shows, there's always more male roles than female. Hallmark's pretty good in that they do have a lot of female-driven--well, all of their stuff is basically female-driven content. Which I think is really incredible because there's a giant market for it. Women want to see shows and movies about women. And I think what's amazing is that slowly some of the bigger studios and the bigger budget features are leaning towards that. For example, the female Ghostbusters--there's such an uproar about it, but I'm dying to see it! Like those women are funny! It's interesting and tough because I feel like film and TV should be representative of our society as it is and studios need to see that women want to see shows and movies about
women.
It's also very hard to find female directors, producers, and writers.
I find that there are definitely more female producers than female directors. Even when I look at my own career, I've really only worked with three or four female directors, which is kind of sad in a way. Women bring such a different perspective, I find. Last summer, I directed and produced a web series. It was my first time directing something. It was interesting because I did definitely get backlash from males that were not happy being told what to do by a woman. And it was really shocking to me. I was like, "Woh! Really? Really!?"
I think you're right that a lot of guys don't want to be told what to do by a woman, which is kind of sad in this day and age.
What I've heard is that the networks and the studios are changing things and even for financing in Canada, some of them are making it a mandate that you have to give fifty percent of the financing to women. So definitely things like that, if they're starting to implement they're going to help change things because it gives women more opportunity for sure.
Hearing Tammy speak from a women's perspective was so invigorating and inspiring for me as a fellow woman. Furthermore, being regaled with her behind-the-scenes stories she told about each of her films confirmed to me what every actor has always insisted about Hallmark--they are superlative when it comes to the people that work for them. And, of course, one would scramble aimlessly to ever find a woman as gifted, gracious, and exquisite as Tammy. What you see on the screen is who she is--a woman who thrives on challenges and adventure, but still keeps her unweilding pragmatism when it comes to the work, toil, and sweat necessary to create a memorable role that truly connects with her audiences. Be sure that you catch Tammy in her new Hallmark film Wedding Bells, premiering tonight (June 3) on the Hallmark Channel. Oh, and she and co-star Danica McKellar will be live tweeting tonight, so don't miss it!
For more information:
About Wedding Bells
Follow Tammy: