Hinske behind the scenes of THE CHRISTMAS CLUB! | Photo: Barbara Hinske

Guess what this week is? I’ll tell you — it’s premiere week for Hallmark Channel’s The Christmas Club starring Cameron Mathison and Elizabeth Mitchell. This heart-warming story about a random act of kindness and the irresistible pull of love was based off the novella by best-selling author Barbara Hinske, and this month has been a treat in getting an in-depth look behind the writing of the story thanks to an exclusive Q&A with Hinske and a guest blog where she explained how a homily lead her on this journey.

In her second guest blog, Hinske shares some tidbits about what it was like when she went to the set of the Hallmark Channel original movie and watched her novella come to life on the small screen!

The Christmas Club: Behind the Scenes

The Christmas Club, my Christmas novella, was purchased by Crown Media and made into a 2019 Hallmark Channel Christmas movie. I’ve written about what a dream come true that was here. As if having my story made into a Hallmark Christmas movie wasn’t enough, my husband and I got to spend a week on location during filming. That was an experience I’ll cherish for the rest of my life. In addition to every single cast and crew member being extremely professional, warm, welcoming, and downright kind, here are my “best of” moments:

• The Hallmark culture that you see in front of the screen is what goes on behind it; these folks are the real deal.

• If there is a world record for Fitbit steps in a day, it has to be held by the assistant directors on a Hallmark shoot. These folks are in perpetual motion.

• You hear about how efficient the circus was when it came to town back in its heyday—the circus could have nothing on Hallmark set dressers/makeup, wardrobe, and hair crew/evergreen crew/sound/lighting/script—the list is endless. They all worked together like an oiled machine.

Hinske on set of THE CHRISTMAS CLUB

• It’s hot out when they film these movies. The actors remove their scarves and coats between takes, but if you’re a female star, someone sticks a curling iron on your head! Yikes!!

• The cast and crew eat constantly. They break for a generous lunch, but someone is always circulating with a wagon of sandwiches, snacks, or water. They’re all in motion the entire time, so they burn off the calories.

• Background noises in a city—sirens/helicopters/city buses—frequently make themselves known and necessitate retakes.

• Producers and directors notice something out of place from 1000 yards. Their attention to detail in uncanny.

• It is positively thrilling and quite emotional to hear actors say the words that you’ve written.

• They asked my husband and I if we’d like to be in the background! Look carefully at the people in the bakery. My “Alfred Hitchcock” moment is when I’m seated at a table with Gertrude, eating cheesecake (which was delicious). My husband is sitting on a bench seat along the back wall.

– Barbara Hinske

Mitchell and Mathison in a scene from THE CHRISTMAS CLUB. | Photo: Crown Media

• For more information on how you can read The Christmas Club, visit www.barbarahinske.com.

The Christmas Club premieres on Hallmark Channel on November 27th at 8pm/7c!

Stay merry!