Tyler Hilton Shares the Attraction of When Christmas Was Younger, Working with Karen David

This Sunday, musical artist Tyler Hilton stars in a CBS authentic vacation movie, When Christmas Was Younger, with Concern the Strolling Useless star Karen David.

Luke Dawson’s profession is in peril, and he can solely put it aside by getting the recording rights to a Christmas ballad for his solely shopper, Lindsay Wyatt. The issue is the unique singer, Melody, is proof against his cocky appeal.

Can Melody present Luke the true which means of Christmas, or will he educate her to imagine in her desires once more?

We chatted with Tyler concerning the enchantment of this vacation movie, working with Karen, and his favourite vacation traditions.

Hello Tyler. I beloved your film. One of many standard themes for Vacation movies this 12 months was a singer creating a success tune and somebody visiting a small city to comprehend the true which means of Christmas. Why do you assume this theme resonates with viewers?

It resonates with me too, and I could not guess why. There’s one thing about visiting a small city, and a small city does Christmas effectively. Possibly it is the quaintness of it, however there’s nothing like returning to a small city at Christmas. All of us do it by some means once we return house.

Christmas looks as if a time once we return to our roots or origins. But it surely’s like a check-in with who we had been, who we’re beneath, and whom we try to be proper now. Christmas is like that nice check-in with the bigger walk-through of our life for one thing, and one thing about returning house in small-town sums that up.

And what do you assume is so standard about singers creating songs and Christmas films this 12 months?

I did not know there have been different films doing that, however Christmas songs are incredible and mean you can get in contact with that aspect of you that is susceptible sufficient to jot down or uncover a Christmas tune inside you. There’s one thing about Christmas music that will get to us all. If you are going to watch someone discover that, that is wonderful.

In our film, the trail to discovering the tune will also be like discovering your self and changing into in contact with your self.

Completely. And why did this undertaking enchantment to you?

The director, Monica Mitchell, is a good friend of mine, and she or he’s cool, and she or he’s a kind of folks I needed to work with once more, and I like displaying off for her. You probably have a director, you wish to showcase extra, you do higher, and she or he’s incredible.

I like being round her, and it elevates me, and I can attempt new stuff, and if it does not work, she’ll inform me, which solely occurs sometimes. Monica was a giant a part of it. After which Sheryl Crow and I was labelmates on Warner Brothers and at house together with her a number of instances in Nashville once I lived there.

I am an enormous fan, and our music is tremendous related. So, for Cheryl to be doing one thing that Monica was directing was such a shoo-in for me. I needed it so dangerous.

That is smart. And what was it like working with Karen David?

Oh, it was nice. If you do not know somebody earlier than you are going to co-star with them, quite a bit is constructing up-to-the-minute you meet as a result of that is going to be the individual you are hunkered down with for the following month or so. As quickly as I met her, I knew we might be associates eternally.

I texted my spouse and advised my household I couldn’t have lucked out extra with this co-star. We have now the same background; she was a musician, signed, had a single, and toured. She received off that prepare sooner than I did, began performing, has executed so effectively with it, and has executed a ton of musicals.

Only some folks I work with know that have I have been by the place you come at it from the musician aspect first after which transition into the performing, however she did. I did the music factor for therefore lengthy that I nonetheless really feel like an outsider on a movie or TV set.

Though I’ve executed many films and TV reveals, I’ve made much more music, and all my household was musicians.

I grew up doing it, so typically I point out when working with somebody, I’ll be just a little rusty. I am primarily a musician on the highway, and Karen knew what I meant. I by no means considered whether or not I ought to do that or if one thing regarded dumb round her. I by no means thought that round her.

I simply did no matter got here to my mind, and also you solely try this with someone you are feeling tremendous snug with. And so, I used to be so relieved, particularly for somebody like me, who does not go from set to set, like she does, and I received to be with somebody so cool and understanding.

Sure, you guys had been plenty of enjoyable. With out spoiling a lot, how do you assume Melody and Luke performed off one another?

This film jogs my memory of the basic rom-com from basic Hollywood the place somebody’s like a stick within the mud, they usually cannot get alongside. Many Cary Grant films are like that too, which is humorous. There was one thing about liking one another in individual however attending to play annoying to her that I beloved. It was simply a lot enjoyable to do.

As soon as we discovered our groove, she’d name me cheeky after so many takes. She would let me go for it, and I’d be so annoying and impolite. She gave it proper again, and it was so humorous and reverse from our vibes in actual life, but it surely was enjoyable. It allowed us to dive proper in and have enjoyable with it.

And what was it like so that you can work together with the remainder of the forged?

It was nice. All people within the forged was skilled, and I wanted to maintain my recreation elevated the entire time, which is the best-case situation. I all the time felt if I may very well be the dumbest or least proficient, or least skilled individual in a bunch. I’ve executed a wonderful job getting there and realized a lot.

There was one thing about this film that was totally different to me than the opposite TV Christmas films I’ve seen yearly, those they make like 100 of on many channels. This had a way more elevated vibe. The forged was so proficient, and doubtless ought to have had my half or a greater half, but it surely helped me turn into a greater actor.

The Wardrobe was fabulous and costly. The entire thing felt like a giant essential undertaking whereas we had been over there; typically, it felt totally different. However that went to the actors, and we collaborated proper after the scene, evaluating notes on new issues to attempt.

I would not ask that of those who I did not belief, however I used to be acutely aware about all people on there. I may very well be trustworthy with them and be susceptible.

That is nice. And what are a few of your favourite vacation traditions?

I like these presents that you just get in an envelope on the tree, and then you definitely open it, and it is a scavenger hunt or a clue that goes to love one other envelope someplace. That is my favourite. I do not even care what’s on the finish of it. The primary time that occurred to me, I used to be most likely like 9 or ten, and what was on the finish of It was my first guitar.

I received a bicycle that means typically, so there have been good presents on the finish of one thing like that. However one thing concerning the build-up that feels so magical, and I like that stuff.

And since this was a musical vacation movie, what’s your favourite Christmas tune, and what recollections does it deliver?

Have Your self a Merry Little Christmas is my favourite. There’s one thing unhappy and glad about it. I’ve recorded it and received to sing in lots of stunning locations with stunning folks and collaborate quite a bit. I like that tune and singing it.

When Christmas Was Younger airs at 8:30/7:30c and eight pm PST on Sunday, December 18, on CBS and can stream on Paramount +.

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