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

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

Luke Dawson’s profession is at risk, and he can solely reserve it by getting the recording rights to a Christmas ballad for his solely consumer, Lindsay Wyatt. The issue is the unique singer, Melody, is proof against his cocky appeal.

Can Melody present Luke the true that means of Christmas, or will he educate her to consider in her goals 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 yr was a singer creating a success track and somebody visiting a small city to comprehend the true that 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 nicely. Possibly it is the quaintness of it, however there’s nothing like returning to a small city at Christmas. All of us do it someway once we return house.

Christmas looks like 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 are attempting 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 motion pictures this yr?

I did not know there have been different motion pictures doing that, however Christmas songs are improbable and let you get in contact with that aspect of you that is weak sufficient to put in writing or uncover a Christmas track inside you. There’s one thing about Christmas music that will get to us all. If you are going to watch any individual discover that, that is superb.

In our film, the trail to discovering the track can be like discovering your self and changing into in contact with your self.

Completely. And why did this venture enchantment to you?

The director, Monica Mitchell, is a good friend of mine, and he or she’s cool, and he or she’s a kind of individuals I needed to work with once more, and I like displaying off for her. When you’ve got a director, you need to exhibit extra, you do higher, and he or she’s improbable.

I like being round her, and it elevates me, and I can strive 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 occasions in Nashville once I lived there.

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

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, so much is constructing up to date 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’d be associates ceaselessly.

I texted my spouse and informed my household I couldn’t have lucked out extra with this co-star. We’ve an identical background; she was a musician, signed, had a single, and toured. She obtained off that prepare sooner than I did, began appearing, has finished so nicely with it, and has finished a ton of musicals.

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

Although I’ve finished many motion pictures 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 somewhat rusty. I am primarily a musician on the street, and Karen knew what I meant. I by no means thought of whether or not I ought to do that or if one thing appeared 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 any individual 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 obtained to be with somebody so cool and understanding.

Sure, you guys had been a number 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 traditional rom-com from traditional Hollywood the place somebody’s like a stick within the mud, they usually cannot get alongside. Many Cary Grant motion pictures 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 might be so annoying and impolite. She gave it proper again, and it was so humorous and reverse from our vibes in actual life, however it 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. Everyone within the forged was skilled, and I wanted to maintain my sport elevated the entire time, which is the best-case situation. I all the time felt if I could possibly be the dumbest or least gifted, or least skilled individual in a gaggle. I’ve finished a wonderful job getting there and realized a lot.

There was one thing about this film that was completely different to me than the opposite TV Christmas motion pictures I’ve seen yearly, those they make like 100 of on many channels. This had a way more elevated vibe. The forged was so gifted, and possibly ought to have had my half or a greater half, however it helped me develop into a greater actor.

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

I would not ask that of those who I did not belief, however I used to be aware about all people on there. I could possibly be sincere with them and be weak.

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

I really like these presents that you simply 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 in all probability like 9 or ten, and what was on the finish of It was my first guitar.

I obtained a bicycle that manner 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 really like that stuff.

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

Have Your self a Merry Little Christmas is my favourite. There’s one thing unhappy and blissful about it. I’ve recorded it and obtained to sing in lots of stunning locations with stunning individuals and collaborate so much. I really like that track 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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