Earlier this week, it was announced that Daniel Lissing, When Calls the Heart alumni, will appear in the GAC Family Christmas special, When Hope Calls: A Country Christmas. The Christmas special will mark the start of a second season for When Calls the Heartâs spin-off, When Hope Calls. At the time of the initial announcement, Danielâs role wasnât revealed. But according on an article from CinemaBlend, it looks like the beans may have been spilled. CinemaBlendâs Jessica Rawden recently wrote about Danielâs return to the When Calls the Heart universe. In the article, Jessica wrote how âhis character Jack will be appearing along with Abigail on the small screenâ. As of October 2021, we donât know how accurate this statement is. Even if Daniel is portraying Jack again, we donât know what the characterâs significance will be in the story. Jessica also writes how âfans of the two Hallmark shows will learn more about Daniel Lissingâs When Hope Calls gig sometime on October 11â. If there is any truth to this statement, we could be hearing news about this particular development very soon.
A trailer for the new Signed, Sealed, Delivered film, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: The Vows We Have, has been posted on Hallmark Movies & Mysteriesâ home page. The trailer emphasized Shane and Oliverâs wedding, with the second half of the trailer briefly explaining the mystery surrounding a missing letter. This piece of marketing highlights an issue Iâve had with this particular series. In my review of the previous entry, Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar, I said there was an imbalance between the story of the POstables and the filmâs main mystery. Based on this trailer, it looks like the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series is approachingthe new story in the same way as before. I hope this new movie is better than Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar. For now, Iâm going to keep my expectations low.
In an article from Heavy, Stephanie Dube Dwilson wrote about the possibility of a Chesapeake Shores movie. The Executive Producer of the show, Daniel Paulson, expressed interest in creating a movie surroundingthe series. Daniel said, âIâd be happy to do holiday or specials for themâ and âmaybe if the fans speak up and let that be known, we could do oneâ. According to the article, the showâs Facebookpage stated back in August âas soon as we have more information, we will be sure to share itâ, referring tothe fruition of a movie. Personally, I think the showâs creative team is waiting until news of a sixth season isannounced. As of October 2021, a sixth season for Chesapeake Shores has not been greenlit or denied. Wealso donât know how the eighth season will end.
On July 24th, Google Trends Now reported a Christmas movie is about to begin filming in late August. So far, this film is titled âThe Seek for Christmasâ. But âthat may most likely change earlier than it airsâ, says Evergreen Movie Productionsâ Daniel Lewis. Erin Cahill, an actress who has starred in five Hallmark films, will be the lead actress and a producer on the project, according to the article. Maclain Nelson has also been announced as the movieâs director. The production is being filmed in Natchez, Mississippi, which is located near the Louisiana border. Daniel said âThe Seek for Christmasâ âis about three sisters who grew aside and their journey of discovering their manner again to one another over the Christmas vacationâ. Daniel also said âthat filmmakers did their analysis to make the film as authentically Natchez as attainable and have written Natchez Christmas traditions such because the annual Christmas parade into the scriptâ. Even though Hallmark Channel is mentioned in the article and its title, the network has not confirmed their association to this movie, as of late July to early August 2021.
In Kemptville, Ontario, Canada, a Christmas movie has been in production since July 19th. Ashley Kulp, from Inside Ottawa Valley, writes that this movie is, so far, titled âThe Christmas Campaignâ. Filming locations in Kemptville have included âthe former North Grenville District High School on Prescott Streetâ and downtown Kemptville. Almonte, Carp, and Ottawa have also been announced as filming locations. No story-related details or casting decisions have been made known at this time. Also, it is unknown where this movie will premiere.
The link to the articles I referenced in this post:
Angelique Jackson, from Variety, reported on July 28th about Hallmarkâs plans to create television films based on the companyâs Mahogany card line. The article states how these efforts will consist of âa quarterly slate of original movies coming to Hallmark Movies & Mysteries in early 2022â. The pre-production phase of the project started âin early 2021â, with Wonya Lucas, Crown Media Family Networksâ president and CEO, and Toni Judkins, Crown Media Family Networkâs current programming and development senior VP, working to get the project off the ground. âMahogany is a 34-year-old brand that has been an important part of the portfolio since its existence. So for us, itâs not an initiative; itâs bringing something to life through storytellingâ, said Wonya. Toni responded to Variety by saying âIt was a brand that I love and have known for decades. It just seemed like the most natural, authentic thing to do, to translate and take the inspiration behind the Mahogany card brand and bring it to airâ.
This article from Variety mentions how Hallmark has big plans for their Mahogany series. Angelique writes how the network wants âto further expand the franchise to include podcasts and scripted series in the coming yearsâ. According to the article, the Mahogany series is a stepping stone toward programming based on Hallmarkâs other card lines, including Eight Bamboo, which highlights âChinese values and customsâ. But in order to make these big plans a reality, Hallmark needs big money to make them happen. In my last Word on the Street story, I speculated how Hallmark might not be as financially strong as in years past. This speculation is based on things happening with the company that Iâve seen and heard as a consumer of some of the networkâs programming. To add to this, it should be noted that Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, the network that will host the Mahogany films, doesnât have the strongest numbers in viewership. As of late July to early August 2021, the movie from Hallmarkâs second network with the highest number in viewership was Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Til Death Do Us Part, which garnered 1.6 million viewers. This number is lower than those from Hallmark Movies & Mysteriesâ past films, with 2017âs Rocky Mountain Christmas receiving a record-breaking 2.18 million viewers. One of the reasons for these low numbers is how Hallmark Movies & Mysteries is a smaller network compared to the main Hallmark Channel. This means that the second network doesnât have the same amount of sponsorship opportunities as the first network does. Because of Hallmark Movies & Mysteriesâ smaller size and lower viewership, maybe Hallmark has been cancelling programs like Home & Family in order to put thosefinances and resources toward the Mahogany series? Like any film project in pre-production, weâll just have to wait andsee how this series will be carried through.
Andrea Brooks, who stars on When Calls the Heart as Faith, will be co-leading two upcoming movies. In an article from Heavy, these movies are, right now, titled âSit, Stay, Loveâ and âFishing for Loveâ. With âSit, Stay, Loveâ, Andrea will star alongside Hallmark alumni, Marcus Rosner. The film will be directed by Heather Hawthorn Doyle. According to the article, this movie is about the following:
âA womanâs tightly controlled life starts to loosen up when she adopts a dog and falls in love with him and the owner of the animal shelter she adopted him fromâ
For âFishing for Loveâ, Andrea will star with Spencer Lord. The article from Heavy states âthe movie was filmed in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canadaâ and is about the following:
âWhen Kendall, a successful restaurant designer comes home to Mystic Bay for the annual Big Catch Festival, she finds herself in uncharted waters with town newcomer Zack. Is Kendall baited for trouble in her home town or will she catch true love?â
As of late July to early August 2021, âItâs not clear if either of her [Andreaâs] two new movies will be airing on The Hallmark Channel or somewhere elseâ, as stated in the article.
Last January, I reported how Bill Abbott stepped down from his presidential and CEO position at Hallmark. Now, another business leader from the Gold Crown company has decided to walk away. On May 17th, Nellie Andreeva, from Deadline, published an article about the departure of Michelle Vicary, who was Hallmarkâs executive for programming and production. The article states how Michelle will step down from her position âat the beginning of Juneâ. While no replacements have been announced at this time, Randy Pope and Darren Melameth, the companyâs SVPs for Programming, Development, and Content Strategy, will serve âas interim co-heads of the departmentâ. The article does not mention why Michelle decided to leave the company. However, Nellie does write how Wonya Lucas, the current CEO of Crown Media Family Networks, âhas led a major restructuringâ and made diversity and inclusion âa top priorityâ.
2021 has, so far, left me wondering if Hallmark has less money than they let on to the public. While everything Iâm about to say is pure speculation, I have noticed some things that lead me to believe Hallmarkâs entertainment division might not be fiscally strong. Nellie states in the aforementioned article how Lucasâ restructuring of the company has âresulted in some layoffs this yearâ. Even though the number of layoffs is not mentioned, the news of layoffs is not a good sign for any business. As of mid-to-late May, there have been no announcements for upcoming movies in the Picture Perfect Mysteries series, the Ruby Herring Mysteries series, the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series, and Hallmark Hall of Fame. In fact, there were no new Hallmark Hall of Fame or Signed, Sealed, Delivered films released in 2020. This makes me believe Crown Media Family Networks may be quietly moving away from these series in order to cut costs. In March, it was reported that daytime talk show, Home & Family, would be ending on August 4th. No official reason has been given for the showâs cancellation. Now adding the news of Michelleâs departure, Hallmark appears to be experiencing a rough patch. Everything I said is pure speculation. But I think a tell-tale sign of financial troubles would be if Hallmark created less Christmas movies than they did last year.
What are your thoughtâs of Michelleâs departure from Hallmark? Do you like the direction the network is currently moving in? Please tell me in the comment section!
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Here are the links to the articles I referenced in this post:
As I said in a Word on the Street post last September, it hasnât been easy finding movie news stories to write about these days. So, when I stumbled across this story on Twitter, I thought it would make a perfect topic for the first Word on the Street article of 2021! According to Aaron Couch from The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is creating a new film titled Wonka. The movie âhails from Paddington director Paul King and Harry Potter producer David Heymanâ. Aaron also says of the script that âSimon Rich wrote the original draft, with Simon Farnaby and King penning the current draftâ. As of January 2021, the film is scheduled for a March 17th, 2023 release. It is also about Willy Wonkaâs life before his beloved candy factory came into the picture.
While everyone involved with this project is busy creating their next cinematic project, they are forgetting one major detail. Back in the 2005 film, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Willy Wonkaâs backstory was revealed. Through a series of flashbacks, the audience learns that Willy created his candy factory in spite of his strict father, who forbade the chocolatier from eating sweets when he was younger. Because of this, it makes Wonka seem like it is using rehashed material and trying to pass it off as new. What would have been more interesting is a movie about Ronald Dahl and how he created one of his most iconic stories.
Back in 2019, I mentioned that Taylor Cole announced a third film in Hallmarkâs One Winter series; One Winter Wedding. However, the reality of the project seemed distant at the time. This was because two of the seriesâ stars, Jack Turner and Taylor Cole, were working on separate film projects. Now, two years after Taylor made the aforementioned announcement, One Winter Wedding is finally going into production! On the website for UBCP/ACTRA (Union of British Columbia Performers/Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), the movie will start filming on February 1st and end on February 20th. With this production schedule, I predict One Winter Wedding will either be a Christmas film or a 2022 âNew Year New Moviesâ presentation.
Originally, I was going to publish my 255 blog follower dedication review. While I still plan on posting this review, I decided to publish a Word on the Street story instead. In one of last monthâs Word on the Street articles, I announced two Hallmark Movies & Mysteries series, Crossword Mysteries and Chronicle Mysteries, were either filming a new chapter or were about to film a new chapter. It looks like these two series are not the only ones to receive a new movie. On Creative B.C., the filming schedule for an upcoming Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and Mystery 101 film were posted! âAurora Teagarden Mysteries: How To Con A Conâ will start filming on November 6th and end on November 24th. Even though the movieâs synopsis is not known at this time, I hope it is about comic conventions, based on the listed title. Meanwhile, âMystery 101: Movie 6 â Killer Timingâ just started filming on November 2nd and will conclude on November 20th. Like I said about Crossword Mysteries and Chronicle Mysteries in October, these films in the Aurora Teagarden Mysteries and Mystery 101 series will likely premiere in 2021, based on their filming schedules.
Even though Hallmarkâs Christmas season has arrived, there are two mystery movies listed on Creative B.C. that are either currently in production or will soon be in production! The first one is âThe Chronicle Mysteries 5 â Helped To Deathâ, which is filming until November 4th. This is exciting news, especially since all of the movies in this series, led by Alison Sweeney, aired in 2019! The second film is âCrossword Mysteries: Terminal Descentâ. It will start filming on October 26th and end on November 13th. Iâm happy to see Crossword Mysteries receive another chapter, as I enjoyed the previous film, Crossword Mysteries: Abracadaver! Based on their production schedules, both movies will likely premiere sometime in 2021.
Have you seen any movie from these series? If so, are you looking forward to the films I mentioned in this article? Let me know in the comment section!
For this monthâs Word on the Street story, I was only going to talk about 2019âs âThe Lion Kingâ receiving a second film. However, when I heard about Cineworldâs recent decision, I just had to talk about it. Yesterday, on October 4th, Chris Lindahl from IndieWire reported âa temporary suspensionâ is being placed on the United States and United Kingdom locations of Regal Cinemas. Chris also said this plan would start on October 8th. Cineworld, the parent company of Regal Cinemas, claimed in an official statement the closure âis not a decision we made lightlyâ. This closure being temporary is a silver lining. However, I do feel bad for Regalâs employees and patrons.
Others have also talked about this story, including Todd Russell from Movies, Movies, Movies, and Geeky and Kneon from Clownfish TV. Toddâs take on this piece of movie news brings up a good point. In his article, Todd questions Regalâs practices for new releases, asking the question, âif you temporarily ignore the theatrical window and embrace more direct to streaming titles you can show plenty of new movies, so why wonât you try that?â Hereâs another question that should be asked; why would Regal decide to re-release Alita: Battle Angel if they had even the slightest concern of their theaters staying open? Until newer blockbuster titles can come back to the big screen, Regal could have shown older films to keep themselves afloat. While this idea has been adopted by other theaters, it seems like it would have been a win-win for Alitaâs fans and Regal. According to Clownfish TVâs Kneon, an online campaign created by fans of Alita revolved around their effort to have Alita: Battle Angel re-released. Three days later, on October 3rd, Kneon announced the campaign was successful, with his video featuring a tweet from Regal Cinemas about the news. Regalâs tweet was posted on October 2nd, two days before IndieWireâs ChrisLindahl reported on Cineworldâs decision. Alita: Battle Angel was originally scheduled for an October 30th re-release.
Clownfish TV’s videos (you can type these titles in the search bar on Youtube): ‘Alita: Battle Angel RE-RELEASED to Theaters? Fans Want #RereleaseAlita to Trend!’, ‘Alita Army VICTORIOUS! Theaters to #ReReleaseAlita Beginning this Month!’, and ‘Regal Cinemas SHUT DOWN! Hollywood Will Take YEARS to Recover!’ (these videos may contain language)
In this screenshot I took with my phone, Regal’s official tweet about Alita: Battle Angel‘s re-release is shown. The circle and arrow in the picture stress the dates of the tweet’s release and Alita: Battle Angel‘s planned re-release. Screenshot taken by me, Sally Silverscreen.
While this isnât a recent piece of movie news, itâs one I havenât seen a lot of people talk about. Last week, Rebecca Rubin and Brent Lang from Variety revealed the 2019 remake of Disneyâs The Lion King will receive a second film. The two authors said âthe new movie will partly focus on the early years of Mufasaâ. The screenwriter from the 2019 movie, Jeff Nathanson, will join the team, with Barry Jenkins directing the film. Since weâre on the subject of The Lion King, Iâd like to share one of Rafikiâs quotes from the 1994 film; âOh yes, the past can hurt. But from the way I see it, you can either run from it, orâŚlearn from itâ. With this new creative decision, it seems like Disney is running from their past, especially when it features mistakes. Two years ago, the studio released Solo: A Star Wars Story, a movie that revolved around the early years of Han Solo. The filmâs overall box office results were $393,151,347, making it one of the lowest grossing films in the franchiseâs history. Solo: A Star Wars Story contributed to a problem Disney has had for years; choosing not to tell newer stories in favor of tried-and-true properties. Even though this new chapter of The Lion King is in pre-production, Disneyâs choices show they are refusing to follow Simbaâs lead by learning from their past.
Iâll be honest, it hasnât been easy finding movie news stories to discuss on 18 Cinema Lane. However, I am thankful when I come across news about Hallmark productions! While I did talk about stories revolving around Hallmark films last month, those projects were Christmas related. In this Word on the Street article, I will address Hallmark films that will premiere outside the Christmas season! With the âFall Harvestâ line-up just around the corner, itâs common for viewers to see trailers rolled out as the weeks go by. My Word on the Street story will focus on the first new trailer for the line-up. Before the Christmas season begins, Hallmark Movies & Mysteries likes to air some new films during the Fall. This Word on the Street story will feature a discussion about two upcoming movies; with one receiving a trailer and the other receiving a synopsis. As I sometimes do, I will share my opinion on these pieces of movie news.
Two new trailers have been released from Hallmark; with one for a âFall Harvestâ film and the other for an upcoming movie from Hallmark’s second network! The first one represents the Hallmark Channel movie Follow Me to Daisy Hills, which currently has a release date of September 19th. In the trailer, there were three scenes that featured good cinematography! These scenes revolved around a river during the autumn season. The acting from the leads, Cindy Busby and Marshall Williams, appeared stiff to me. However, this is not a reflection of their performances in the film, as the movie has not been released yet. I am disappointed that with a project called Follow Me to Daisy Hills, there were no daisies to be found. It makes me wonder why the filmâs town is even called âDaisy Hillsâ at all?
The other trailer is for one of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries’ newest titles, JL Family Ranch: The Wedding Gift. This movie is advertised on the main page of Hallmark Movies & Mysteriesâ official website and boasts a release date of September 27th. As I look back on this specific trailer, I noticed how this movie feels like a complete tonal shift from its predecessor. From what I remember, JL Family Ranch was a gritty, modern western that had a certain amount of adrenaline and suspense. According to the trailer, however, the sequel is a heart-felt drama that focuses on family and second chances. Even the color scheme and lighting appear brighter than the first film.
Speaking of Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, an official synopsis for Aurora Teagarden Mysteries: Reunited and it Feels So Deadly has been posted on Hallmark Movies & Mysteriesâ website! Below is the description for the movie:
âAurora’s high school reunion turns deadly when a body is found in the hotel pool. Aurora and her Real Murders Club help investigate which classmate was most likely to kill.â
Even though the movie sounds interesting, I am disappointed that the âreunitedâ part of the film will not have anything to do with Auroraâs ex, Martin. In a Word on the Street story back in February, I wondered if Martin would return to the series, based on the filmâs title. A dynamic that hasnât been featured in a Hallmark Movies & Mysteries film before could have been found in this project. But I guess thereâs always the next film. What I do wonder is if any mentions of Nick and Auroraâs engagement will be found within the script? Will we see any wedding planning in the film? If we do, it would continue the storyâs overarching continuity.
What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? Are you looking forward to any of the films I talked about? Share your thoughts in the comment section!
Have fun at the movies!
Sally Silverscreen
Here are the links if you want to check out each source:
Yes, I know I havenât written a Word on the Street story since June. This is because I either wasnât able to find a movie news story that interested me or I didnât get around to discussing movie news. However, I did find some Hallmark related news that I had to write about. The first story features Hallmark favorite, Jen Lilley. In an article from soaps.com, Amy Mistretta reports how Jen revealed the plot of her new movie, which will likely air during the Christmas season. The article states that the film will revolve around a reporter who goes on a Tiger Cruise with members of the United States Navy. Amy explains that âthe Navy puts on the special event once a year where their families can come on the ship for Christmasâ. From what I can recall, the only film about Tiger Cruises that is known is the 2004 Disney Channel movie, Tiger Cruise. However, that film revolved around the events of 9/11. This news about Jenâs movie is interesting because it fills a creative void that hasnât been revisited in sixteen years. Also, Hallmark can make a good military related film when they put their mind to it.
These next two stories come from the Twitter account, Hotline to Hallmark! In a tweet that was retweeted by Hotline to Hallmark, Rochelle S. Aytes, the star of the upcoming film, A Christmas Tree Grows in Brooklyn, announced that her movie has wrapped production! While the filmâs synopsis is not known at this time, the movie will apparently feature horses, as Rochelle mentions petting a horse in her tweet. Another retweeted tweet from Hotline to Hallmark reveals that Will Kemp will co-star alongside Lacey Chabert in the Hallmark Christmas movie, Christmas Waltz! Denise Petski, from Deadline, shares that âChristmas Waltz reunites Kemp and Chabert, who starred in last yearâs Valentine-themed Hallmark Channel movie Love, Romance & Chocolate.â As someone who liked the aforementioned Valentineâs film, itâs nice to see actors who had good on-screen chemistry work together again! Iâm hoping Will and Laceyâs Christmas project is just as enjoyable to watch as their previous creative endeavor!
What are your thoughts on these pieces of movie news? Is there a Hallmark Christmas film youâre looking forward to seeing? Please tell me in the comment section!
Yesterday, on June 9th, Orion Pictures/MGM Studios released an official trailer of the upcoming film, Bill & Ted Face The Music! The studio also released an official poster for the movie! I havenât seen any of the films in the Bill & Ted series, but I really like what Iâve seen and heard about this third film so far. The poster itself adopts elements that were found in film posters from the past; artistic visuals that come together to create a singular image conveying mystery and intrigue. As for the trailer, I found it hilarious, as it had the kind of random humor that I resonate towards. This marketing campaign makes me want to watch the previous two Bill & Ted films! As of June 2020, the film has an August 21st premiere date. Bill & Ted is not the only Hollywood IP that has received sequel related news. Two weeks ago, Chris Murphy from Vulture reports how Sonic the Hedgehog will get a sequel! According to the article, âParamount Pictures and Sega Sammy have begun development on a sequel to Sonic the Hedgehogâ, which means the project is in the pre-production stage. The producers who have signed on to the film are Neal H. Moritz, Toby Ascher, Toru Nakahara, Hajime Satomi, Haruki Satomi, and Tim Miller. The first filmâs director, Jeff Fowler, and screenwriters, Pat Casey and Josh Miller, are coming back for the second movie. While I havenât seen Sonic the Hedgehog, I think this is great news for Sonic fans and for people who support studios that put their customers first. Even Chris, from Vulture, says âlistening to feedback can be incredibly fruitful for everyone involvedâ. Hopefully, the sequel can be just as successful as its predecessor.
Bill & Ted Face The Music poster created by Orion Pictures, Hammerstone Studios, Dial 9, Dugan Entertainment, TinRes Entertainment, and United Artists Releasing. Image found at en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bill_and_ted_face_the_music_poster.jpg
Months after Coronavirus forced businesses all over the world to pause their operations, steps are now being taken to reach a state of normalcy. In an article from The Hollywood Reporter, Etan Vlessing discusses how âthe Quebec provincial government and health officials have given the green light for film and TV production to resume on June 8 amid the coronavirus pandemicâ. Before this decision was made, Manitoba had resumed film and television production in their province of Canada. Toward the end of May, Vancouver Island said âthe industry can resume shooting by Juneâ. Robert Buffam, from CTV News, writes about the precautionary steps film and television teams will take to work as safely as possible. Ric Nesh, a television show producer, shares âWe may reduce, revise, rewrite scenes without the larger crowds. No we may, we will revise scenes.â In the United States, film studios and movie theaters are making attempts to go back to work. A Hollywood Reporter article from June 8th states âanxious theater owners â and Hollywood studios â are being given the go ahead to flip on the lights later this week by California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office and the Department of Public Health.â June 12th is the selected date when Californiaâs cinemas may start their operations again. Similar to the film and television industry in Canada, safety precautions will be put in place. One example is adopting a 25% capacity limit âor no more than 100 people per auditoriumâ.
I know this piece of news relates to television. But because itâs about Hallmark going out of their comfort zone, the story became an exception. Earlier last month, Emre Kaya from The Cinema Spot reported how Hallmark Channel is creating a new television show! The article shares that this is the networkâs âfirst high-budget drama seriesâ, which âis a science fiction soap drama series set on a space colony.â Emreâs post doesnât reveal much information about the project. As of June 2020, Hallmark has not made an official statement about the show. When I first read this story, I was excited at the idea of Hallmark creating a project that is very different from their norm. On several occasions at 18 Cinema Lane, I have talked about how Hallmark should take creative risks and think outside the box. It looks like theyâre starting to pay attention to these ideas. Maybe this show could be the beginning of a new era where creativity and originality reign.
Are you looking forward to any of these upcoming projects? What will be the first movie you see when theaters are open again? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below!
18 Cinema Lane 