Because of my devotion to the Hallmark network and the fact that they have continued to bring vibrant, facinating actors to my attention that otherwise would have gone under my radar, I have been introduced to yet another riveting actor–Travis Milne. Though unfamiliar with him and his work before our recent chat, he more than impressed me as he responded to questions concerning his induction into the business, his most-known works, his outlook on Hallmark programming, and even his future aspirations.

RH: Travis, why did you become an actor?

TM: I kind of fell into it. When I was in high school, my girlfriend at the time joined the drama program that had just opened. I was like, “Well, she’s going to do that,” and I was kind of protective and all that, so I went into it too. Basically, that was the start of it. I just joined because she did. And then she moved away, but by that time, I was already like, “This is kinda fun.” So I kept doing it. My drama teacher really encouraged me in it.

I always think it’s great that there are so many teachers like that out there. 

Totally. It saved my life. I was like a wrecking ball before that. It saved my life for sure. I was a handful before I got into acting.

Actually, that’s pretty common. They tend to say those really creative people are the ones who often act up a lot. As a teacher myself, I always keep that in mind when I have that difficult student. I think, “They might be the next great actor or comedian.”

Yeah, you never know. If they’re workin’ a class, they either end up in prison or a really successful stand-up comedian.

Yeah, if you can get them going the right direction. (pause) So did you go to theater school, film school..?

Theater school first for two years and then film school.

Oh, so you did both! That doesn’t always happen. 

I think I left home at sixteen and went to school right after I graduated high school. I just kinda dug in. Kept at it.

Sounds like you knew what you wanted to do, and you took that path to get there.

Definitely.

As I was looking through your credits, it seems like what you’re most known for is Rookie Blue–is that correct?

Yes, it is.

Now while I’m not familiar with the show–

Oh, that’s fine.

According to IMDB, it’s listed as a TV series and Webisodes, so I wasn’t sure what that meant.

We did some web stuff in between which was a blast. And we also did stuff on the TV show as well. There were seventy-four episodes, and it was on ABC. It ran for seven years. It was insane. Totally insane. It was such a blessing, such a gift. I still can’t believe it. You don’t realize it when you’re young and it happens.

You hear from a lot of actors that their dream is, “Well, I want to have my own show that runs for a long time and develop my role over several seasons.” But not all actors get something like that.

Oh, totally. I had just turned twenty-two, and I had tried acting for two years. I totally did not get anything. I was unsuccessful, broke–I was just tired of being basically poor and just struggling. I was building custom homes at the time as well–which was great. So I’d take an afternoon off every once in awhile for an audition, but ultimately I was like a carpenter. And then I applied to power engineering school. I got in to be a power engineer. Then two weeks before I went back to power engineering school, my agent called me–who I had told a month previous that I was no longer gonna act. I was gonna quit, go back to school and become a power engineer. I wanted to work in the environmental sector ’cause I really cared about the environment. But I got this call like a month later, and she’s like, “Hey, you’re in Toronto. Do you wanna go in for this show?” And I was like, “Okay.” She said, “Just go audition. They wanna see you.” I had shot this indie film called Manson, My Name is Evil. So I went in and did that and did the audition. And yeah, I got it. And still couldn’t believe it, but you know, I’d ended up booking it.

That is amazing! I was just thinking a lot of actors will say that you need to have something to fall back on, especially in the beginning. And you were doing that, and then you were going to stop being an actor and then you end up with this great role.

I really got lucky.

That’s great that worked out for you. ‘Cause from there, you’ve gone on to be on some shows that I have not watched but I’m familiar with them. I noticed Rogue in your credits.

Yeah, Rogue was awesome.

That’s actually on my next-one-to-watch list. 

It’s an interesting show. It’s interesting to be a part of for sure because I wasn’t quite sure where it was gonna go, but it was a blast. I had a lot of fun workin’ on it.

I think all too often we have this perception that in the acting environment, there’s a lot of mean people or people who are egotistical or prima donnas. But it’s nice to hear that there are so many nice people involved with these shows.

I kind of rediscovered that with Rachael {Leigh Cook} and Lucas {Bryant} and Summer Love. I was like, “Wow! You guys are awesome.” Such a blast. With Rachael, she’s been doing it since she was like twelve. I used to have a crush on her in high school. And now all of a sudden, I’m acting with her and thinking, “Wow! This is it!” And she still is literally as beautiful as she was then as she is now. She’s like incredibly gorgeous and accessible. And then you meet her, and you’re like, “Oh man.” You don’t quite know what to think. And then you get to know her, and it’s like she is cool, so cool. She can relate and make a grip laugh. And also drink anyone under the table, but she’s this consummate professional and totally amazing to work with.

That’s great. I was going to be asking you about Summer Love since it is the next one coming up this weekend. Am I right in saying this is your first Hallmark film?

This is like my second or third one, but this is the first one where I’m like the lead guy. It was a big role. So that was cool.

Travis Milne (Will) Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

So you, Lucas, and Rachael are the main three in this film. 

Totally. Lucas and I are both in a way kinda vying for her. We’re trying to date and hang out with her. So it’s kind of interesting. So like Will’s {my character} tactic is kinda hard ball; right out of the gate he calls dibs. And he’s like, “This chick’s awesome.” And then after that, you’re like, “No, wait a minute!” Then Colin {Lucas’ character} comes through with the subtle charm and reliability and tries to win her over.

This will be very interesting because I will have posted interviews of all three of you in time for the film on Saturday. 

I love it.

What do you like about working for Hallmark?

Personally, I love the content. It’s really fun to watch. I feel like it doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s fun to act in. I find that when I do comedies, I stay in a way better place personally. And even when I’m watching them as well. I usually do a lot of dark stuff in between working on stuff like Rookie Blue. I was always trying to stretch myself as an actor and go all dark and try to play all these super gritty roles. And then I just ended up getting like really depressed and grew a massive beard and stopped talking to people and got so method and so immersed in trying to do gritty projects it kinda ruined my life a little bit for awhile. Drama is great, and my heart goes out to people like Daniel Day-Lewis–I love him to death. Amazing, and the stuff he makes is amazing. But doing that is so emotionally exhausting that I honestly don’t want that. I find that I’m just better personally when I’m doing projects that are more upbeat. And about the simple things in life that I feel are very integral and relatable and everyone experiences one way or another. Even Superman falls in love and is looking for love. Every person on the planet is always looking for that thing or that person to kind of make them feel complete. And I feel like Hallmark’s thesis is that.

Travis Milne, Rachael Leigh Cook Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

That’s an interesting way of looking at it. I don’t think I’ve had anyone put it quite that way. 

I write a lot in my spare time. I used to write all the time every day. And now I just renovate ’cause it’s easier. I can actually get stuff done. Writing was so exhausting ’cause you’d write these movies or these projects and usually never make them. So renovating is very gratifying ’cause acting is a patience game, but with renovating, the gratification is instant.  But as a writer, I look at the incredible wheel Hallmark has, and it’s great! I think it really works. I think we need a little bit more of that in our lives. You can get all wrapped up in trying to make the next Inception. But you know, Inception only comes out once a year or once every decade, and it’s amazing, but you can’t always make those. And also, I don’t know if I’d want to watch that movie all the time. I don’t know if that’s what I’d always be going for.

I hear you. Sometimes it gets tiring when you flip through the different stations, and everything that’s on is dark and intense.

Totally!! Oh my gosh!! {laughs} No!! You don’t want that!! You don’t need that!

And especially on the weekends, that’s not what I’m looking for. I just want something where I can sit down and just kinda–

—watch.

Yeah, and you don’t have to do a lot of thinking. You can just enjoy it.

Bascially our lives are stressful enough as they are. I don’t want to add more stress. I don’t want to make stressful content. I want to make stuff that people watch and they can kinda escape with it. I mean, that’s what movies were in the first place, like during the Depression. Movie sales went up ’cause people wanted to escape to faraway lands that looked beautiful, and they were fun to watch. And then they made The Godfather, and people were like, “We need to make that again.” {laughs}

You know, once a movie is made and it’s a classic, we really don’t need to go back and keep remaking it.

No, that’s the other thing, too. I feel like Hallmark gets a lot of flack from people saying, “Oh, these movies are so predictable.” And I’m like, “No, man.” They’re new scripts. They’re new ideas. And they’re doing something different even if it is the same emotional plight. There are different characters, stories, and at least it’s not rehashing. They’re so many films out right now–even Tarzan. Of all the movies they made this year–they called it The Legend of Tarzan, like it’s the saga of Tarzan. It was good, but they didn’t have a Tarzan. {laughs}

Sometimes people say Hallmark is too predictable, but there’s nothing wrong with it being predictable. 

Audrey Hepburn films are also predictable. We all love them. So is every film that Audrey Hepburn did, except for Breakfast at Tiffany’s. There, she plays a non-likable character. But every other movie she’s ever done is predictable–and I literally love them. They’re amazing.

What I really like about Hallmark is they get quality actors, and they’re often very fan-friendly. They actually interact with the fans. And I always hear from the actors that it’s a really fun set to work on. Everybody gets along really well. I hear wonderful things about the crews that Hallmark hires too. I hear they hire the best.

They do. They do. They’re always a blast to work on. And they’re still making stuff even through the time when a lot of people aren’t. The others still haven’t found the equation to make it work. I think what Hallmark is doing is really working.

Lucas Bryant, Rachael Leigh Cook, Travis Milne, Credit: Copyright 2016 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Ryan Plummer

In addition to Summer Love, do you have any other works coming up that you can mention?

Okay, so that’s it. I haven’t really gone out for very much stuff. I’ve been renovating my house. I’ve actually been enjoying renovating a lot. It’s really fun. And so I’m kinda doing that a lot. I still go out and audition for stuff, but I’m also very busy building stuff. Like today, I just did a deck. I’m redoing my rooftop patio. I did it myself with my dad. And I built it all–I did the architecture, design, and everything.

I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. I think it can be smart because some actors audition like crazy every day and never get anything for long periods of time.

Oh, totally, that was my life in LA for five years. Driving in the valley, dying of heat exhaustion, and then going in for something, and then you don’t get offered it. Eventually you get tired of that.

I think there’s something to be said for not auditioning so much because sometimes you’re out there so much that they’re always seeing your face. 

And you have no time to actually live. And you’ve got to remember that you gotta live. You gotta have a life. And that’s where all this kinda came into play for me. I was tired of the hustle, and I just wanted to go and do my thing. I do less stuff, but it’s better.

Well I say if you can make that work, go for it. And if the right show comes along–

Oh, totally! One hundred percent! It’s like every two months, you have a massive audition for a huge show that you’d love to be on as opposed to trying to convince yourself that this is what you wanna do ’cause you’re forcing it, and that is not the way to do anything.

I think that’s great. You’re still young.

Totally. I’m kinda gettin’ at it. I’m thirty right now. So I’m not even ready for the lead cop guy that’s investigating the murder. I have a while still to mature and be ready for those roles. In the meantime, I’m like doing what Harrison Ford did which was just adult stuff. {laughs} And then when they call, go back to it.

Well, I think that’s great, and at least we’ll be able to see you in a film this weekend. 

For sure. I’m really excited to see the film. I think it’s gonna be good ’cause my character is–have you seen Just Friends with Ryan Reynolds?

No, I have not seen it.

It is an amazing film. He did it. Anna Faris is in it. I just remember going, “Man, this movie is just so great.” And I think back to it now. He did it before he got Van Wilder. And I think the movie gave him a little bit of a head start into that direction where he was the lovable kind of jerk. And Will is like a lovable guy who–maybe he’s not the guy you call to pick you up at the airport, but if you’re going out Friday night, you call Will, and you’ll have a good time.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Travis would speak so eloquently about the programming the Hallmark network regularly features. There is no doubt in my mind that he is passionate about the movies and shows they choose to produce and highlight on the channel, and without becoming a posterboy for family-friendly entertaining, Travis gave such an incredibly clever defense for the necessity of this programming in today’s society that I was dumbfounded. Furthermore, Travis unknowingly took some of the best advice I’ve heard from novel and seasoned actors alike–have a back-up plan. Even in his youth, he realizes that this business is fickle and unsteady at times, and the continual rejection one receives can cause more than just an empty pocketbook. It can cause psychological, emotional, and even physical damage. Travis has determined to invest in another job on the side so that he is not dependent upon roles that he has no business accepting, let alone auditioning for. Alternatively, Travis comes across as the young man who is not reliant upon his acting to earn all of his income. Therefore, he is free to audition, accept or reject jobs with dignity, and still pursue a side interest that will assuage his needs between jobs. In truth, Travis has wisdom that far exceeds his years, and as he and his gifts mature, there is no doubt in my mind that another substantial role will be headed his way that will necessitate his pausing his renovation hobby in order to take the ideal role that is just waiting for an actor of his caliber to soar into the picture. Be certain that you follow Travis at the links below while he navigates the ups and downs of his acting career and as he perseveres in pursuing every dream within his heart and soul. Oh, and please tune into the Hallmark Channel premiere of Summer Love tonight (August 20) as it is certain to be a hit with these three actors involved.

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