What’s sweeter than chocolate? Love! And Dan Jeannotte.
Jeannotte stars with Eloise Mumford in Hallmark Channel’s Valentine’s Day film, Sweeter than Chocolate, which mixes the title ingredient, love, and another surprising delights into an ideal celebration of the vacation.
We had the possibility to talk with Jeannotte concerning the film and to get his tackle Valentine’s Day’s celebration of affection.
The logline reads: A neighborhood bakery is rumored to have the key recipe to discovering real love on February 14th, drawing in a TV reporter to research. Sounds scrumptious, proper?
Mumford is the chocolatier, and Jeannotte is the reporter despatched to research. Will a chocolatier’s signature chocolate deliver them collectively because it’s achieved with many others?
You will have had many sequence roles during the last decade, together with Reign and Good Witch, Daring Kind, and Star Trek, however you at all times make time for Hallmark films. What attracts you to those romantic films?
Yeah, that is a great query. I believe that audiences have found the key of Hallmark. They get to take pleasure in these pretty tales which can be type of the equal of a cinematic heat hug. It is simply so nice to get to spend a while as a viewer in a world the place issues are a little bit bit softer than in the actual world, perhaps a little bit bit simpler.
There are nonetheless some conflicts and a few uncertainty, however within the massive image, you may type of relaxation assured that that is going to be a film about people who find themselves variety to one another and the place issues work out a method or one other ultimately. I believe audiences have simply been actually flocking to that, perhaps, particularly currently.
Perhaps particularly because the world will get extra sophisticated, it is good to have the ability to watch one thing you could really feel secure with however nonetheless stunned by and charmed by. Yeah, I believe that the tip end result actually speaks for itself.
Individuals love these films. They’re actually enjoyable. They’re candy, they usually’re placing a type of good vitality out into the world. I like being part of that.
Do you’re feeling that? Do you’re feeling that very same type of vitality whenever you’re making it? Is it like a heat hug of manufacturing as properly?
Yeah, I imply, like every job, it is dependent upon the folks you are working with. I’ve been lucky, I really feel, to have achieved these Hallmark films with nice groups. They have been completely different groups every time, however I’ve actually lucked out, I believe.
There is a feeling on set that we all know we’re fortunate to get to work, and we’re very fortunate to work on one thing that shall be liked and cherished by so many individuals.
There’s a type of lightness on set and a type of bubbliness a little bit bit, even when they’re lengthy days as a result of they’re. There’s a type of levity there that I actually admire.
It is humorous that you just talked about lengthy days. I do not assume I’ve ever requested anyone this. What retains you happening these lengthy days? In a standard job, I get offended if I am there for 10 hours. I do know that with TV productions, they’ll generally go 16 hours. How do you perform in that type of atmosphere?
Yeah. Properly, it is a good query. However I believe it is necessary to underline that the actors, in numerous methods, have it lots simpler than the general public engaged on a film as a result of many of the crew, they’re consistently working for these 12 or 14 or 16 hours, whereas actors, simply due to the best way {that a} movie set is run, there’s numerous setup time the place the actors aren’t wanted.
We get downtime is what I imply. We will get breaks, and I believe that helps. While you’re enjoying a personality, immersing your self in a world that isn’t your individual, it is a recreation.
It is actually satisfying, hopefully, for those who’re an actor and also you get pleasure from doing this. I discover these moments once we’re truly filming, we’re truly on this planet, very energizing. It’s totally thrilling. You do not really feel the identical type of fatigue or starvation or no matter that you just may need felt a minute earlier than.
As soon as the digicam begins rolling, you are transported a little bit bit, and people moments of labor and diving into the world refresh me and preserve me going for the following one. It is the ready round that is actually tiring.
In fact.
Then, when you’re in it, it is a bit electrifying. You are taken away, and that is an thrilling feeling.
Talking of electrical, your onscreen chemistry with Eloise suits that invoice. What’s your method to creating onscreen chemistry, and the way have you learnt whenever you’re simply getting it proper?
It is tough as a result of these films, clearly, are leaning closely on the connection between the 2 leads, the 2 romantic leads. More often than not, the actors do not know one another. In lots of instances, we do not know one another till the primary scene we movie collectively.
Perhaps generally, if we’re fortunate, we get to seize a espresso collectively the day earlier than we begin filming. It was the identical factor right here the place Eloise and I had not labored collectively and didn’t know one another. The primary day we met was on set, strolling into the make-up trailer, and there she was. “Hello, I will be the man you fall in love with.”
What I believe you want to attempt to do is you have to jumpstart an genuine connection, not a romantic one, however you want to join with the opposite particular person.
You bought to get there a little bit bit faster than you do with common buddies that you just make, and so I attempt to discover one thing that now we have in frequent or discover a way {that a} rapport can come a little bit bit extra simply, whether or not it is by way of sharing tales about our lives or whether or not it is by way of a humorousness.
I believe you need to strive extra friendship-making ways extra shortly. I bear in mind sitting down once we had the primary break in our first scene. We have been capturing at a restaurant and sat down, and I simply stated to Eloise, “So inform me one thing.” She’s like, “What do you imply?”
I am like, “Inform me one thing about your self,” as a result of now we have to get to know one another and get to a spot the place not essentially that we all know all the things about one another, however the place we really feel comfy collectively, the place we really feel like we might be susceptible collectively and we’re secure with each other.
As a result of it is primarily what you are doing whenever you’re telling a narrative about two folks falling in love is that you just’re telling a narrative about two people who find themselves opening up to one another and being susceptible.
That is a giant factor. It is a scary factor to do with folks, typically. I assume I attempt to discover a approach the place we will open up extra shortly to one another than we usually would.
Eloise was open to this, and often, the folks engaged on these all perceive what we have to do right here. It is a type of humorous relationship the place you simply dive in, and it is like, okay, let’s be finest buddies for 3 weeks.
However I really feel very fortunate that I started working along with her as a result of she’s fantastic, such a great actor, grounded in her scenes, and dedicated.
Then after I at times get the possibility to really watch a little bit take, watch one thing that we had simply filmed, I see her on display, and I believe, “Oh, my gosh. Yeah, she’s implausible for this. She’s going to hold the film, and I simply have to comply with in her steps.”
Inform me a little bit bit about your character and his dilemma within the film as a result of everyone at all times begins with one.
My character, Dean Chase, is an investigative journalist who focuses on exposing people who find themselves scamming shoppers, scamming common of us, whether or not it is crooked enterprise practices or mendacity about their credentials.
He is a kind of sorts of shopper safety reporters who goes on the market and uncovers scammers and con artists. That offers him a little bit little bit of a skeptical standpoint as a result of he is used to ferreting out the people who find themselves making the most of common of us.
He is skeptical, and his boss assigns him a job, a reporting gig, the place he is meant to go report on a neighborhood chocolate retailer that has a specific chocolate they make, and the legend is that anybody who has this chocolate will discover their real love.
He had despatched there to not do an investigative piece however simply to do a candy, blissful Valentine’s Day piece. Crimson flags instantly go up for him, not simply because he is a skeptic but additionally as a result of I believe he is delicate to the concept of individuals manipulating others’ feelings. He has not had the perfect instance in his life on the subject of love.
He comes from dad and mom who separated, so the place the love was not what it was all cracked as much as be, he is further delicate about that. Then he meets Lucy Candy, the chocolatier, and I believe a lot of his private {and professional} points come collectively abruptly. Is she attempting to rip-off folks? He is undecided at first.
Then, additionally, is what I am feeling proper now love? I am undecided. He faces a few fascinating challenges on this particular person of Lucy Candy.
How would you say Sweeter Than Chocolate stands out from different films that you have achieved thus far?
After I learn the script earlier than signing on to the half, I used to be impressed with the script by itself as an editorial. I assumed it was actually candy and completely different as a result of it does not simply concentrate on the love story between the 2 essential characters.
Truly, due to the chocolate retailer and their fantasy of the magic chocolate Cupids, plenty of folks have fallen in love across the chocolate store, and we get to see snippets of their tales as properly.
I believe that that basically opens the film up and reveals how a love story does not at all times should look the identical.
Certain.
Completely different folks’s journeys in direction of love might be so completely different, relying on their circumstances. We see a wider illustration of what falling in love might be like, at completely different ages and in several conditions in life. It feels very truthful but additionally actually heat and cute.
After studying the script, I spotted it was primarily based on a ebook I believe has simply come out from Hallmark Publishing by an amazing creator named Lizzie Shane. We received to fulfill Lizzie, the creator. She got here to set for a day.
The truth that it comes from a ebook permits for a fuller world. It feels rather well drawn, as proven by the truth that there are completely different storylines that we get to the touch on, together with the love story between Lucy’s mom, who runs a chocolate store along with her, and her late husband.
We get to see a few of their tales, too. I believe it makes it stand out from the opposite ones that I’ve achieved as a result of the place we’re simply type of attending to see numerous completely different folks’s love tales abruptly.
Certain. Relating to Hallmark theme films, what’s your favourite? Do you could have a favourite vacation you prefer to placed on movie?
Why aren’t there any Halloween films on Hallmark?
There was. Good Witch. Whats up, you have been part of that!
Properly, Good Witch. I do know. I do know. However, then, since Good Witch ended. In between the seasons, there was the Halloween film or the Particular. It is not the largest vacation for Hallmark, however I believe it could be actually enjoyable to have a cute rom-com centered round Halloween.
Nice.
Till that one comes alongside, it is undoubtedly enjoyable to do a Valentine’s Day one as a result of Christmas dominates.
Positively, it does.
I did not have to hold a Christmas tree on this one or wrap presents [laughs].
And you bought to eat chocolate.
I did. I received to eat chocolate, precisely. However I like that it looks as if Hallmark’s been stretching a little bit within the final couple of years. I imply, in a great way. They’re attempting out completely different tales that are not at all times simply centered on the romance, too.
There are extra tales about feminine friendship, and I believe that is actually pretty and completely different holidays, too. I might like to be in a Hanukkah film. That may be so cool. I believe it is actually nice. It is nice to see what they’re doing and simply attempting to cowl extra holidays.
It was a function within the film, so are you a milk chocolate or a darkish chocolate man?
I say one thing within the film about how nobody ought to favor milk chocolate after 20 or one thing like that. However I really feel prefer it is dependent upon the state of affairs. If I will have a little bit little bit of chocolate after dinner, for instance, I’d go for darkish chocolate.
But when I will watch a film, then a little bit bit extra of a snacky, milk chocolate type of factor. I believe there is a chocolate for all moments.
What’s the perfect chocolate expertise you’ve got ever had?
Properly, truly, simply again within the fall, I used to be in Belgium with my household as a result of we have been filming the Royal Nanny there for Hallmark. Sure, we spent three weeks in Belgium, largely in Brussels. However then we additionally went to a couple different cities, together with Ghent.
In Ghent, my son actually needed to go to the chocolate museum. Earlier than we went, I assumed it was going to be overkill. However it was a beautiful place to go for the historical past and studying about chocolate. Additionally, there was a spot the place you could possibly have all-you-can-eat chocolate — 4 completely different varieties.
I like that!
There was a milk chocolate factor, like a dispenser that you just’d flip, and these little chocolate cash fall out of it. There was milk chocolate, darkish chocolate, white chocolate, and a type of caramel chocolate. They have been so good, they usually have been simply free. We in all probability overdid it. That was scrumptious.
Properly, you hear Belgian chocolate is the perfect. You skilled it.
It was nice.
Do you assume that there might be a chocolate that will transfer you to fall in love?
If filming Sweeter Than Chocolate has taught me something, it is all about circumstances, the appropriate particular person, and having an open coronary heart. The chocolate is basically simply an excuse to fall in love.
What’s your recommendation to all the one folks in search of love this vacation season?
I’d say be affected person, but additionally honor your self such as you’re price it. You’re price one thing nice. You may need to attend for it. You may need to work your approach by way of some duds, however you are price one thing nice. Imagine in that, and that good thing will come alongside.
That is glorious recommendation. I like that lots. Lastly, what are you doing subsequent? What else is arising for you?
Properly, the following factor I am ready to seek out out is whether or not we shall be doing one other season of Star Trek: Unusual New Worlds.
Okay. Good.
I am hoping it can occur, but it surely’s nonetheless to be decided.
Properly, I believe everyone’s conserving their fingers crossed.
And a Halloween film for Hallmark, I believe.
Yeah, I believe you need to write one thing. That is in your plate now, Dan. That is your factor.
Yeah. Okay. No, completely.
Provide you with an concept.
I received to jot down a Halloween film.
Completely. I am relying on you. I like Halloween.
Okay. You possibly can interview me after I’m producing that one.
Fantastic. That is excellent. Thanks a lot for chatting with me in the present day, Dan. I actually admire it.
Yeah, thanks a lot. That was enjoyable. Take care.
Sweeter Than Chocolate premieres tonight at 8/7c on Hallmark Channel.
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a employees author and critic for TV Fanatic. She’s a member of the Critic’s Selection Affiliation, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of tv and movie with anybody who will pay attention. Observe her on Twitter and e-mail her right here at TV Fanatic.
