TRANSCRIPTION 🔗
WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.880 --> 00:00:03.759
Welcome to the Christmas Connection, where the magic of the
2
00:00:03.799 --> 00:00:07.960
season comes alive. Join your host Dawn Mack as she
3
00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:11.439
connects you to the heart of the holidays, from cherished
4
00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:15.679
traditions and inspiring stories to conversations with the people who
5
00:00:15.759 --> 00:00:19.160
make this time of year truly special. So grab a
6
00:00:19.199 --> 00:00:22.679
cup of cocoa, get comfy by the tree, and let's
7
00:00:22.760 --> 00:00:27.000
celebrate the joy of the season together. This is the
8
00:00:27.079 --> 00:00:28.120
Christmas Connection.
9
00:00:30.960 --> 00:00:34.520
Hello, and welcome to the show today. I'm thrilled to
10
00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:38.280
welcome a guest whose career has truly spanned the best
11
00:00:38.359 --> 00:00:42.200
of television and film, from Without a Trace to Nashville
12
00:00:42.359 --> 00:00:46.399
and an incredible lineup of heartfeld holiday movies. Eric Close
13
00:00:46.799 --> 00:00:51.000
has become a familiar face audiences trust to bring warmth, integrity,
14
00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:54.719
and authenticity to every role he takes on. He stars
15
00:00:54.759 --> 00:00:57.679
in the brand new theatrical release All Is Mary and Bright,
16
00:00:57.799 --> 00:01:01.200
opening in theaters in November seventh, a film that's sure
17
00:01:01.280 --> 00:01:05.000
to become a holiday favorite for the entire family. We're
18
00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:07.400
diving into what drew him to the story, the heart
19
00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:10.920
behind his work, and the message he hopes audiences will
20
00:01:10.959 --> 00:01:15.519
take home this Christmas. Here's my conversation with the incredibly talented.
21
00:01:16.040 --> 00:01:20.959
Eric close. Well, Hello Eric, and welcome. I'm so glad
22
00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.040
to have you here. Thank you for making the time.
23
00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:24.640
It's great to be with you.
24
00:01:24.680 --> 00:01:30.040
Don Thanks Well. I want to start off because throughout
25
00:01:30.040 --> 00:01:34.439
your career you have played many characters that embody, quiet, strength,
26
00:01:34.519 --> 00:01:37.719
and integrity. And what do you think has been the
27
00:01:37.760 --> 00:01:40.239
most rewarding part of your journey as an actor?
28
00:01:43.640 --> 00:01:46.959
I would say the part that's been most rewarding for
29
00:01:47.079 --> 00:01:50.239
me is all the different people I've had a chance
30
00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:54.760
to meet and interact with throughout my career. I'm so
31
00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:57.280
grateful for what I get to do for a living,
32
00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:02.719
and I've you know, it's given me opportunities to travel
33
00:02:02.760 --> 00:02:05.120
the world and meet lots of different people and work
34
00:02:05.200 --> 00:02:09.759
with lots of really creative people and made some pretty
35
00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.240
good friendships along the way too. So that's that's been
36
00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:15.439
for me the biggest part of it.
37
00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:17.919
Yeah, that's quite a gift because you have met quite
38
00:02:17.919 --> 00:02:21.840
a few people in your career for sure. Yeah, no
39
00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:25.159
doubt about it. Long long list. Well, some might say
40
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:28.199
that being an actress the epitome of getting to play
41
00:02:28.280 --> 00:02:32.360
make believe or you know, pretend at the highest level.
42
00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:36.280
And what is one role that actually challenged and stretched
43
00:02:36.360 --> 00:02:39.719
you both, you know, the most of your entire career.
44
00:02:40.520 --> 00:02:46.800
Hmm, I've, I've you know, I feel stretched in different ways.
45
00:02:46.960 --> 00:02:50.360
I mean there's, for one, there's the role that can
46
00:02:50.360 --> 00:02:52.360
stretch you, and then you add in a lot of
47
00:02:52.560 --> 00:02:53.599
outside elements.
48
00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:54.599
You know.
49
00:02:54.800 --> 00:02:56.759
First thing that comes to mind for me is, you know,
50
00:02:56.879 --> 00:02:59.560
like you think about Leonardo DiCaprio working on the Revenant
51
00:02:59.680 --> 00:03:04.240
and having to deal with the brutal weather conditions, you know,
52
00:03:04.319 --> 00:03:08.080
so that that stretches you a bit. But you know,
53
00:03:08.439 --> 00:03:13.879
I I think that for me it's been different. It's
54
00:03:13.919 --> 00:03:17.400
been different aspects I think about. I think back to
55
00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:19.599
Now and Again when I was working on Now and Again,
56
00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:25.919
and the level of fitness I had to maintain for
57
00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:30.159
that role was very challenging because on top of the
58
00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:33.360
emotional aspect of the character, you know, this guy who
59
00:03:33.919 --> 00:03:36.439
is longing to be with his family again but can't.
60
00:03:37.159 --> 00:03:39.800
And then you know, so just as an actor and
61
00:03:39.960 --> 00:03:43.439
joined that process, but then the whole physical aspect, you know,
62
00:03:43.479 --> 00:03:46.759
I was working sometimes eighteen hour days and then I
63
00:03:47.520 --> 00:03:49.599
still had to get into the gym, you know, at
64
00:03:49.599 --> 00:03:52.520
the twenty four hour fitness just you know, keep my
65
00:03:54.120 --> 00:03:58.759
physical workouts consistent, so I was exhausted. I was having
66
00:03:58.759 --> 00:04:02.840
a great time. So that was you know, I would
67
00:04:02.879 --> 00:04:05.280
say that was something that stretched me. But I I
68
00:04:05.319 --> 00:04:11.400
really feel that, you know, every role challenges you. One
69
00:04:11.479 --> 00:04:14.120
that's kind of a departure that's been a lot of
70
00:04:14.360 --> 00:04:17.240
fun to play is my character Travis Tanner on Suits.
71
00:04:18.319 -->
Load full transcript
00:04:21.480
You know, that's I mean, obviously there's elements of me
72
00:04:21.680 --> 00:04:24.959
and in Travis, but that was a fun character to
73
00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:28.240
embody that you know, is quite a bit different than me.
74
00:04:29.480 --> 00:04:32.680
But it was a lot of fun and really resonated
75
00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:34.480
with a lot of a lot of people, you know,
76
00:04:34.519 --> 00:04:37.040
around the world. It's crazy. I've been you know, I
77
00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:39.519
travel over to Europe and people coming up to.
78
00:04:39.480 --> 00:04:41.240
Me and going, oh, I love you on suits. You know,
79
00:04:41.319 --> 00:04:42.680
it's it's fun.
80
00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:45.360
So that and you know, getting that kind of feedback
81
00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:46.399
you know you're doing a good.
82
00:04:46.319 --> 00:04:49.920
Job and and and you know that's that's important.
83
00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:52.360
You want people to be entertained and and that you're
84
00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:56.079
servicing that story or that you know, the overall series
85
00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:57.120
or movie that you're in.
86
00:04:57.240 --> 00:05:01.240
So that's that's been a lot of fun too. Well.
87
00:05:01.279 --> 00:05:04.480
In addition to your success as an actor, you've also
88
00:05:04.560 --> 00:05:08.720
had the opportunity to direct, and so how has that change,
89
00:05:08.759 --> 00:05:11.279
like the way you approach when you're in front of
90
00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:13.600
the camera now having been on the other side of
91
00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:14.040
the camera.
92
00:05:15.279 --> 00:05:16.439
Don That's a great question.
93
00:05:16.839 --> 00:05:22.319
And you know, for me, what really helped me when
94
00:05:22.399 --> 00:05:26.279
I started directing is it helped me to relax more
95
00:05:26.319 --> 00:05:29.160
as an actor, because you see a lot of different
96
00:05:29.160 --> 00:05:32.800
things from a perspective that you normally don't see as
97
00:05:32.800 --> 00:05:33.319
an actor.
98
00:05:33.360 --> 00:05:37.480
And I would say the same thing for directors who
99
00:05:37.560 --> 00:05:38.639
get a chance to act.
100
00:05:39.240 --> 00:05:43.079
You know, the directors have been encouraged to take acting
101
00:05:43.079 --> 00:05:45.639
classes just to get a sense of what it feels
102
00:05:45.680 --> 00:05:48.639
like to be in front of the camera, you know,
103
00:05:48.879 --> 00:05:53.399
being vulnerable emotionally, physically, whatever you're doing. And so I
104
00:05:53.439 --> 00:05:55.560
think it benefits both sides to kind of get a
105
00:05:55.560 --> 00:05:56.839
bit of that experience.
106
00:05:56.839 --> 00:05:58.920
But for myself, having.
107
00:05:58.680 --> 00:06:03.639
Really come from acting into directing, you know, it helped
108
00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:08.319
me to to just sort of relax and not not
109
00:06:09.040 --> 00:06:09.959
overthink things.
110
00:06:10.839 --> 00:06:14.160
I got more comfortable. You know, people that I've worked.
111
00:06:13.959 --> 00:06:16.759
With, you know, in the early days, would say, oh, boy,
112
00:06:17.279 --> 00:06:20.160
you know, he always wanted another because I was kind
113
00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:23.560
of striving to be you know, striving for this unattainable
114
00:06:23.600 --> 00:06:27.319
perfection in a role or a in a scene, and
115
00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:30.279
you come to realize at a certain point that that's
116
00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:31.319
just unattainable.
117
00:06:31.680 --> 00:06:34.160
And what's really what you what's most.
118
00:06:34.040 --> 00:06:36.160
Important is that you just do You do your homework,
119
00:06:36.199 --> 00:06:38.839
you're prepared, You come in and you give it everything
120
00:06:38.879 --> 00:06:41.319
you got and you could get it in one take
121
00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:43.040
and you just have to be willing to walk away
122
00:06:43.079 --> 00:06:43.360
with that.
123
00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.839
And so I guess it's just kind of.
124
00:06:46.839 --> 00:06:50.000
Like, don't sweat the small stuff sometimes and give yourself
125
00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:52.639
permission to fall on your face and make mistakes, and
126
00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:56.199
then trust also that the director knows what they want
127
00:06:56.439 --> 00:06:59.680
in a scene, and that there's also they're going to
128
00:06:59.720 --> 00:07:02.079
be in the editing room later, so they can fix things.
129
00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:04.160
If there's a moment they don't particularly care for, they
130
00:07:04.199 --> 00:07:07.160
can cut away to something else. You know, there's a
131
00:07:07.319 --> 00:07:09.160
there's a myriad of things you can do as a director.
132
00:07:09.160 --> 00:07:11.240
But that really freed me up as an actor, which
133
00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:13.319
I was really grateful for.
134
00:07:14.160 --> 00:07:16.439
Well, and having the experience as an actor when you
135
00:07:16.439 --> 00:07:19.600
took on the whole opportunity to direct, I mean you're
136
00:07:19.639 --> 00:07:23.000
able to talk to the actors and say hey, because
137
00:07:23.040 --> 00:07:26.360
you could totally identify with any ankst or anxiety or
138
00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:29.399
just whatever they might be feeling in that moment, because
139
00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.680
you've done it, you've lived it, you know, and so
140
00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:33.560
that's great.
141
00:07:34.360 --> 00:07:36.199
Yeah, you have to be a psychologist in the sense
142
00:07:36.240 --> 00:07:39.800
as a director, because you're dealing with many different personalities.
143
00:07:39.920 --> 00:07:43.680
You know, you're people and in different processes, you know,
144
00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:48.480
so people process there or approach a role differently, and
145
00:07:48.680 --> 00:07:50.879
so you're you're bringing a lot of different elments. So
146
00:07:50.920 -->
00:07:53.240
you have to you have to be flexible. I mean,
147
00:07:53.240 --> 00:07:57.040
I think if you're too rigid, you're gonna bump. You're
148
00:07:57.040 --> 00:08:01.759
gonna bump up against some resistance. And as a directory,
149
00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:05.480
you really want to allow the actors to feel that
150
00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:09.439
they are they're being creative the choices, that they have
151
00:08:09.600 --> 00:08:13.800
the freedom to make choices and try things.
152
00:08:15.680 --> 00:08:18.079
But at the same time, I believe.
153
00:08:17.800 --> 00:08:21.600
Actors for the most part, want to feel that the
154
00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:23.959
director that they're trusting is going to come in and
155
00:08:24.600 --> 00:08:28.360
give them notes on their performance or whatever, that they
156
00:08:29.560 --> 00:08:32.320
care as much about what they're doing as the actors do.
157
00:08:32.759 --> 00:08:37.679
So it's I come in. I often come in. I
158
00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:39.480
mean the way I like to do is I like
159
00:08:39.559 --> 00:08:40.919
to come in, prepare and say, hey, I have a
160
00:08:40.919 --> 00:08:45.279
few ideas. Here's kind of a loose blueprint of what
161
00:08:45.320 --> 00:08:48.559
I'm looking to do, and then let's work within those parameters.
162
00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:50.480
And it could be something as simple as like, hey,
163
00:08:50.480 --> 00:08:52.960
I'd love you to come in that door and maybe
164
00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:55.159
end up on the couch over here, or come in
165
00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:57.039
that door and at the end of the scene exit
166
00:08:57.320 --> 00:08:59.559
that door, you know, or go out that door. Something
167
00:08:59.639 --> 00:09:02.879
is simple is that, But it gives them some It
168
00:09:02.919 --> 00:09:05.159
gives them some space, but some parameters to kind of
169
00:09:05.200 --> 00:09:07.600
work in, like a beginning, middle, and end kind of deal,
170
00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:09.559
and then they can work within that space. And then
171
00:09:09.600 --> 00:09:12.720
they might say, Hey, what if I came from here,
172
00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:14.519
or what if I was already in the room.
173
00:09:14.399 --> 00:09:16.960
Well, let's talk about that. Okay, that makes sense. I
174
00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:18.679
could see why you would already be here.
175
00:09:19.120 --> 00:09:23.639
I had a moment working with Bradley Cooper and Clint
176
00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:27.440
Eastwood on American Sniper, and I had kind of come
177
00:09:27.519 --> 00:09:29.679
up with some ideas, and Clint came into the room
178
00:09:30.039 --> 00:09:32.360
on a break from another scene, and he and I
179
00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:34.440
talked through the blocking of this scene and I made
180
00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:38.080
a couple of suggestions, and one of the suggestions I made,
181
00:09:38.120 --> 00:09:40.360
he said, no, you know, I think I would rather
182
00:09:40.879 --> 00:09:43.120
you exit this scene as opposed to staying in the
183
00:09:43.159 --> 00:09:46.399
scene even though it's written that way, and so we
184
00:09:46.600 --> 00:09:50.519
ended up exiting the scene, and he had an idea
185
00:09:50.559 --> 00:09:55.320
in his head that by heaving us exit that scene,
186
00:09:55.840 --> 00:09:58.120
he had to change a few other things because it
187
00:09:58.240 --> 00:09:59.279
changed the timeline.
188
00:09:59.559 --> 00:10:00.919
It al the timeline.
189
00:10:01.039 --> 00:10:03.200
But what was really cool about what he did is
190
00:10:03.240 --> 00:10:06.240
it made the story move faster. It kept this sense
191
00:10:06.279 --> 00:10:11.279
of urgency. So that was you know, that's one of
192
00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:13.919
those situations where you may have an idea, but then
193
00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:16.480
someone has an idea that works better. And obviously you're
194
00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:18.720
usually not going to question Clint Eastwood.
195
00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:20.879
No, I wouldn't think so.
196
00:10:21.840 --> 00:10:23.759
No, he's he's done. He's been around the block a
197
00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:24.200
few times.
198
00:10:24.240 --> 00:10:26.960
He's quite the visionary. You know, he's done this the
199
00:10:27.000 --> 00:10:30.480
time and tell you right well, looking back, fans then
200
00:10:30.600 --> 00:10:33.519
followed your journey through you know, such a wide range
201
00:10:33.559 --> 00:10:36.720
of roles, And how do you think, Eric Close, the
202
00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:40.519
actor has evolved through the years, and what do you
203
00:10:40.559 --> 00:10:42.840
know now about storytelling that you wish you'd known in
204
00:10:42.879 --> 00:10:43.440
the beginning.
205
00:10:46.799 --> 00:10:48.960
What do I wish I had known in the beginning.
206
00:10:49.600 --> 00:10:51.720
It kind of goes back to what I was saying earlier.
207
00:10:51.879 --> 00:10:55.480
I but I think it's part of the process.
208
00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.799
You have to go through it.
209
00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:01.879
You know, I'm listening to I'm listening to this audiobook
210
00:11:01.919 --> 00:11:05.320
right now about the tennis player Andre Agassy and how
211
00:11:05.759 --> 00:11:10.000
he strived to be perfect in his matches and it
212
00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:10.600
hurt him.
213
00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:14.559
And when he started to just trust the process and just.
214
00:11:15.080 --> 00:11:17.000
Be in the moment, hit the ball and not think
215
00:11:17.720 --> 00:11:20.519
I have to hit the perfect shot every time. Just
216
00:11:20.639 --> 00:11:23.960
play the play the ball, it freed him up, and
217
00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:27.759
then he started winning Grand Slams and I kind of
218
00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:31.679
learned that as well. The other thing that I learned
219
00:11:32.360 --> 00:11:36.200
is that stories evolved even once you're up and running
220
00:11:36.279 -->
00:11:36.919
on production.
221
00:11:38.240 --> 00:11:39.720
You want to It's sort of like.
222
00:11:40.080 --> 00:11:41.919
What I was saying about kind of having a blueprint
223
00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:44.600
of wanting to come into a scene and you know, say, hey,
224
00:11:44.679 --> 00:11:46.440
here's kind of how i'd like to see it from
225
00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:51.000
a director's standpoint. But also within a script, I mean,
226
00:11:51.080 --> 00:11:53.960
there occasionally is a brilliant script where you don't want
227
00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:59.240
to change anything, but for the most part, there are
228
00:11:59.600 --> 00:12:03.159
you know, when you have a collaboration and everybody comes together,
229
00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:07.000
you can make a good script great, a good story
230
00:12:07.080 --> 00:12:11.879
great or better. And it's important to be open to
231
00:12:11.960 --> 00:12:14.480
those ideas. And so that was something that I really
232
00:12:14.559 --> 00:12:17.120
learned along the way. I don't know that I wish
233
00:12:17.159 --> 00:12:19.559
I'd known that earlier, because I, you know, I just
234
00:12:19.679 --> 00:12:23.440
was kind of learning that as I went along. But
235
00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:27.879
you know, basically, the biggest one was just learn to
236
00:12:27.919 --> 00:12:31.679
relax and be okay, be okay with making mistakes. It's
237
00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:36.919
okay to make make mistakes. And uh, and it's a
238
00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:40.720
it's a because it's a forgiving process. And you know,
239
00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:43.799
when we try too hard, it it can it can
240
00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:48.279
actually kind of hamstring you. And you know, I've always
241
00:12:48.360 --> 00:12:51.840
I always, you know, I any you ask anybody who's
242
00:12:51.840 --> 00:12:53.759
been around for like them. It's just the most important
243
00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:55.919
thing is just do your homework, be prepared to show
244
00:12:56.000 --> 00:12:59.200
up and get ready to go. Nothing bothers me more
245
00:12:59.240 --> 00:13:02.440
than when people show up and they're not prepared and
246
00:13:02.600 --> 00:13:04.440
they kind of are just you know, phoning it in.
247
00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:07.399
That's frustrating. Thankfully, it hasn't happened very often, but I've
248
00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:10.480
seen it a few times. And we're very fortunate to
249
00:13:10.519 --> 00:13:13.159
do what we do, and so it's like I'm always like,
250
00:13:13.200 --> 00:13:15.600
don't take this for granted, because it can go away
251
00:13:15.600 --> 00:13:16.039
real quick.
252
00:13:16.759 --> 00:13:21.360
Yeah, for sure. Well, congratulations on your new holiday film
253
00:13:21.559 --> 00:13:24.200
All is Mary and Bright, which happens to open I
254
00:13:24.200 --> 00:13:26.639
believe November seventh, correct, it does.
255
00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:29.320
Yeah, All is Mary and Bright opens November seventh across
256
00:13:29.320 --> 00:13:33.080
the country in theaters. And I have to tell you,
257
00:13:33.080 --> 00:13:36.759
don this was one of my favorite projects to work on.
258
00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:40.639
I you know, so much of it is is like
259
00:13:40.679 --> 00:13:43.279
I said at the beginning of this interview, just the relationships.
260
00:13:43.480 --> 00:13:47.639
And I was so fortunate to be asked to be
261
00:13:47.679 --> 00:13:50.200
a part of this project. And you never know who
262
00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:52.000
you're gonna end up, you know what the environment's going
263
00:13:52.039 --> 00:13:54.399
to be like, personalities are going to be like. But
264
00:13:54.480 --> 00:13:57.000
this was just an incredible group of people that were
265
00:13:57.440 --> 00:14:00.360
so grateful to be there. I was working with young
266
00:14:00.399 --> 00:14:02.200
actors who are just kind of starting out. Some of
267
00:14:02.279 --> 00:14:06.279
them this was their first job, and so to just
268
00:14:06.799 --> 00:14:09.240
to live vicariously through them or to go back and
269
00:14:09.279 --> 00:14:12.000
remember what it was like, you know, when I was
270
00:14:12.039 --> 00:14:14.879
first starting out, that level of excitement and just you
271
00:14:14.960 --> 00:14:16.120
just want to soak it all in.
272
00:14:16.200 --> 00:14:17.720
You're asking lots of questions.
273
00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:20.759
So I got to spend some really great, some quality
274
00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:24.759
time with these young actors and seasoned actors alike, you know,
275
00:14:25.960 --> 00:14:30.320
John O'Leary and Sally Struthers, and Emily Rose, who I
276
00:14:30.399 --> 00:14:33.480
was working with as well, I mean, just Graton and
277
00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:38.080
we had an absolute blast. Everybody checked their egos at
278
00:14:38.080 --> 00:14:40.759
the door, if they had them at all, and just
279
00:14:41.039 --> 00:14:43.799
came there for a purpose to have fun together and
280
00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:46.879
make a fun story that's gonna, you know, hopefully entertain
281
00:14:46.919 --> 00:14:49.639
people through the holiday season and years to come. And
282
00:14:50.320 --> 00:14:53.960
it was just it was just a pleasure. And the
283
00:14:54.080 --> 00:14:58.039
captain of the ship was Corey Edwards, a director, and
284
00:14:58.600 --> 00:15:00.240
I was kind of teasing him, I go, you kind
285
00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.559
of remind me a bit of Clint Eastwood because he
286
00:15:02.679 --> 00:15:04.879
was like a one Corey is kind of a one
287
00:15:04.919 --> 00:15:06.879
take wonder. I mean he would he would do a
288
00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:08.559
take and he'd say, oh, I'm good, I'm ready to
289
00:15:08.600 --> 00:15:10.519
move on, and I'm like, wow, that's awesome. So he
290
00:15:10.600 --> 00:15:15.559
was very he was very confident in his process. He's
291
00:15:15.799 --> 00:15:19.720
very funny. Corey's a comedian himself. He's a comedic writer,
292
00:15:20.200 --> 00:15:22.679
so he had he was good at, you know, throwing
293
00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:25.600
out fun ideas and silly ideas that were you know,
294
00:15:25.679 --> 00:15:28.399
we all just sort of embraced and we're excited about,
295
00:15:29.039 --> 00:15:32.720
you know, trying to you know, execute, and so he
296
00:15:32.759 --> 00:15:35.200
did a great job and we zipped through those three
297
00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:36.759
or four weeks however long we were there, and we
298
00:15:36.840 --> 00:15:39.480
just had an absolute blast and and you know, I
299
00:15:40.759 --> 00:15:41.879
definitely work with him again.
300
00:15:42.919 --> 00:15:43.159
Yeah.
301
00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:45.519
I watched the trailer for the film and it just
302
00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:49.519
looks fabulous. I mean, the talent, the cast is amazing,
303
00:15:50.080 --> 00:15:52.960
and the story looks really sweet and heartfeld. And you know,
304
00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:54.399
when I learned it was gonna be in theaters, I
305
00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:55.960
was like, you know, this is the kind of movie
306
00:15:56.399 --> 00:15:58.799
that families can go watch kind of kick off their
307
00:15:58.799 --> 00:16:01.360
holiday season. And it really feels like it's going to
308
00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:03.120
be one of those films that people will want to
309
00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:04.519
watch again and again and again.
310
00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:08.600
Yeah, it's I agree, it's one of And that's what
311
00:16:08.639 --> 00:16:10.639
I love about it too, is that you the whole
312
00:16:10.639 --> 00:16:13.200
family can see this and and that's you know, this
313
00:16:13.320 --> 00:16:16.000
time of the year, I mean it's always important.
314
00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.279
Family is always important.
315
00:16:17.320 --> 00:16:18.320
This is the time of year where a lot of
316
00:16:18.759 --> 00:16:21.360
you know, people are coming together, they're taking a little
317
00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:23.840
bit of a break from work or school and getting
318
00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:27.799
a chance just to breathe and take a break together
319
00:16:27.919 --> 00:16:31.799
and you know, have meals together and watch movies and
320
00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:34.720
it's just a and to be a part of that
321
00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:37.919
and to know that this film will you know, bring
322
00:16:37.960 --> 00:16:40.440
people together. It's like you said, it's a It's got
323
00:16:40.440 --> 00:16:42.879
a great message to it. It's a message of hope
324
00:16:42.919 --> 00:16:48.519
and reconciliation, forgiveness. It's family and and and I love
325
00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:51.200
that message. And I think people are going to really
326
00:16:51.279 --> 00:16:54.399
resonate with it, or it'll resonate with them.
327
00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:57.879
When the final credits. Role what do you hope people
328
00:16:58.080 --> 00:17:00.120
leave the theater?
What do you have to take away?
329
00:17:00.120 --> 00:17:01.039
Will be for viewers?
330
00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:04.559
I hope I hope people when they walk out of
331
00:17:04.599 --> 00:17:08.359
the theater, they feel good, they feel entertained, they there's
332
00:17:08.359 --> 00:17:09.279
some joy in their heart.
333
00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:11.000
And then they.
334
00:17:11.599 --> 00:17:13.400
Go out to go out to a meal or they
335
00:17:13.480 --> 00:17:15.440
go home and they talk about the movie and their
336
00:17:15.480 --> 00:17:18.480
favorite parts, you know, the favorite scenes that they like,
337
00:17:18.519 --> 00:17:22.039
their favorite characters, uh, their you know, favorite favorite moments.
338
00:17:22.160 --> 00:17:24.359
And to me, that's what's important.
339
00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:29.960
It just creates conversation and togetherness and everybody feels good
340
00:17:29.960 --> 00:17:34.200
coming out of there. And also I hope that if
341
00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:38.599
there's you know, people that maybe are feeling some separation
342
00:17:38.759 --> 00:17:41.599
from somebody or some distance or there needs to be
343
00:17:41.640 --> 00:17:46.240
some reconciliation amongst friends or family members, that this movie
344
00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:48.960
will also inspire them to say hey, maybe I need
345
00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:51.279
to pick up the phone and pass the olive branch
346
00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:53.880
or you know, say hey, I'm sorry, just the simple
347
00:17:53.880 --> 00:17:56.480
words if I'm sorry, you know, I could see that
348
00:17:57.599 --> 00:17:59.920
maybe a message that people may take away from this
349
00:18:00.240 --> 00:18:03.000
as well. And also there's a theme that runs through
350
00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:05.079
this whole story that's something you and I've just been
351
00:18:05.119 --> 00:18:10.240
talking about, is that in life, we often try to
352
00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:11.960
control every We always want to feel like we're in
353
00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:16.279
control of life. And this movie really encourages people just
354
00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:20.519
to let go and trust the process of life and
355
00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:23.480
not try to control everything, because it really it frees
356
00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:28.559
you up and makes life considerably better in many ways.
357
00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:30.359
And so that's a great message in this story, a
358
00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:37.200
great lesson that you know, the character that Emily Rose plays, Jessica,
359
00:18:37.359 --> 00:18:39.440
that my wife in the movie, that she really learns.
360
00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:41.400
We all learned something. But this's a great message in
361
00:18:41.440 --> 00:18:44.359
the story as well. So lots of cool themes for
362
00:18:44.440 --> 00:18:46.400
people to take away when they walk out of the theater.
363
00:18:47.279 --> 00:18:49.599
That's wonderful. And you know, the best movies I've
found
364
00:18:49.680 --> 00:18:52.359
personally are the ones that I'm still talking about long
365
00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:55.279
after I've watched them, and then you know, you watch
366
00:18:55.319 --> 00:18:57.319
them again and then there's something new to talk about.
367
00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:00.319
It's a great conversation piece, but it's it's a good
368
00:19:00.319 --> 00:19:03.480
way to unite families and people that just go and
369
00:19:03.519 --> 00:19:05.799
spend time together. And the holiday season no better time
370
00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:11.079
for that. So looking forward to this movie for sure. Well, Eric,
371
00:19:11.119 --> 00:19:13.200
I want to thank you for your time and thank
372
00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:15.359
you for sharing about this movie. It's gonna be great.
373
00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.359
Can't wait to see it. I've got plans to go
374
00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:21.480
and I'm looking forward to it. So so thank you
375
00:19:21.559 --> 00:19:25.599
so much. I wish you much continue success and as
376
00:19:25.640 --> 00:19:27.799
you go forward and look forward to more stuff that
377
00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.920
you got coming out in the future. So thanks.
378
00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:31.960
It wo great. Yeah, and then we'll jump back on
379
00:19:32.839 --> 00:19:38.680
the zoom again and heyday, that's my favorite movie of
380
00:19:38.720 --> 00:19:39.519
all time right there.
381
00:19:39.519 --> 00:19:42.799
It's a wonderful life that is mine as well as well.
382
00:19:43.240 --> 00:19:46.000
I have to to me, the holiday season is official
383
00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:48.880
when I've sat down and watched it, you know. So yeah,
384
00:19:48.920 --> 00:19:52.240
it's wonderful, absolutely cool. Well, thank you so much for
385
00:19:52.279 --> 00:19:52.640
your time.
386
00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:54.960
I do appreciate it you too, Don.
387
00:19:55.839 --> 00:19:58.799
What a joy to spend time with the incredible airic
388
00:19:58.880 --> 00:20:02.640
close town. I wanted actor, devoted storyteller and someone who
389
00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:06.160
truly embodies the spirit of faith, family, and connection that
390
00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:09.200
makes the Christmas season so meaningful. I want to give
391
00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:11.880
a huge shout out of thanks to Eric for his
392
00:20:12.039 --> 00:20:15.960
time today, and you can catch Eric and all is
393
00:20:16.079 --> 00:20:19.160
Mary and Bright in theaters beginning November seventh, so be
394
00:20:19.200 --> 00:20:22.799
sure to grab your tickets and experience this heartwarming story
395
00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:26.039
on the big screen. Until next time, keep celebrating the
396
00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:30.079
moments that bring joy, stay inspired, and remember sometimes the
397
00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:32.960
brightest light of the season is found in the simplest
398
00:20:33.079 --> 00:20:34.079
acts of love.
399
00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:38.400
Thanks for joining us for another heartwarming episode of The
400
00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:42.799
Christmas Connection with your host Don Mac. Stay connected with
401
00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:47.039
us all season long at Christmasconnects dot com. Follow us
402
00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:52.400
on social media on Facebook at the Christmas Connection on Instagram,
403
00:20:52.599 --> 00:20:57.640
threads and TikTok at Christmas Connection podcast on Blue Sky,
404
00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:03.680
at Christmas Connects on x at TCC Underscore, x M
405
00:21:03.799 --> 00:21:08.119
A S p O D. From our hearts to yours,
406
00:21:08.640 --> 00:21:11.920
thank you for letting us be part of your holiday season.
407
00:21:12.839 --> 00:21:17.839
Until next time, keep believing, keep sharing the joy, and
408
00:21:18.000 --> 00:21:20.880
keep that Christmas spirit shining bright.