The channel partially hasJonathan Bennettto thank for that: theMean Girlsstar helped create the story which becameThe Holiday Sitter.
But, what to do with two pre-teens?
It’s a question the actor found himself asking in real life while filming a different Hallmark movie.
Jonathan Bennett in ‘The Holiday Sitter’.Hallmark Channel
Like ‘What… can I … can they go to craft service?
What are they allowed to have?'"
Below, Bennett unwraps his new Christmas movie and the gift it’s given him in return.
George Krissa, Jonathan Bennett, and Mila Morgan in ‘The Holiday Sitter’.Hallmark Channel
But speaking specifically to the story, was there some real-life inspiration here?
What was the core nugget of this idea that you guys ran with?
JONATHAN BENNETT:The core nugget ofThe Holiday Sittercame from two things.
George Krissa and Jonathan Bennett in ‘The Holiday Sitter’.Hallmark Channel
[Laughs] Like “What… can I … can they go to craft service?
What are they allowed to have?”
And they would just laugh.
They’re like, “Yes, they can have a bagel.
It’s fine.”
And so that kind of inspired the idea.
And that’s kind of how the movie was born.
Since then it took a lot of different twists and turns and kind of creatively became something different.
But the core nugget was my love for the ’80s movies likeBuck.
Specifically with your character Sam, what were you most interested in getting to explore with him?
And then all of a sudden we were able to get married and have the same protections.
And I wanted to make it funny, and I wanted it to have a ton of heart.
And so I went to Hallmark and said, “Hey, I want to tell this story.
So when I went to Hallmark with this, their reaction was absolutely 100 percent, over-the-top supportive.
They were so excited about the idea and they were so supportive throughout the whole creative process.
So it was really a melting pot of experiences that we got to pull from to make this story.
By having that door wide open, we’ll be able to tell more.
It’s the best thing in the world they literally created the safest space to tell queer stories.
Well, I can only speak to my experience.
It feels good to see stories that look like mine on screen.
Well, on the topic of stories like yours, whatwasprioritynumberone in depicting this relationship between Sam and Jason?
I really wanted to show two men falling in love organically, and I think we pulled that off.
Did you love it?
And then for the rest of the movie, Sam is fumbling around him even more.
Like, “Oh wow, heisgay.”
There’s a chance.
You’renostrangertomakingtheseholidaymovies.Myunderstandingisthatproductionisquitefast, often filmed in summer.
[Laughs] Have you ever tried to do comedy when you’re sweltering?
It’s not easy.
So you have to pull out all your little tricks of the trade to make it happen.
How do these fans comparetoMeanGirlsfans?
It’s kind of the best of both worlds.
The Holiday Sitterpremieres Sunday, Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. on Hallmark Channel.
