Interview With Actor Mark Deklin, “Meet Me At Christmas”

By Ruth on November 17, 2020 in Interview, movie, television

Because of the Countdown to Christmas/Miracles of Christmas season, which is presently in full swing on the Hallmark Network, we viewers have been bombarded with a plethora of Christmas spirit, romance, and pure joy. While there are many new faces appearing this season, it’s invariably a comfort to see our perennial favorites pop up on the screen. And it just so happens this past weekend a few of those favorites emerged. Mark Deklin first came to my attention during his GCB days, though I didn’t know his name back then. (Let’s be honest. I watched that show because of Kristin Chenoweth, and I was saddened when the show wasn’t renewed.) While he resurfaced in a few places, because of Candace Cameron Bure and Ashley Williams, Mark became a new favorite leading man on the network for me. While he and I have known each other a couple of years now, we only recently spoke on the phone for the first time ever! In honor of last weekend’s Hallmark Movies & Mysteries premiere Meet Me At Christmas, it is my honor to present our recent conversation to my readers today.

RH: Mark, it is great to chat with you today! Thanks for making the time.

MD: I’m so glad it worked out, Ruth. Thanks for being flexible.

It’s great to hear your voice because our interviews have only ever been through email. This is our first time to talk.

Yes, that’s right, and yet I feel like I know you.

Me too! So, where are you right now?

I’m on the East Coast, home with the family, and in the middle of shooting a Blue Bloods episode.

Oh, yeah, I remember you being on that show last season. I was a bit late to the party with Blue Bloods, but we faithfully watch now. My mom is even more addicted to the show than I am. It’s a show we don’t miss.

You know, I was never a big watcher of the show. I was aware of it. I remember when their first season was. They premiered at the same time as a series I was doing called Lone Star. They were sort of our competition. But our show went away quickly, and they’ve stuck it out. They’re on season eleven, which is very impressive.

Yes, indeed. Well, it’s cool that you got to come back, especially during the pandemic. I know some shows didn’t survive.

It’s tough because the costs alone are unbelievable. My agent was telling me about this. Take an independent film that has a five million dollar budget. Two-hundred-fifty thousand of that now has to go towards COVID protocols. Unfortunately, a lot of people aren’t going to be able to do that. It’s tough for everybody right now. There’s been so many jobs lost during this thing.

Yes, and then in my case, I end up getting a job in the midst of the pandemic, which I totally didn’t see coming. So I’m counting my blessings as well.

I heard about that, and I’m happy for you. A similar thing happened with my side business. That’s one of the things I’ve been saying. You know, as awful as the pandemic is–the lives lost, the jobs lost, all that–there have been silver linings. So I guess it’s a good lesson for all of us in resilience and rolling with it.

You were just in a new Christmas movie this past weekend. With Catherine Bell!

Yes, that’s right. Meet Me At Christmas.

I mean, oh my goodness, you lucked out there, I’d say!

I did in many, many ways. She’s terrific. I loved working with her. She’s delightful. She’s cool, and she’s smart, and she’s fun. It was also nice to be playing with someone who’s around my own age. We both play characters who have a certain level of…I mean, we’re not older per se, but there’s a certain level of maturity, and I like bringing that to a character. Both of our characters have a history and have some pain. They’ve seen things in their lives that…as an actor, I like playing characters that have different levels and some depth to them. So that was really fun. We had a great time together. I definitely hope to work with her again.

So you guys had not met previously before this film.

No, we had not met. This movie came about because she and my old pal–former GCB castmate Jennifer Aspen–has started producing. Which is great and I’ve very happy for her and very proud of her. She called me up out of the blue, and I got this offer. I really thought I wasn’t gonna work this year, which I was okay with. I had made my peace with that. I figured I was just gonna work on my gardening business. We’ve been very busy with that, and I figured acting would start up again next year.

But I got this call out of the blue, and bless her, Jennifer said that she’d always had me in mind for this role from the beginning. There was never anybody else she even considered, which is so lovely and flattering. I love Jen. We had become close during GCB. She and her husband were just going through the process of adopting their daughter, and so she had talked to me as someone who’s adopted. She had talked to me a lot about what it was like growing up adopted, and we’d had some real heart-to-heart conversations about it. So I felt like, in a small way, I was a part of that process.

She and Catherine have been friends for decades. I guess she had always wanted Catherine for this role too, and she had tried to talk Catherine into it. But because Catherine was flying out to Toronto to do Good Witch, she wasn’t sure she wanted to be away from home for that long. Well, Jen asked to drive her to the airport, and during that drive, she talked Catherine into it. So Jen brought Catherine and me together. It was a great match, I think. We had a great time.

When I saw that they had paired you two up, I thought that was perfect casting. And, Mark, indeed it was! I definitely could imagine you two together on the screen, but it worked even better than I expected.

Thanks, Ruth. I think it worked well too. And it’s a heartfelt script. It’s got a lot of layers and a lot of heart, which I love. It was beautifully shot, and if I have my facts correct, this is only the second Hallmark film that’s been shot in Calgary. I think that’s right. We had such a lovely time, and I’m hoping they do more there. I would go back in a heartbeat. The Canadian Rockies are gorgeous, and the people are super nice. Other than being very homesick, we had a lovely time there.

Oh, that’s great to hear, Mark! And I think you’re right. I don’t recall Hallmark filming much in Calgary. I know they’ve filmed in other parts of Canada, but I don’t recall a lot from that area.

This production company…I believe this was their first Hallmark production, and they wanted to do a good job and to start a strong relationship with Hallmark. I like to think that maybe we were a part of helping them with that. They were a nice production company to work for. It was a great experience all around.

That’s so good to hear. I know it’s been a crazy year, but somehow Hallmark is still doing forty Christmas movies. I don’t know how.

Yes, it’s unreal.

And all the ones I’ve seen so far–yours included–have been incredible and well done. You’d never know they were filming in the midst of a pandemic.

It was surreal to be on set again and with the COVID protocols. But at the same time, this movie felt like a good old Hallmark movie. It’s right in the pocket. There were little logistical things like all the cast divided into zones, and we all had to wear masks when the cameras weren’t rolling. And craft services is a different experience. There was a lot more recycling of background players because they had fewer of them. But other than that and the fact that they had to do some tricky camera angles to make a crowd scene look more crowded than it was, I think they pulled it off.

They sure did, Mark. It did not disappoint. I was looking forward to it, and I loved it! I’m so glad they were able to put you in a Hallmark Christmas movie this year.

You know, they were very smart about everything. Production in Canada opened before production in America because they had better control of their numbers. So they did it in waves. The first phase, according to my understanding, is that they only used Canadian actors, and it worked out okay. Nobody got sick. So they did a second phase where they brought in a couple Americans. And I was apparently in phase three, which was fine. And I guess the ministry of health classified us as essential workers, which makes me laugh. But it’s okay; I understand.

So you got to experience a two-week quarantine.

I did, which wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected. I was dreading it. I thought it was going to be like white-collar prison. But during the shutdown this spring, as it was starting, I had read this essay by one of the astronauts who was on the international space station. He was writing about how you can stay in an enclosed environment isolated for a long period of time and not lose your mind. He talked about little tricks and how scheduling your day is so important, and how not multitasking is essential instead of dividing your tasks into little increments of time. Like I’m gonna do half an hour of this and doing things like taking off your pajamas and brushing your teeth because otherwise you just slide into a depression. So that was really useful. I used it with my family during this spring shutdown. We were all together. I also think it helped me with this two-week quarantine in Calgary because it kept my day structured. I got a lot of writing done. I was working out every day and doing yoga, and meditating. It felt really good.

That’s great to hear. I’ve heard from my other friends who have been in quarantine, and they did similar things. They made sure they didn’t vegetate and let the time just pass them by. They found things that would keep them productive, so they found that the time went a lot faster. I think that dreading it is probably the worst. I can see you thinking it’s going to be worse than it is. But once you’re there, if you’ve prepared for it, it probably isn’t as bad as you thought it would be.

Yeah, the concept of not being allowed to leave your condo is a bit daunting, but the truth is that you know it’s crucial to find some way to work during this time. And then you just have to keep your body moving and find some sort of outdoor space. So I strongly requested a balcony or something so that I could get some fresh air. I think that’s important. And making sure you have some stuff to do, not just to pass the time but to truly feel like you made the best use of this time. I got some stuff done. I did my taxes and finances. I did write a whole script. I read books. I got caught up on movies. It felt good.

Well, you sound like you were very productive. That’s good to hear.

I mean, I missed my kids, but that wasn’t even quite so bad because I wasn’t working and I was available to my son. He could Facetime me, and we could play Roblox for half an hour over the phone. I could Facetime my daughter. And I could Facetime my father-in-law during my daughter’s softball games, and he would just hold his phone up so I could watch her whole game on Facetime, so it was great.

Wow! Isn’t it incredible how technology has kept us going through this whole crisis? I cannot believe the ingenuity of people and the way technology has been used. It has just blown me away. It’s been positive. People always talk about the negatives of social media and all these resources.

Yeah, you can see all the negatives if you watch The Social Dilemma. It’s there.

Of course, there’s a lot of bad, but there’s been so much more good that’s come out of it. Zoom has become a way of life.

I know what you mean. All these different connections during this time have been excellent. It’s incredible. As an actor, one of the things I did early on in the pandemic was…well, I already had more or less a recording studio in my basement. It just sort of tweaked it a little bit. It’s not soundproof, but the sound quality is very good. So I was still able to do voiceover work even when there was no other work happening. That was great, and that’s thanks to technology.

That’s so wonderful to hear, Mark. It sounds like you were very productive during the shutdown, and you got to stay at home with your family too.

I actually loved the family time. My temperament is such that I’m a real homebody anyway, so I didn’t mind stepping off the hamster wheel. I didn’t mind slowing down a bit. I loved having time with my family. I loved having time to garden and bike and read. My wife and I both loved seeing how beautifully and gracefully our kids adapted. They’re so resilient, and we were really impressed and proud. They handled it beautifully. Don’t get me wrong. We had our days when we were absolutely sick of each other, but it was pretty great for the most part.

I totally get that. My daughter and I live with my parents, and we live out in the country on five acres. We are basically self-sufficient most of the time and don’t go out much, but the only difficulty was that we were told we couldn’t go out if we wanted to. There’s something about being told to stay home that feels different.

For sure, and that was the head trip of the quarantine. You’re gonna go into this space, and you cannot leave. It doesn’t feel good to be told that.

Now, are your kids homeschooled, or were they going to public school?

It’s kind of funny because obviously, every parent in the country was having the conversation about what they were gonna do this fall. My kids are public school kids. I’m a big supporter of public schools. I never wanted them to do private school. But with the fall approaching, we talked about the possibility of pulling them out and homeschooling and maybe renting an RV and seeing the country. We were tossing that idea around, but ultimately, it wasn’t very practical. And the other thing is that my daughter is at an age…she’s so social and being with her friends is really important. She begged us basically to please not do that. She wanted to do what her friends were doing, so we decided to honor that and respect what she was feeling. Our kids are doing the hybrid thing like so many kids are doing across the country. It’s not ideal, but it’s working out okay.

It sounds like you all have adapted well. So your movie was this past weekend, which was terrific. I can’t believe how quickly they shot it!

Blue Bloods

Me either. It’s not normal for a movie to go through post-production so quickly, but they made it work.

Yes, they did! And we can also look forward to seeing you on the next season of Blue Bloods. Glad you’re working on that now.

It’s a lovely departure for me to do this role. My character on Blue Bloods is quite different from Hallmark. I’m playing a sociopath.

Oh, yeah, I remember. I like seeing actors in all different kinds of roles like that. I think it’s fun for you guys to get to play other parts, so you’re not playing exactly the same thing all the time.

It’s fun for me too.

I don’t know if all the viewers agree with me on that sometimes. Some people only want to see their favorites on Hallmark. They want the actors just to be the nice guy, but I’m okay with seeing you all in different roles.

I will say this about my character in Meet Me At Christmas. I really like that he’s not the typical romantic lead. He’s a guy who has resisted love for years. He’s a cool guy, and he’s an adventurer. He’s a world-renowned nature and travel photographer, and this is a guy who spends his life climbing the Himalayas and Manchu Pichu. He’s too busy living his adventurous life to settle down and find love. So he gets blindsided by meeting this woman. I enjoyed playing Beau a lot.

That’s really exciting. I could definitely see that being the perfect character for Catherine Bell. I’ve seen her in so many different kinds of roles. It was the perfect movie for both of you to play, and you had lots of chemistry.

Oh, Catherine’s role is great too. She plays a widow, and part of what she’s struggling with is finding this guy Beau interesting but annoying at the same time. They’re sort of doing the rocky path of getting to know one another but also resisting because she’s starting to have feelings for him. But she still feels loyalty to her deceased husband, who she loved very much. He’s the father of her son whose wedding we’re at, and even when she begins to finally admit to herself that she’s having these feelings for Beau, she doesn’t want to because she doesn’t want to dishonor her husband’s memory. So that a nice mature element to this story that I really like. Beau gets it, and he respects it. I think it added a nice level to this movie.

Well, it certainly shows how Hallmark is diversifying the kind of movies they’re doing, which I love. There’s nothing wrong with simple rom-coms, but it’s nice to change it up a bit. This movie did that. I like the twists and turns along the journey.

Did you see the skit on Saturday Night Live that was a parody of Hallmark movies?

Oh, yes, I did!

It was great to see that because there has been a stereotype of what a Hallmark movie is. And it’s nice that they’re now bending that stereotype, and they’re breaking out of it. It’s cool to be a part of that.

I am in full agreement with you, Mark. So you mentioned that you wrote a script during your time of quarantine.

Yes, I did. It’s something I’ve wanted to work on, and I just kept looking for the time. I suppose I could find the time at home, but when I’m a dad at home, I like to be present with my kids, and I’m not so good at checking out of that role. As a result, while I’m proud of that, I don’t often get things like this done. But having this enforced time to do it was great, and my goal wasn’t even to finish it. I just had a goal to work on it. But once I got on a tear with it, I just cranked it out, and of course, they’ll be rewrites and edits. But I got this thing finished, and it felt really good.

I’m so glad. Is this something we’ll hopefully see in the future?

That is my plan. I will definitely keep you posted as it develops. You never know. You never know what’s gonna stick or not. I also have my side business with my two gardening partners, and our business took off during the pandemic, and we’ve been filming everything because we’re always thinking, “Well, you never know what might be in this.” We’re always open to the possibility of going in that direction. We’ve got tons of footage of installations we’ve done, and we’ve got a lot of irons in the fire. Maybe we will do something with that footage one day.

That sounds great, Mark. So do you and your family have any travel plans for the holidays?

Blue Bloods

No, we’re just gonna be at home and lay low. I mean, with this year, you just have to play it by ear and roll with it. We don’t have any big travel plans. I think we’ll just hunker down at home and see what the colder weather brings. And who knows what’s gonna happen with COVID? Selfishly, I’m just glad we’re all together.

I hear ya on that. I have nothing to complain about either because my family is here.

Me neither. I am choosing to be positive and count my blessings. And see if I can help other people.

Me too. And that’s what I like about you, Mark. You’re really positive. I appreciate the fact that you’re not posting negative stuff on social media. I know everybody’s different, but I much preferred reading positive things like what you post instead of negative things during the crisis. I wanted to stay away from most social media.

I’ve been posting a lot less recently for that very reason. Social media can be a real rabbit hole.

From Mark’s garden

Yes, I couldn’t agree more. And when you post, I know you are posting something about your garden or your family or something positive. I never dread what you post, and I like feeling that way.

Thank you, Ruth. I’m much of the philosophy that when you enter a room, you enter in order to heal the room. I like that idea.

That’s really good.

Like an old teacher of mine used to say, whenever you enter any space of any kind, whether it’s a virtual space or a real space, be mindful of your ministerial robes. I thought that was very interesting.

Wow, what a great way to put it. And you certainly live up to that, so thank you for doing that.

I appreciate that, Ruth. And I appreciate all your support. I enjoy your posts for the same reason. I’m glad we’re mutually admiring each other.

That’s an excellent way to put it, Mark. Thank you again for this wonderful chat. I loved your movie, and I look forward to Blue Bloods and everything else coming up for you!

Thank you, Ruth. And thank you to all the fans for their support.

Yet again, because of Hallmark’s commitment to employing the most superior actors and artists, I have had the honor of interacting with Mark, and as far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t get much better than this chap. Not only does he check all the boxes (outstanding actor, decidedly handsome, immeasurably charming and kind), but he is also authentic to the core. From the moment we started chatting, I felt like I was conversing with an old friend. We have yet to meet in person, but I am convinced that I will find him just as down-to-earth when we finally do. He is a family man first and foremost, and he has the supreme opportunity of doing what he relishes for a living. The fact that Jennifer and Catherine adore him also provides me with even more confidence that this gentleman is a keeper that Hallmark is wise to retain on their network.

If you have not had the opportunity to watch Meet Me At Christmas, the next showing is November 17th on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries (but there are multiple showings listed, so check the schedule). If you are in Canada, it premieres on the W Network on November 22nd. In addition to watching Mark’s new movie (or rewatching it or any of his other beloved Christmas films), be sure to visit his links below and consider following him where applicable. When I declare that he is a positive force in this world, I can assure you that everything you read about Mark will be uplifting and virtuous, so following him is an intelligent decision on your part. (Come now, would I ever steer you wrong?) I am thrilled to see what is in Mark’s immediate and distant future, but I know that whatever he creates is bound to be phenomenal and worth my time because he is one inspirational fellow. He is pragmatic, and yet there is more to him than meets the eye. I am convinced that Hallmark and other networks will continue to utilize his skillset for decades to come, and I perceive that his fans and I will be right there in the proverbial front row, ready to cheer him on!

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CHECK OUT MY OTHER INTERVIEWS WITH MARK

Interview With Actor Mark Deklin, “Love And Sunshine”

Interview With Actor Mark Deklin, “Christmas In Evergreen: Letters To Santa”

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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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Interview With Actor Mark Deklin, “Meet Me At Christmas”

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