Interview With Topher Payne, “Cherished Memories: A Gift To Remember 2”

By Ruth on November 24, 2019 in Interview, movie, television

Around three years, I happened upon a new Hallmark screenwriter that I had the privilege of interviewing before his first movie premiered on the network. Since that time, Topher Payne has risen within the Hallmark ranks to bring us some of the most highly-regarded movies in network history, including A Gift To Remember (that many viewers hail as one of their top ten Christmas movies of all-time). Recently, I was granted a second interview with this phenomenal, gifted artist, and it is my delight to share our chat in anticipation of Cherished Memories: A Gift To Remember 2 that will premiere very soon today (November 24th) on the Hallmark Channel and the W Network.

RH: So nice to chat with you again, Topher! It has been quite a while since our last interview.

TP: Nice to chat with you too, Ruth. It has been a long time.

On set with Lauren Holly & Jack Turner

The last time we chatted, you were in the process of writing Broadcasting Christmas, and we were waiting to see My Summer Prince.

Oh yeah, and that one worked out all right.

Definitely. I think it’s still one people seem to like after all this time.

Yes, and then Taylor {Cole} and Jack {Turner} keep getting re-paired on the popular Winter movies. It’s a nice segue to say, “Well, if you like them in One Winter Weekend and One Winter Proposal, check them out in My Summer Prince.”

On set with Taylor Cole

Yes, and finally Jack is making more movies for Hallmark! He made one earlier this year, and he’s got another one coming too. I kept wondering why the network wasn’t using him more. It seems like every time he makes a movie, the fans go wild for him. His interviews are regularly pretty popular on my site.

I’m not surprised.

So you had your bit hit with A Gift To Remember a couple of years ago.

Holy cow! That was so unexpected! The whole process was incredible. When we were originally developing it, it was for Hallmark Movies & Mysteries because of the whole mystery of who Aiden was. And then when we went into production on it…I think we had gotten to the final script, but we hadn’t even started filming yet. Based on the script, they decided it would be better suited for the Hallmark Channel. So the fans of that channel got to see something that had a little mystery element to it, which I think is one of the great delights of that movie. And then golly! People responded to it well!

I know what you mean! Granted, I loved the movie, but still, I was surprised at how much people raved about it! They loved the pairing of Ali {Liebert} and Peter {Porte}. They loved the story. And now to have a sequel!

I think the real surprise and delight of A Gift To Remember becoming the gift that kept on giving…when we premiered it in 2017, it was very well-received. Then the re-airings in 2018 were continuing to garner a portion of the audience that you would expect for a new film. So what we really learned in the second holiday airing of A Gift To Remember was how re-watchable the movie was, and a lot of people were coming back to it repeatedly. And so that’s when the conversation really kicked into high gear about getting the gang back together again.

But Melissa Hill, the author of the original novel–who is genuinely one of the nicest people I’ve ever talked to in my life–told us that there is no follow-up for the book. So when we were toying with the idea, I just wasn’t comfortable moving forward without the author’s blessing. You know, if she had an original pitch that she would like to do, I thought we needed to be open to that. I mean, they are her characters.

Well, Melissa, to my surprise and delight, gave me her blessing to go forward. She said that the book was absolutely her story, but the film was mine and that she trusted that I would move forward with the characters and treat them with the same love that she does. Which was such an incredible gift for one writer to give to another, to gain her trust in that way. I did reach out to her a few times throughout the writing process. She named a couple of the characters in the movie, and she provided some details for the characters. Like the name of Darcy’s parents. I went back to her and was like, “I’m sure you already know this. What are their names?” So she was still open to any kind of collaboration or advice I needed along the way. And when I turned in the first draft version to the network, I turned it into her as well.

I know I’ve been impressed with Melissa in the past. We did an interview back when A Gift To Remember first premiered on the network. I’m in the midst of reading one of her novels, and her writing truly impresses me. But from what I’ve observed, I have also been impressed with her as a person. What you’ve shared just solidifies that for me. I had wondered about this sequel since there’s no follow-up book out there as far as I knew. I know she seemed to be very happy with the way the first movie turned out.

She was very, very pleased. And you know, it’s such a challenge in approaching that material. You know, Rome In Love was an adaptation of a book by Anita Hughes. It’s a tremendous responsibility taking on an author’s story and adapting it for another format, knowing that we only have eighty-five minutes to tell a story in a Hallmark film. There’s no way you’re going to be able to squeeze in every single detail that lovers of the book adore. And finding a way to capture the spirit of the characters and the intentions of the story while still respecting the film as its own take…it keeps me up nights, but when I get the blessing of the author, it means everything in the world because it means I respected their work well.

You brought up Rome In Love. I adored that film. I absolutely love the original Audrey Hepburn film Roman Holiday. I’ve seen at least one other adaptation of that movie, and while adaptations can often be good, there are often disappointing elements as well. Maybe I’m just being nitpicky because I often love the original films so well.

Yes, and as soon as you say you’re doing something in tribute to a beloved work like that, buckle up! You’re already setting some pretty high expectations.

But when I heard that Italia Ricci was doing a Hallmark movie–oh my goodness! I’ve been watching her career for a few years, and when I found out she was doing Hallmark, I was ecstatic! Then, with a returning favorite like Peter Porte! I had high expectations, but I thoroughly enjoyed that film. I think the only complaint I had–and this is a common issue with these kinds of films–I thought the ending wrapped up too quickly. I understand sometimes these films have to be wrapped quicker than you might want in the interest of time. But that did not ruin the film at all for me. I thought it paid tribute to Roman Holiday exceptionally well. But as of yet, I have not read the book.

The thing I loved about Rome In Love–among many things. There really were so many things I loved about Rome In Love, especially with my background as a playwright. My friendships of longest standing are the people that I met when I was doing avocational theater. I know that when we tell stories of undiscovered talent, generally there’s a very lengthy resume of them honing their craft and learning to do their jobs very well. You just didn’t happen to be looking in the place where they were doing it.

So to have the character of Amelia being presented with this extraordinary, fairytale-like opportunity…and also having the confidence of knowing she’s ready for it. She knows how to do her job. She knows how to play a character, and she has confidence in her abilities. And it’s certainly on a much larger scale with much larger stakes than she’s accustomed to. But I loved her confidence and her competency and being able to stand up for herself and what she’s capable of doing. I’ve had friends that had a project that suddenly makes everybody pay attention to them. I know how nerve-wracking that can be for an artist when you’ve been quietly doing your job for a while and all of a sudden, everybody’s paying attention. So I loved being able to explore that.

That is something I remember you commenting online about the way she was standing up for herself. She’s standing up for the way she knows she needs to play that character.

Right. It’s not like she’s being strident about it or trying to overextend her reach. It’s more about the fact that she knows she has the right to occupy this role. The line on set was, “We do not apologize for insisting that our work be respected.” I think that’s a message that we all need a reminder on every now and then.

Absolutely! That’s something I’ve had to learn with all my interviews and the way in which I write them. Especially in the beginning. I think I was almost a little more apologetic than I needed to be. I’ve learned now that I just have to say that this is the way I’m going to do them, and even if somebody doesn’t agree with you, I’ve learned to stand up for what I know is right.

Exactly, even if they don’t agree with you, then let’s have a conversation. When I switched over from the theater, a very successful run of a play would be seen by a few thousand people. That would be considered very successful. Switching over from a few thousand people to two or three million people…I had to consistently remind myself that what I was doing was part of the team. They were counting on me to have the confidence of knowing what I’m doing and why I had the right to be in the room. It was important for me to keep that in mind for myself as it was to reassure my teammates.

So with this sequel, A Gift To Cherish is the name, right?

That was the title. I believe the full title is now Cherished Memories: A Gift To Remember 2.

What can you tell us about this sequel as far as the story and what the viewers can expect?

I can tell you that Aiden’s feeling much better now. {laughs}

{laughs} Well, that’s good!

The wonder of the opportunity that was presented to me in this one that I haven’t had a chance to do for a film with Hallmark yet is this. I’m telling the story of a couple that’s already together. Which means I don’t have to wait till the last three minutes to see him kiss her for the first time. When I was told that I was going to have the chance to revisit these characters, I realized I was going to get the chance to explore what they’re like as a couple when Aiden is no longer spending half of our story confined to a hospital room. I was so curious to see what their dynamic was like when they were out in the world. I suspected that Darcy and Aiden would make a very good team. So with this one, when they’re presented with a challenge, instead of Darcy working on her own to help Aiden overcome an obstacle, it’s the two of them working together to help someone else. I believe one of the reasons that people do respond so well to the first one is just the chemistry between Peter and Ali. You believe inherently that these two are people that really dig spending time with each other. You can’t fake that. They really, really do. So seeing them work together on a shared project to benefit someone else is a really beautiful evolution of that dynamic.

And of course, having Tina Lifford back as Mrs. Henley…I mean, that was non-negotiable. But that’s the other thing. In the first film, Mrs. Henley exists as a character primarily to help Darcy in her mission. What happens this time around is that Mrs. Henley is the one in need of assistance and we get…I mean for goodness’ sake, we get to find out her first name! Mrs. Henley has a family of her own and a job and a life outside the confines of that story we were telling in the first film. So everything has just been expanded. Their world is so much larger this time.

We get to see Aiden at work as an art teacher, and we get to see Darcy running the store and all the challenges that come with running a small business. In so many ways, as I was writing, it felt like I was getting back together with old friends.

I was thinking it had to be fun to write knowing how well Ali and Peter worked together. That had to be fun to write their characters and their dialogue because they already have that chemistry. It’s not like you had to establish it like you do when it’s the first time around. When it’s the first one, most of the time, the actors haven’t even met, and you don’t know what they’re capable of. But now you know.

Yes, and finally after two previous movies writing for Peter, it was great that I knew that I was writing for Peter. He was cast in Rome In Love after I completed the script. I didn’t even know he was in consideration for that film, and then I was delighted to know he was coming on again. But this time around, from the first draft, it became much more akin to my experience of working on the world premiere of a play where I have a group of actors around the table, and as I do edits and continue developing it further, I have their voices in my head.

That’s got to be amazing, Topher. I’m totally impressed with both Peter and Ali, and I’m so excited for this film.

That’s great, Ruth. They couldn’t have been more generous with their time and their thoughts on the project. For once in my life, I was writing a Christmas movie at Christmastime. The expectation was that A Gift To Remember 2 would film before Rome In Love. But then the production calendars got moved around. Tina Lifford is on the show Queen Sugar, and that’s a four- or five-month commitment for her. I actually had the first draft of A Gift To Remember 2 ready right around New Year’s Day, but because of all the shuffling around, everything stopped for us to get Rome In Love ready. And then I didn’t pick it up again until Rome In Love started shooting. That was April, I believe. And meanwhile, I left Ali and my producer Angela {Mancuso} on tenterhooks while everyone was waiting to find out what happened next with Darcy and Aiden.

Now I understand! I thought A Gift To Remember 2 had been shot earlier in the year. But then later on, I noticed it hadn’t been filmed yet.

And that’s the other interesting thing working on a sequel. Usually, we stay very quiet with the specifics on any project until after the movie is filmed. It’s usually well into post-production before I can even initially acknowledge that I wrote the movie. But with sequels, it’s a whole other thing. They know that the Hallmarkies are anticipating it and they are happy to build that anticipation.

I have no doubt this will be a big movie for the network. And I’m glad for your sake and all involved that they kept it on the Hallmark Channel. Sure, I love Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, but more people still subscribe to the original Hallmark Channel.

Behind-the-scenes
A Gift To Remember 2

Yes, that is true. The number of people that have the chance to see your movie increases significantly if you’re on the flagship channel.

Anything recent or upcoming that you’ve been working on?

Yeah, I recently was in a production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof. I got back on stage for the first time in about two years. The joke that I tell is, “I write for TV so I can finally afford to do theater.” {laughs}

That’s what I’ve heard is that theater does not often pay as well as TV. I know there are those who do live off of working on the stage…

Cat On A Hot Tin Roof
Peter Hardy as Doctor Baugh, Topher Payne as Gooper, Karen Howell as Big Mama and Kelly Criss as Mae.

Yes, but it does tend to require you to get pretty creative. But now I have the best day job in the world. I get to tell my own story by day, and then at night, I can support other people telling theirs. We opened with this production back in September. And then I guess this is my year of Tennessee Williams. I’ll be directing a production of The Glass Menagerie in January. So that’s what’s going on in the theater side.

As far as screenwriting, right now, we are figuring out what the next story I’m going to tell on screen is.

I would say Hallmark is fairly pleased with what you’ve brought to the network thus far.

And I’m so pleased with them. The last time you and I talked, I was just getting to know them, and they were getting to know me. And three years down the road, amazingly, I am so delighted to be able to tell people and mean it that I really like the people I work with. I love what inspires them to tell stories. I love the respect that they have for their audience. You know, I have no shortage of ideas as a writer, and that crosses many different genres. I hope that I have the blessing and opportunity in this life to tell as many stories as people will let me.

But I understand what people are looking for when they come to the Hallmark Channel, and Hallmark certainly understands that and respects what the audience is seeking when their viewers come to the Hallmark Channel. I understand why some writers would potentially find that restrictive, but I think it’s important to recognize that right now, this is the story you’re telling and this is the reason people are coming to you seeking that story. And when you’re approached with that degree of respect and appreciation for the viewer, then telling the stories within the world of Hallmark can be a really wonderful thing.

I think you’ve done a great job writing for the network within the guidelines of the network. And yet you’re able to put your own touches on it so we still know it’s your work. You are able to find your voice within the world of Hallmark. I think that can be a challenge to do that, but I think you are doing it very well.

Well, I’ve also had the opportunity to talk with other writers who are coming into writing for the Hallmark audience for the first time. I try to give them the benefit of my–never daresay wisdom but we’ll go with experience. I can tell them it’s not a formula. It’s a recipe.

I like that!

And there’s so much improvisation on what ingredients you can add to that recipe. But there are some basic truths about baking a cake that if you don’t put in these ingredients, you’re’ not going to get a cake. So when you’re having conversations with the executives who are fostering the development of your project, you’re going to hear some ingredients that are consistently mentioned that are a priority. And you just have to remember that you gotta put those ingredients in or you don’t get a cake. But then the joy is, “What else can I mix into this that will serve as an enhancement?”

I really like the way you described that. I’ve never heard it described quite like that.

Yeah, well, I bake a lot. {laughs}

{laughs} Then that makes you a perfect fit for Hallmark because so many of their movies have baking in them. The whole idea of baking makes perfect sense with Hallmark.

Yes, and Hallmark stories can be the television equivalent of comfort food. And, Ruth, who doesn’t love comfort food?

I’m with you there! I mean, I’ve told people many times before that I’d rather watch a “bad” Hallmark movie–not that there really are any–as opposed to most of the other garbage that is out there on the networks today. Even if the movie is not perfect–and I know people love to nitpick–but watching a Hallmark movie is a chance to turn my brain off and not think deeply or deal with real life for a couple of hours. I can sit there and relax and enjoy it and escape from the world.

And there is still such an opportunity to see something that matters to you. Let me use Rome In Love as an example. My father has had health challenges. In the last two years, it has required my sister and I to step it up and show up the moment when our family needs us. So having the aspect of Amelia’s story in caring for her little sister and really making it clear that of course, she walked away from other opportunities in favor of being there for her sister…Her life was never meant to be anything but that. That choice defines who she is. It defines her character and her priorities. I know that as her sister says in the film, “People who are willing to show up for family”–whether that’s family of origin or family of choice–if you’re willing to show up in a moment when you are needed…you may not be celebrated as much as you should be. And those people should be acknowledged. And I was able to put those exact words into a Hallmark movie. So in telling this gentle and lovely story with beautiful locations, I also had the chance to say something that’s really important to me.

And I think the beauty of a Hallmark movie is that I don’t often go into those movies expecting to have a life principle or teaching or value presented to me. I really don’t expect to be touched or moved by a message. I go into it wanting to relax and be entertained. And then there are those unexpected moments where something jumps out at me and really speaks to me. It’s not a message that beats me over the head, but it’s just a simple message that really resonates with me.

I agree. And when it’s done successfully, certainly for me as a viewer, it’s just a simple statement about who this person is.

Topher, I want to thank you for chatting with me again, especially after all this time. I’m so happy to have been able to follow your career, and I will look for much more from you in the future.

Thank you, Ruth, for your support. And for the support from the Hallmarkies. I hope everyone enjoys Cherished Memories: A Gift To Remember 2.

To be perfectly forthright, I do believe that Topher’s interview speaks for itself. As one who was an honor student and thrives on thinking deeply, I am invariably thrilled whenever I get to exchange ideas on a profound level with another from the artistic community. Topher’s entire vernacular and mode of thinking challenges me to consider a variety of ideas in an innovative way, and for that, I am eternally grateful to him. In addition to all that, Topher has championed my cause over the past few years on more than one occasion, and that has only endeared him to me all the more. Conversing with him was as natural and as effortless as chatting with an old and dear friend, and I am pleased that Hallmark introduced this gentle, capable, sensitive, talented man to the Hallmark community!

I hope that everyone is ready to watch Cherished Memories: A Gift To Remember 2 on the Hallmark Channel or the W Network very soon this evening (November 24th). Moreover, I hope that all of my readers take a moment to visit Topher’s links that are listed below and even consider following him where applicable. As the creative genius behind an unexpected franchise, it boggles the mind to imagine what the future may hold for this incredible industry professional, and I can hardly wait to see what comes his way in 2020 and beyond!

FOLLOW TOPHER

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About the Author

RuthView all posts by Ruth

“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka Ruth is an inspirational entertainment journalist who instinctively sees the best in all and seeks to share universal beauty, love and positivity. She is an artist who leads with her heart and gives readers a glimpse of the best of this world through the masterful use of the written word. Ruth was born in Tacoma, Washington but now calls Yelm, Washington her home. She lives on five acres with her parents, a dog, two miniature goats, cats and a teenage daughter who is a dynamic visual artist herself. Ruth interviews fellow artists both inside and outside of the film/television industry. At the core of all she does is the strength of her faith.

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denise November 25, 2019 Reply

Fantastic interview.

Topher–this movie was so beautiful. It touched me so deeply. Fabulous job continuing the story. I hope we get #3 as a wedding at Christmas.

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Interview With Topher Payne, “Cherished Memories: A Gift To Remember 2”

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