Interview With Actor Aaron Craven

By Ruth on May 21, 2016 in Interview, movie, television

For those who follow me fairly closely, you are probably well aware of how I feel about the Signed, Sealed, Delivered series. In their most recent offering, From the Heart, I noticed several extraordinary actors featured throughout the film, and it just so happens that Aaron Craven was one of those momentous actors. You might remember his character’s very touching scene in the hospital as he beheld the woman he loved begin to fade away. Aaron is one busy guy, but thankfully, he was able to carve out a few minutes to answer some questions about his career, with a specific focus on his Hallmark works.

What inspired you to become an actor?

I really fell into acting a bit later than some actors do. I was a jock in high school and took drama class to hang out with girls–truthfully. My drama teacher told me he was putting me in the school play, while insisting that I had a talent and that I should investigate it. His dedication to teaching and love of the craft is what really first piqued my interest in acting, although I still didn’t consider it as a professional career at that point. It really was a slow progression of taking more theatre classes in university and eventually realizing that I was taking more theatre classes than any other subject! The romanticism of the acting lifestyle had slowly but completely engulfed me. I ended up majoring in theatre and at about 23-24-years-old, I got an agent and have never looked back.

Since you’ve been in several Hallmark projects, please comment on why you like working with the Hallmark brand.

They keep employing me. Must be my choirboy looks?

Please tell us about your When Calls the Heart experience and what that was like.

It was great working with the director Michael Rohl on that episode. I’ve worked with him a few times, and he’s such a personable guy and fun director to work with. He really likes actors and makes you feel totally at home on set. Pascale Hutton is a sweetheart as well. Everything about that shoot was great, apart from the freezing weather.

Also comment about your experience in A Country Wedding and Dashing Through the Snow. What stood out to you in the filming of both?

A Country Wedding was a fun shoot. Autumn Reeser is a gem to work with, and the lead cast all got along really well. Since I was playing the minister, they asked me to ad-lib some sermon material at one point, and I just opened up the bible that was sitting on the minister’s stand and riffed a bit. I’m not a churchgoer myself, so I used my imagination…

Dashing Through the Snow – we shot winter scenes during a very hot Vancouver summer. Those FBI flack jackets were making me sweat like a boxer in the twelfth round. Kristopher Tabori, the director of that film, was fantastic. He’s an actor himself and very funny and eloquent with how he directs. I had a great time working with him.

Your most recent Hallmark project was Signed, Sealed, Delivered: From the Heart—how did you get that role?

I auditioned for the producers and director. Guess they liked it.

Did you have any input in the development of your character for that film?

I find on Hallmark projects they cast performers who they’ve gotten to know and trust. So you show up, do your thing and hope that it reads well. As an actor, I don’t like to chat too much about character as most of the work is internal. Hopefully, the results show on screen.

What was your experience like working with the SSD cast & crew?

Good people all around. I particularly enjoyed working with Holly Elissa, who played Maddie. She was very easy to play that emotional hospital scene with. It’s great when you work with an actor who just connects with you right away. It makes emotional scenes in particular much easier to play.

What has been your experience with the #POstables fans?

Honestly, I’m not the greatest with live tweeting and all that. I mostly use Twitter as a forum for my bent sense of humour. I do try to give a shout out to fans and followers of projects I’m on. Twitter is a new reality that this Generation X’er is trying to embrace. I’m trying to not become one of those old guys who thinks his generation’s music was the best.

Anything upcoming you can mention?

Up next is The Convenient Groom, another Hallmark movie that’ll be out in the coming months.

Do you have any plans or thoughts to eventually direct, produce, and/or write?

I actually run my own theatre and film production company, Mitch and Murray Productions @mitchplusmurray . I’ve directed a few short films, and my theatre company has become one of the most well-known little companies on the Canadian west coast. I have also written a screenplay which is currently being shopped around. It’s really great to produce your own work as an artist. Sometimes TV and film give you a pay cheque but not the artistic reward. So producing your own work gives you some creative control over your storytelling.

In your free time, what do you like to do?

I play beer league hockey, scuba dive, watch documentaries, listen to jazz and raise my 10-month-old son. Oh man, I hope he doesn’t want to be an actor…

Before this interview, I admit I knew practically nothing about Aaron. After fully digesting his answers, I was quite captivated with his pragmatic manner of thinking as well as his delightful (if not sometimes twisted) humor. Moreover, anyone who is born the same year as I with a birthday barely a month ahead of mine can’t be too bad. There is no doubt that Hallmark has begun to recognize his prowess, and I predict it’s only a matter of time before we see him in a lead role where he can display his charm, his joi de vivre, and his dynamic acting chops. Be sure to have a look at all of his works and follow him (and his company) on social media lest you miss anything.

Aaron on Twitter

Aaron on IMDB

Mitch and Murray Productions

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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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6 Comments

Eva Henry September 20, 2021 Reply

He is awesome. He is my favorite actor. I really enjoy this post. Thanks for sharing it. Keep sharing. Many thanks @eva
Mercy December 23, 2018 Reply

He’s Kate Isaac’s husband, right?

Didn’t realize he had been on WCTH, I’ll have to go rewatch that episode!
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  Ruth December 23, 2018 Reply
  
  Yes! Aaron is Kate’s husband & has been quite a few Hallmark projects
Linda Manns Linneman June 3, 2016 Reply

I really like this actor. I also like When Calls the Heart. I am so happy you got to interview him and are sharing it with all of us. Thank you so much. God Bless
Cheryl Everitt June 1, 2016 Reply

Amazing and wonderful guy. Thanks for sharing.
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  Ruth June 1, 2016 Reply
  
  Agreed–never met him but I really enjoyed getting to know him this way.