Photo Credit: Patrick Maus
1. Can you tell us about your upcoming film ‘Christmas in Homestead?’
“Christmas In Homestead” is an old fashioned Christmas movie. It definitely has that “let’s put on a show” mentality that “Holiday Inn” and “White Christmas” had, but in this case it’s about a big Hollywood production coming to film a movie in a small town and the sort of big city, careerist LA values clashing with the tried and true small town morals of family, honesty and giving back to the community. It’s a really nice movie that the whole family can enjoy for the holidays without much controversy. That’s rare to find on TV these days, I think!
2. How would you describe your character?
Ian Carter is a paparazzo and, when we meet him, he’s very much about looking out for number one. He’s certainly very affected by living in LA; his big priorities are money, fame and getting the big “exclusive.” He doesn’t have a lot of value for respecting people’s privacy. He comes to Homestead to get the exclusive about a big starlet’s (played by Taylor Cole) relationship, but he winds up falling for a local innkeeper who challenges a lot of his egotistic ways.
3. What are the similarities and differences between you and your character?
Ian is pretty ambitious, which I think I could say I am as well, to some degree. He also, on a deeper level, really does have a respect for the arts and being creative – something I share – but he’s fallen into this “means to an end” profession which is being a paparazzo to make a living, instead of following his true passion for photography. I think he has a sense of humor about himself, which is something I always try to have as well. But we’re different in a lot of ways. He’s much more affected by the sort of “LA lifestyle” than I am and is much more of an extrovert than I could ever be too.
4. What was your favorite scene to film and why?
There’s a scene where I fall out of a tree which was pretty fun! The actual falling was done by my stunt double (Isaiah LaBorde, also a producer on the film) who did a magnificent job, but it was really fun doing the lead-in and the screaming to the actual fall! My other favorite scene was with Katrina Norman (who plays Zoe). We have a romantic moment under lots of fake snow and really beautiful snowman the production had created. We filmed in October, but it definitely gave you that “Christmas magic” feeling.
5. How is this project different from others you’ve worked on in the past?
It’s my first romantic comedy and my first Hallmark movie! I loved switching gears from some of the darker content I’ve been involved with lately. It was so much fun to be light and goofy, fall out of trees, and be involved in a movie that I can share with my nephew and my nieces. They haven’t been able to see a lot of the other stuff I’ve been in, so it’s a thrill to get so sit down with the family and watch this on Thanksgiving night.
6. When and where can fans watch the film?
“Christmas In Homestead” will air on Hallmark Channel this Thanksgiving at 8PM. I’m sure they’ll re-air it throughout the holidays as well!
7. What are your social media accounts?
For better or worse, I have fully embraced this social media thing. My handle is @thenardelli on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. I’m ‘narrds’ on snapchat. I have a lot of fun engaging with the people who are watching my stuff! I’ll be live tweeting during the premiere of “Christmas In Homestead” on Thanksgiving night. Hope to see y’all there!