December 7, 2022 • 56 mins
Let’s celebrate the premiere of Jonathan’s Christmas Rom-Com movie “The Holiday Sitter.” This week we are joined by Jonathan’s co-star and on set husband George Krissa!
Find out all about George and his journey, why Jonathan calls him a “unicorn” and get some behind-the-scenes stories from Hallmark’s first Holiday movie starring and centered on an LGBTQ+ couple.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
This is Pridecast with Jonathan Bennett and James Fox on iHeartRadio. Hey,
what's up, everybody. It's the host of Pridecast, the one
and only Jonathan Bennett, coming to you live well kind
of Life. We've prerecorded it, but you're listening to it
live here on Pridecast on iHeartRadio. I am so excited
(00:23):
because today's episode is so special. My husband James is
shooting right now. He's filming a TV show, so he
can't be here. But since my new movie on Hallmark
Channel comes out this weekend, I thought who better to
host with me this episode and to be my guest
on this episode than my co star and romantic love interest,
my husband on screen, George Chrissa. So today's episode is
(00:48):
so special because we're gonna be talking all things gay
Hallmark Channel. And I know I said those words together
gay Hallmark Channel. What a time to be a lot,
What a time for representation. This man that I'm about
to bring on is such a great person. I worked
(01:09):
with him and got to know him so well, and
I can't speak highly enough about him. He's just the
real deal. He's talented, he's kind, he's a blast to
be with. On set, and we're going to talk about
making our new Hallmark Channel original movie for Countdown to Christmas,
The Holiday Sitter, So, which is the first LGBTQ plus
(01:33):
led rom com for Christmas on Hallmark Channel. That's right,
the first LGBTQ plus led rom com for Hallmark Channel
for Christmas. We're making history. And right now we're going
to talk to my co star, the one and only
talented George Chris. Hello, George, Hello, thank you for having me.
(01:55):
Do you like that intro? Because I know George, of
all things that you love, you love George the most,
and so I thought giving you a nice intro you
would love it.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, if there's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's compliments.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
But it's true. Like on set, if George was having
like this is true because we work together so much
that we like learn each other's quirks and like if
I do something and I don't think it's funny, I
have to turn to George and he has to be like, no,
it was really funny. That was really funny.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
It was it worked. Everyone laughing.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Oh, everyone was laughing at the mod The acoustics.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
In the room were weird, but you just couldn't hear it?
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yeah, yeah, he was laughing, and then like he would
do a take and I'm like, oh my gosh, you
look so handsome in that take. You did so great
And he's like really, and I'm like absolutely. So we
learned each other's uh, insecurities and quirks along the way,
which was really fun. George, you're joining us from where
are you right now?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Toronto? Well, just outside of Toronto in where Canada? In Canada?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Right? But where what little town are you in?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Oh? I'm a little town called Stratford, home of the
the world renowned Stratford Festival and home of me and
Brian and my dog.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
You and your husband and your dog and or your fiance,
which we'll get into. But I think before we start
talking about the magic that is The Holiday Sitter, our
new movie coming out December eleventh on Hallmark Channel, I
think we want to deep dive into you, George. I
want to talk. I want I want the listeners to
get to know you like I got to know you,
(03:26):
because you're just such a good person. And I think
people are are gonna watch this movie and fall in
love with you. Ah, it's all lies.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
It's like this is just this has never been this
nice to me in my life.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah, you don't mean that, do you.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I don't think that I'm nice? Do you?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I'm pretty? Do you bacically about me?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Do you think it's pretty?
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Guys? We had so much fun on set. But so George,
you're you grew up in a tiny little town and
it was almost like a Hollark Channel movie where you
grew up. Like, tell everyone about where you grew up,
because I think it's fascinating, and like what you did
for a living, because I think it's really adorable.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
What I well. Where you weren't where I were.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
My parents owned it.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yes, I'm originally from a very small town in Saskatchewan,
Canada called lash Burn, population seven hundred and fifty when
I lived there, But I honestly like, I think some
people left. I think at seven hundred now. My parents
still live there. And yeah, that's where I grew up.
I went to school there. I played guitar in the
(04:35):
school band. We weren't It wasn't a big enough school.
It was only like one hundred and sixty kids grade
seven to twelve. My graduating class had twelve kids in it.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Jesu Pedes yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
This is a true story.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
This is like a Hallmark town kinda smaller.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
It's smaller, but there. It was my ten year high
school reunion some time ago. Yeah, and only half of
the class could make it. So the six of us
went to Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Are you kidding? The six of you?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
The six of Yeah, there's yeah, there's there's a picture.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Do you have a Starbucks in Lashburn or do you
have to know?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Earl? It's like half an hour away. It's Lashburn is
like half an hour from a town called lloyd Minster.
And so there was like that's where I grew up swimming.
So that's where I swam. That's where I did music
lessons that you did voice lessons.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
And no, we we do a lot of Starbucks runs
on the set. Speaking of Starbucks, quiz pop quiz for you, George,
since we've drank Starbucks together a thousand times, what's my
Starbucks order?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Iced coffee?
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Duh? I'm gay? Anything in it?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yes, I want to say, no.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
No, no, nothing milk sometimes sometimes yes, sometimes we wanted
to splash of oat milk to cut the taste.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Majority of the time, just plain.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Black, okay, from my memory, I remember it not being
completely black.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
But yeah, there's a little oat milk in sometimes milk. Okay,
Well that's it depends it's my fourth if it's like
my fourth coffee of the day.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Because we're filming, How you're not just like shaking all
the time.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Oh I am. That's what makes me good actor. It's
the anxiety riddled acting that makes me funny. It's not
it's not the talent, it's it's it really is. Now.
You grew up in this little town, but I think
it's so adorable you're you worked at the general store.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
My mom owned general her with her business partner, a
Gale Lashburne corner store. And it's it's a movie. It was.
It's it's like it's it used to be the old pharmacy.
It's on Main Street, which is the only street in
town that has sidewalks. And uh yeah, So I worked there.
(06:51):
I worked the till and I stucked the shelves and
I worked. There was a little kitchen. It was like
it was a kind of a catch all store.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
There was Yeah, you had like me, pizzas.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I made pizzas. I made subs. I personally like a movie. Well,
I think that I made the best pizzas because the
thing is you have to take the toppings close enough
to the crust that you don't have to Like, you
could eat the crust if you wanted to, but if
you ate the toppings off of it, you wouldn't be
bogged down with.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Right, No, totally, Yeah, I mean this is I mean riveting.
It really is you and your pizza making and lash
Burn I mean. And so I thought it was hilarious
like that you just lived in this like Hallmark town
growing up and then you went on to be because
we bonded the first second. I think we met over
(07:39):
musical theater because we are both musical theater freaks and
you have done quite a lot of musical theater. You
went to college and you're a voice major. Was that it?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah? So I went to gret mahew And College in Edmonton,
which to me, like Edmonton was the big city, which
I don't know, most people here listening probably won't know
Whatminton is. No, but it's not a it's not a
very big city. But I remember the first time I
went there for like I got it, went into my
(08:12):
dorm because I was about to start college like that
that week, and I had never like really taken a
bus before, so I but I was like too nervous
take the bus. So I stood at the bus stop
and I was like waiting for the bus to go
by because I was going to take a practice run
to get to my to my campus. And I stood
there waiting for the bus and he just drove right
(08:34):
past me. And then I was like, I was like,
oh God, this isn't gonna work. So I went to
Harvey's and I got a couple of burgers, and I
was fine.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
A riveting story. You should save that for a talk show.
The first time you're on a talk show, George, I
want you to use this story because it's absolutely riveting.
But tell me about the shows you did in college,
because you did some shows in college. But tell me
more so about Stratford Festival, because yeah, I love it. Well.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So I went to college for music, and then I
decided that I wanted to be an actor, and I
like worked in a at Edmonton. I sang in a
corporate band and we did special events and functions and
that sort of thing, and then I decided that I
wanted to act. So stop looking at me like that,
stop it.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Tell us more about the corporate brand.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Oh no, no, I swear I'm not as podunk as
you make.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
No, it's brilliant. I love it. Keep going, well we did.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
We did like special events and functions and it was cool.
We got to travel. I went to New Orleans, I
went to I went to California. Good Lord, thank you
for having me. This has been very fun.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
No, it's just that's what I love about you so much.
It's George like, he literally is this like kid from
this podunk town in the middle of nowhere in Canada,
and he's every time he sees anything, he's like, ooh,
a bus. I'm like, yes, George, there are buses.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I didn't. I didn't go on buses. Like we walked
down the middle of the road because there was no sidewalks.
And if cars drove like because because you know, sometimes
a car would drive by, they just kind of drive around.
You need wave and then yeah, and then you'd you
keep going.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
So tell us about Strafford Theater Festival, because.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Okay, so so yeah. I worked at the Strafford Festival.
I did the Rocky Horror Show and in which I
played Rocky obviously, yes, and I was spray tand for
the year and starving for the year, which is really fun.
And but what's really fun about the stre like the
(10:35):
I worked at the Strafford Festival, and there's another one
just in that ground, the Light called the Show Festival,
which is also a big deal in Canadian theater. And
what's really fun about these festivals is they work in reps,
so you get to do two shows at once. So
while we were doing Rocky Horror, uh, the cast was
(10:55):
crossed with the music Man, so like on Yeah, so
in in the afternoon we'd be like done up to
the neck in our because I was in the barbershop
quartet with a couple other guys who were also in
Rocky Horror, and the guy who played riff Raff and
the guy who played Brad and so like we were
all basically naked and running around and revenant each other
(11:20):
in Rocky Horror, and then we'd come and get done
up in our little barbershop outfits. And so it was
really cool to get to do like such off showings
at the same time. Yeah. But like, but because they
were so opposite, it was it was really It's like
these festivals are like like feed Er boot Camp. They're
like acting boot Camp. You learned so much because on
top of those those like the two shows that you're doing,
(11:44):
there's workshops and directors projects and like concerts and all
sorts of things. So you're like learning all of these
different things at the at the same time. And and
it's yeah, it's fantastic. Some like some huge people have
performed at the festival. Maggie Smith has been here. Yeah,
(12:05):
Christopher Plumber heard of him, has been here. He was
here in twenty twelve. George chris George Chrisa was there, Chrisa,
Danielle Wade? Who was? Who was? She was in Our
Music Man, She was Marian Perue. She was in the
(12:25):
first national tour Mean Girls. You played Katie.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I don't know what that movie is. I've heard of
it though, but.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
No you haven't heard No, I thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Yeah, yeah, I think i'd like it.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I think you'd like it. It's sweet. Yeah, but yeah,
lots of like some Broadway people, she and Kennedy, Paul Nolan,
all sorts of people have been here. So it's yeah,
it's very it's a very cool place.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I love it. Now. Have you wanted to be an
actress since you were a little kid or what Yes, okay, good,
next question.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
No, it's funny. Actually, I because I grew I grew
up in in the very small town and there wasn't
a lot to do. But I loved movies. I loved
old musicals. I love Sound of Music and My Fair
Lady and of oz and and so those were kind
of like I just found them so wonderful. It's such
(13:20):
an escape. And like since I was a little kid,
I wanted to be an actor. Like I wrote in
my journal, I have it somewhere, and I was think
like grade two, and we had to say, like, you know,
when I grew up, I want to be or whatever.
And for mine, I was like, when I grew up,
I want to be an actor. And if I'm not
an actor, I want to be a singer. And I mean, dreams.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Do come true, they really do. You have one of
the best voices in the world. Like I love listening
to you singing, and on set every day we would
I would make you sing all the time, because we're
just musical theater nerds like that. And then we would
sing on the drives to and from work. Yes, what
this is, this is our move. Our movie is coming
out this weekend. Our Christmas movie. So maybe we're gonna
(14:05):
have you sing some Christmas songs later, but we'll get
into that. We're gonna take a quick break and we'll
come back. We're gonna talk all things The Holiday Sitter. George. Yes,
you and I star as Sam and Jason and The
(14:27):
Holiday Sitter on Hallmark Channel, coming out this weekend. We
have so much to talk about this movie. But I
think the best thing to do is if you you know,
just like Maria von Trapp would say, let's start at
the very beginning. It's a very good place to start.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Start when you read and you.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Begin with a see when you sing, you begin with
sing it doray no, but my dough is up here,
yours is down here, this is my note. That's your no, no,
no there no no.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Gosh, man, well I just heard everyone click their radio.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Yeah, and how Pridecast got shut down? Fantastic. Okay, So
let's start at the beginning. So you're you, you got
an audition, but I want to hear about the audition, Like,
you got the audition for this movie and it came
into you, And what did you think when you read it?
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Well, for when I first saw it, I was like
I was like, oh, cool, Jonathan Bennett is doing this
this movie. And then so I read it and it
was really sweet and really charming, and I was like, oh,
they're like, I mean, this would be a great part
for me, but I mean they're obviously going to hire
someone who's famous. They could pick anybody in the world
(15:49):
for this part. Like it's you know, it's it's fun
So like I did my I did my tape and
I sent it off and what's funny actually is I
send it off And I was like, man, you know,
I think I probably could have done that better. I
was like, I think. I was like, I was like
this close to writing my agent and be like, listen,
(16:11):
I think I did a sloppy job on this tape.
Can I just like try again and send it off?
But then I was like, nope. You you make your
choices and you stand by them. So I was I
was very shocked when I when I got the call
that you all were interested.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Did now did you when you read the breakdown in
the audition that came through in the script, did you
know immediately that it was for a gay couple?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, because it was it said right there in the
breakdown it said Jonathan Bennett stars in this in this
first of its kind. I can't remember exactly what it said,
but something along those lines.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
And how did I feel reading that, like being well,
being a queer gay man.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, it was so cool because oftentimes, like I've played
mostly actually, this is the first gay character I've ever played,
so like, you know, you it's not that you second
guess everything that you do, but there's like a little
voice in the back of your head that's like, is
well this read is gay? Yep if I if I
(17:19):
say it like this? And what was so what was
so cool about doing the audition and and then going
on to shoot the movie was I never thought about that? Yep,
you know, because I like I got to just just
be myself, which is like so freeing and something that
I've actually never really experienced, which is kind of sad
(17:44):
to say, because yeah, like I mean, I love playing
straight characters. I've done it a lot, and I hope
to do it again. But yeah, it's like it was
just that like little extra bit of freedom that I
haven't had before.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
I identify with that so much because my whole life
until I came out, especially even after I came out,
like when you're reading for straight characters as gay actors,
I don't care. Like, from from my experience at least,
which seems like yours, it's there's always something in the
back of your mind that's telling you, like, hey, butcher
(18:21):
it up, Hey mate, did that come across gay? And
it's so stupid because some of my best friends who
are straight are the gayest people I know. And so like,
this whole thing of masculinity and what that means has
evolved to such a great place, I think, because like,
(18:45):
there is no such thing as something being too straight
or too gay. It's just they're just there's only what is,
you know, and what is is this person breathing, alive
in this moment saying these lines. And so you know,
I know when I did a movie called Wedding of
a Lifetime with Brooke Dorsay and my character was straight
in it, and it had a lot of physical comedy
(19:06):
and a lot of like gags that I wanted to do,
and the old me would have been like, ooh, be
careful when you're doing the comedy that don't come off gay.
But what I realized is brooking him. Our characters are
best friends and they love each other, and so they
are silly around each other and they act like best
friends half the time, and then they act like lovers.
(19:28):
So I just went in with that attitude and didn't
think about it once and it was the most probably
one of my best performances I've ever done on camera,
and probably one of my favorite roles that were straight
that I filmed, because it was so freeing, because I
think we're getting away from that idea of like, ooh,
don't be too gay, don't be too this.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
You know, what's so cool about this next generation coming
up is that it doesn't seem to matter as much.
Like people are openly everything and and it's like, God,
I mean, I grew up in a small town as Sasketchewan,
and as far as I know, I'm still the only
(20:07):
a person that came out there. I'm sure that's not true,
but I'm the only one right up. And like there
was there was a gsah for a little while, but
I wasn't going to join it, are you kidding? Like
I made the conscious decision when I was in high
school not to come out because I was like, I'm
(20:29):
not going to make the last couple of years of
high school harder by coming out when I could just
like do it in college like everybody else.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Right, Yeah, and it's obviously a different time too, right,
Like that's that's what happens with a lot of us
that are from these small towns, myself included, you know,
like we're scared because we don't want the pressure of
having to be someone else during high school, like being
our true self would be bullied so much that it's
(21:02):
easier to just pretend and not say anything. So, which
is super sad. But what's great is that there's a
huge shift in young people these days where it's much different,
So they're going to have a different experience than we did.
And thank god. But so you did your audition and
you send it out there. I'm going to tell you
my point of view from watching George's audition. George, I've
(21:27):
been talking with the producers and the network and I'm like,
we're never going to find adjacent. We're never going to
find adjacent because our Jason has to have all these qualities.
He has to be he has to be hunky, he's
got to be handsome, he's got to be at least
as tall as me. He's got to be muscular, he's
got to have he's got to have blue eyes because
I have brown eyes, and we need to look really
(21:47):
different on camera. He's got to have good comedic timing,
be really good with charming and romantic stuff. And he's
got to be Canadian. Oh and out and gay. Those
were the things we were like looking for. And I
was like, there's no way, because we're shooting in Canada,
(22:07):
he has to be a Canadian. There's all these rules
we have to follow and all these characteristics that this
character has to have. And I'm like, we're never going
to find him. Like it's we're asking for a unicorn
and it doesn't exist. And I was sitting there watching
hundreds of audition tapes and I remember the day I
was off for the day shooting a different movie, and
I was watching the tapes and this idiot, George, pops
(22:34):
up on camera and his back is facing to the
camera in his audition and he turns around and smiles,
and I was like, uh oh. I Like I literally
held my breath and I was like, please, when you speak,
just be good. Like that's all I was thinking, because
(22:54):
you turned around and you were the exact Jason in
my head that I have had since I wrote this movie.
From day one. It was exactly the look in the
feel of who I wanted. And I was like, please
just let him be good when he opens his mouth, please,
And I held my breath and you started doing the scene.
And you got done with the first scene, and I
(23:15):
literally just sat there frozen and let the tape play,
and I was like, okay, please let the second scene
be good. And you did a costume change and showed
off your muscles.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
I took my flannel off.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Yeah, you showed off your muscles. And then he go
and then he did the second scene and was so
charming and so funny. I picked up my phone and
I called James first, and I go, Babe, we found him.
And I sent James your tape immediately, and then I
sent it and then I called the producers and I
was like, we found our guy, George CHRISA. Look him up.
(23:48):
And so getting to see you on that tape made
me so excited for the movie. We we're gonna shoot.
So we found our unicorn and it's his name is
George Chrystla and he's fantastic in this movie. So we
get to set George and we get to shoot this movie.
Let's talk about filming the Holiday Sitter for Hallmark Channel
(24:10):
when we come back. Okay, so George, we're on set
for three weeks together, Yes, shooting a movie. We laughed,
we cried, fun was had. What was it like for
(24:31):
you once you booked the role and you know that
day one you show up to set, well it was
or even the week before.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
It was on it well, because yeah, I came a
little bit early and we read lines and what was
so just to compliment you for a little while.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Oh, yes, please take all the time you want. What
was so.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Wonderful about the whole experience, truly was working with you
because this was like, this is obviously a very big
deal for me. It was my first lead. That's my
first lead for a Hallmark Channel, and so I like,
I really wanted to do a good job. And I remember,
(25:23):
I don't think I told you this, but so I
followed you on Instagram and then you followed me back
after like before we ever talked, and like after I
got the job and I screencapped it and I was like,
Brian Jonathan Bennett just followed me on Instagram, It's real.
And then and then I think you messaged me right away,
(25:45):
and I was like, I think I said, I was like,
oh my god, what do I do? Jonathan Benett dismis
And then I think I messaged you back, and then
you and then and then you called me.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Yeah immediately, I was like, as soon as we cast
you and locked in the deal, I was like, I
need to talk to him immediately because I had so
much anxiety about finding the right George or the right
Jason for this movie that like, when we found him,
it was like I had to talk to you well.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And so you called and I didn't answer right away
because I was like, I was like, I was like going,
oh my god, Brian, who do I answer it? Me?
And and so I was like I was like, okay, okay,
pulled together because like I mean, obviously, I mean, Girls
is one of my favorite movies growing up. I think
I told you this too.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
I had you were like a huge Jonathan Bennett fan.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I get it mean Girls theme birthday party when I
was twenty one, that's you did. We had we I
made I don't my friend Janessa has it somewhere. We
made a burn book, yep. Because I like to make crafts.
I know, I'm so lame.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
It's fine.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
I'm I am perfect. You're perfect. And so you're a
huge fan obsessed with me. I get it. Yeah, and
that I'm calling and then here I am calling you
on the phone.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah, and then you called me on the phone. And
but you're immediately so kind and you're like, listen, you're
you were the first choice. Like I know that sometimes
you can go into something ready to overthink it, but
like you're like, just you're you're perfect for this, like
where you were a first choice. We're so happy to
have you. And just like just having like someone who
(27:25):
I know even respects so much be so instantly kind
and welcoming, and like because I've I'm like it's been
my experience that some people with your level of success
aren't always the most kind. I mean they're not unkind,
but they're they're not as warm, not as warm and welcoming.
(27:49):
So and then we went I went to Vancouver for
like a few days early and we got I met
you in the lobby, gave you a great big hup,
and we got the chat and run things. So like
before we started, I felt ten out of ten, like
confident and good and like, and then when we actually
and then my my first the first shot on the
(28:10):
first day, you weren't even in so like I got
to like I got to do I got to like
find my find my footing and like, and I think.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Before the tornado shows up, right, you had you had
to like a.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Nice calm before the inevitable three week storm.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Yes, exactly, And let me tell you, I'm a tornado
on set. But I remember saying to you when we
were rehearsing it because we ran our lines a ton
before we even started shooting the entire movie because we
wanted to like really have it down and have our
chemistry really like working, so we like knew how each
(28:49):
other sounded when they talked, like it's very important. And
so what I loved is you were trying to figure
out one day, because you had done so many plays
in so much theater, you were trying to find out.
I think one day you were figuring out like what
it looks like for like this character, like how other
people would do it or how you should play Jason.
(29:09):
And I had to stop and remind you, and I
was like, you're not playing Jason, honey, you are Jason.
Like George standing there saying the lines. That's Jason, Like,
you don't need to do anything but find your mark
and say your lines, and you're cast because you are you.
(29:30):
And so that was really fun for us when you
find someone that is the character from a producing standpoint
that just like you don't need to do anything, just
stand there and say your words and it all just
comes together. And so then we go to our first
day on set and we're filming. What was our first scene?
Do you remember? Oh?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Our first scene? Well, the first scene I did was
at the general store.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Right, And then I came, oh, no, we did the walking.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
And yeah, the little Chris stuff getting the Christmas market,
and I think you did the reindeer toss y, Yeah,
the reindeer toss moment.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yes, And I remember it was really fun because I
love being with you on set because as someone that
puffs cigarette and goes I have been doing this a
long time kid. As someone that's been doing this for
a long time, kid, this like being with you on
set the first day, on your first day was really
fun because you really your excitement to be there, but
(30:32):
also your little bit of jitters and nervousness at first,
which everyone has and I have it too. You know.
It was fun to watch because it reminded me of
how exciting it is what we do. So hm, that
was really fun.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Because I mean I've done some stuff. I haven't done nothing,
Like I've been in things and stuff, but like, just
to be able to do this job, like to be
able to be an actor is so much work and
it's so much time and dedication and I and I
know how many people really want to do it, and
(31:08):
like even like just yeah, just just who really want
to do it? And like a lot of people don't
have these these chances that that some people have, So
like I I will never take an experience for granted,
whether it's it's it's theater or or film, because we're
(31:30):
so lucky to be able to tell stories, and like
we're so lucky for people to even want to spend
their time or their their money to watch us tell stories.
Like we're so fortunate to be able to do that.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
So yeah, so we're on set and we have we
had such a great director, we had Ali Liebert, we
had such a great producer producer, we had Mara, we
had great writers, we had Tracy and Greg. Everyone was
queer we were on set and everybody was queer on
the creative side. What was that like for you?
Speaker 2 (32:03):
That was a first yeah, and like and it goes
to the what we were saying before about feeling comfortable
and not coming off as as too gay or too whatever. Right,
It's like we've all had that kind of experience where
we had to hide something about ourselves to fit in. Like,
(32:24):
you know, Alie's a a wonderful actress and brilliant director,
but like, so she's been on both sides of it,
having to like be herself and so like it just
it was so it was so fun. Gay people are
the literally the most fun and hilarious people in the world.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Yeah, queer people are the most fun and we I
don't want to say we're the superior species, but we're
the funniest. I'll say that. Okay, we're funnier because no
one ever says, oh, my boring gay best friend. Like
no one ever is like, oh, have you met my
gay bff? He's so boring. Like No, they're hilarious and
we're charming and ridiculous and that's what but we that's
(33:07):
what makes us so fun to be around. So, like,
you have this whole cast and crew that are all queer,
and we're on set and in between the takes shooting
this movie, we're like listening to RuPaul's drag Race songs
and we're like having walk offs. And I like looked
at you one day and I was like, this is
a Hallmark Christmas movie and everyone's gay, Like this is
(33:29):
such a moment in time that is so cool, And
I wanted to talk a little bit about how hilarious
I am in the movie.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Listen, I listen.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
I know you're very funny. Tell everyone how funny I'm
in the movie.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Okay, so.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Very well do it, because yeah, because we because it's
only an hour long show. So I'll tell everyone I'm
hilarious in the movie. But so is George. But the
reason our comedic chemistry and the reason our chemistry I
think is so good on camera, Like I watched it.
I watch moments at the end that are very special
(34:09):
and intimate between the two of us. I watch moments
throughout the movie that are intimate and hilarious between us,
and our chemistry is probably my favorite chemistry I've ever
seen on camera with somebody. And I think the reason
we have such a good comedic chemistry together on camera
(34:29):
is because what we were doing, which is creating the
first LGBTQ plus rom com for Hallmark Channel, wasn't lost
on the two of us. Every single day that we
showed up to work, like we're sitting, we would stand
there like, I remember we're doing our meat cute scene,
and the meat cute scene, I like fall backwards and
(34:51):
you literally catch me like a traditional rom com meat cute.
And I remember when we went to shoot that scene,
we were both really sighted because we looked at each
other and we're like, we're about to shoot the first
gay meet cute and a Christmas movie for Hallmark, and
that had so much weight to it, but so much
(35:14):
excitement behind it. So in our eyes when we're looking
at each other, there's like a vibration of excitement of
being the first to get to do this in every
single scene, and so there's just this like kind of
vibration between the two of us on camera of like
excitement of being these trailblazers in this space.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Well, and what also added to the excitement speaking to
you being very funny is I never really knew what
you were going to do, so like it was also
just like, you know, it was impossible not to be
in in the moment because I didn't know what was
going to happen. I didn't and so it was like.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
You know that, Yeah, that energy was there. Well, it's
all comedy, George, it really is. Ask me what the
secret to comedy is timing. We have fun. We have
fun here, we have fun, we really do. So yeah, there,
it was just it was such a fun experience. And
(36:22):
there's a couple scenes in the movie that are my favorite.
But I'm going to tell you my favorite scene when
we come back after this break. Okay, So George, let's
tell everyone about our new movie, The Holiday Sitter. So
(36:43):
this movie is so much fun. It was inspired by
the movie that was one of my favorites growing up,
which is Uncle Buck. And I love the idea of
an uncle having to take care of his niece and
nephew that he doesn't really know. So when I pitched
this to Hallmark, I said, what if we did Uncle Buck?
The idea of Uncle Buck, but we made him gay
And they loved the idea and they jumped on it,
(37:04):
and so you know, The Holidaysitter was born and the
story takes place. It's about my character, Sam, who is
a workaholic bachelor living the high life in New York
City and his sister is adopting and her husband are
adopting a new baby, and the birth mother goes into
labor right before the holidays, and they try to call
(37:26):
everyone on their list to come and watch their two kids,
Miles and Donia, while they go get the new baby
from the birth mother, but they have no one that
is available, and Sam, my character is the last person
on the list, like the dead last person on the list,
and they have no other choice but to call me
and have me come home for the holidays and watch
(37:48):
the two kids. So reluctantly I go home, watch my
niece and nephew and have to put on Christmas for
them as a bachelor, eternal bachelor that has never done
for Christmas, doesn't really like Christmas and doesn't really want
a family. And in doing that, I meet Jason, who's
George Cris's character, who is the handsome, hunky contractor building
(38:12):
the addition onto the house. And I'm not going to
say we fall in love, but sparks Fly will say that,
and you'll have to see what happens. But sparks Fly
and we end up. I end up hiring him as
an uncle consultant because I'm not good at uncling or gunkling,
and so I hire George to help me take care
(38:34):
of these kids and put on a Christmas And through
doing that, we kind of learn a lot about each
other and learn a lot about what it means to
be a family. And the movie is so magical, It
is so funny, has so much heart and humor in it.
It's filled with love, but it's hilarious, and it has
so many great messages in it. I think The Holiday
(38:56):
Sitter is easily going to be one of these classic
movies that people watch every year. And in doing the
movie there we have all these amazing scenes where we
talk about real issues. Because what's so great about Hallmark
Channel in what they have done for queer people is
they've created a safe place for queer people to tell stories.
(39:17):
And that's how it feels for me, I know it's
how it felt for George and all the producers and
everyone involved and directors and all the crew, all the
cast members like having a safe place where we can
tell stories and push ourselves and push our boundaries and
get creative. It's really no other place like it in
(39:39):
the world. There's nothing better in the world as an
artist than having a place you can tell stories and
be safe while you do.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
It, right, mm hmm, oh, absolutely, And it's.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
It's it was such a great experience. How much Hallmark
Channel supported us throughout the whole process, and we have
these really great scenes that really make you think and
really identify with what it's like to be a gay
man in twenty twenty two, trying to figure out life
and figure out relationships and figure out love and figure
(40:10):
out so many things. But you know, The Holiday Sitter
isn't a movie. We didn't set out. What I think
people are going to really take away from this is
we didn't set out to make a movie for queer people.
We set out to make a really good holiday movie
for everybody. It just happens that they're both men that
fall in love, and so it's not an LGBTQ plus
(40:31):
rom com. It's just a rom com. We just happen
to have two dudes as the leads.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Yeah. Well, and I think that that comes across really well,
because like it's the fact that they're they're gay, and
the fact that they're both men is a non issue
for everybody.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
And the fact that the straight couple is adopting and
one of the gay characters is adopting isn't an issue,
and it isn't even addressed why, well you they don't
need a why. It's what they want to do.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
Yeah, and so their families are just as or as
excited for for everything is as they are for the
straight people. And it's just so it's so nice to
not have to like that. No one's fighting for anything there.
It's just it just just happened.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yeah, it just is, and they do. The movie has
so many great scenes in it, but one of my
favorite scenes is something that we added as a real
thing that happened to me as a child growing up
with my house, we would sit by the Christmas tree
on Christmas Eve every single night and we would sing
(41:40):
Silent Night, or we'd listen to Silent Night. And there
is a great moment in this movie. It's the Silent
Night scene. It's my favorite scene in the film. I
don't want to give too much away, but at that moment,
George chrisa Jason here sings a little Silent Night and
(42:00):
so because you are a Strafford Theater theater musical person
with an amazing voice. Can you give everyone a little
preview and just give us silent night? Please? Just a
little bit. Here's a little preview, Go ahead. George was
right here. I didn't I didn't prepare for this. Okay,
(42:20):
just give me a little sin Oh no, oh is call.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Pray? Do you want more? Gonna have to watch the movie?
Speaker 1 (42:40):
Ah there he goes, Wow, yay, his voice is so good.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
What's some? It's just another compliment.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
If you if you need ahead, I do I do.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
How much of yourself that you you put into this
movie inicular? And just like and I you know, I
watched Wedding of a Lifetime and you you put your
whole self into it like you watching you on set
like you you were so you you treated everybody the same,
(43:17):
You were so kind to everybody. You created such a fun, boisterous,
like energetic atmosphere on set, and it was like it
was really it was so nice to be there for
that and to and to watch you do that, because
I was like, Oh, that's what That's how I want
to be, Like, that's how I want to I want
I want to be able to make people feel the
(43:38):
way you make people feel because it was it was
really it was it was really something special that you created,
and it was it was amazing to watch.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Thank you. It was well, when you love what you do, uh,
you show up every day and you're so excited to
be there. And if you're going to do these movies,
put all yourself into them, because there's that's it's the
only way to do it. All right, So George, this
is Pride cast. Okay, this is we talk about things
like pride. Do you remember the first Pride that you
(44:11):
went to?
Speaker 2 (44:12):
I do?
Speaker 1 (44:14):
Tell me about it.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
It was two thousand and eight in Edmonton, Alberta. And
it was like it was wild because people, oh, like
both gay people showed up.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
No, it was like friends.
Speaker 2 (44:33):
There's a couple of other friends. Like I went with
my because I had like just finished college. It was
a two year program. It was but like I had
like finally a group of gay friends and we had
so much fun together. And that was back when drinking
was still fun yea. So we like we went to
(44:54):
the beer gardens and there was just there was gay
people everywhere and.
Speaker 1 (44:59):
Like to see that.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
It was like it was so it was so freeing,
it was so wild. It was so exciting and like
a little titillating, and you're like, oh, what if I
what if I meet someone? What if someone like thinks
I'm cute? Like what if you know, what if I
think someone's cute? Like how exciting is that? And this
(45:22):
is like and this is like before, like you know
when you remember when you take like a cyber shot
to the to the bar to take pictures, like before
iPhones and stuff. So it's like so it was just
like there was it was just it was just all
happening at once, and I didn't like so, yeah, it
(45:43):
was it was really really exciting. And I saw there's
a drag queen that was like passed out in the
middle of the day, kind of upside down on the
steps in Nathan Phillips Square, and I was like, wow,
I never saw that before.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
Yeah, yeah, there have it there. They had a blast. Yeah,
they're having a great time. So pride means a lot
of things to a lot of different people. What does
pride mean to you?
Speaker 2 (46:13):
Oh, I think that it's being able to live your
life openly and authentically with whoever you choose, whether it's
whether it's by yourself, whether it's with a partner or
if you want to get married, Like I feel that
(46:35):
it's the ability to live your life how it's authentic
to you, without without judgment or without consequence, or just
to just to be able to be happy. Mm hmmm, yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:54):
That no, that's true. And it's funny because pride changes
every day for every single person. Yeah, And so you
know what's fun is that maybe next year when we
ask the same question, it might mean something different to
you then as well, because I know pride changes to
me every single day. What pride means HiT's differently depending
on what I've learned and what I've gone through that day.
Speaker 2 (47:15):
So well, And and what's what's interesting too, is because
I live in Canada, and like I mean, it's a
you know, an artistic community, like it's there's lots of
openly gay people here. I forget that it's still an issue.
Speaker 1 (47:33):
That like in some parts of the world, in some parts.
Speaker 2 (47:35):
Of the world, like just living openly is an act
of defiance, right, you know, And so like I I
think that it's important to just remember that being who
you are is it's just so important to so many
people just just being comfortable in who you are, and
(47:56):
and and the life that you live can can mean
a lot to the people around you, for the young,
for the young Georgies and Jonathan's growing up.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
Yes, you know, you're never too much and you're always enough.
You just being you in that moment. You're never too
much and you're always enough, just being you on this
planet Earth. And you know, we talk a lot about
them podcast what why It's so great to be gay?
Because there's so many things in the world. I love
(48:29):
it where where Yeah, there's so many things in the
world that you know, try to say why it's not great,
but we know those are all lies. So on podcasts
we like to talk about why. What's the best part
about being gay to you? Or what do you love
the most about being gay? Why do you think it's
so great to be gay?
Speaker 2 (48:49):
I feel like I have the best time all the time.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
Yes, like I said earlier, you're just more fun are
like yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:59):
Like I feel like I laugh constantly, like like the
gay people in my life are like truly the funniest
people in the world. And we like when we get together,
we just howl, like I every time we get together,
(49:21):
I laugh until I cry yep, And so like it's
just it's it's a blast.
Speaker 1 (49:26):
It's a blast. It's a blast. It's a blast.
Speaker 2 (49:30):
And what's so funns It's like you get to know
yourself so well because like having something that you're at
first terrified of and then have to come to accept
and then you have to tell everybody that you know
about it, Like how how strong of a person you
have to be? Like every single gay person, whether you're
(49:52):
whether they're out or not, or a queer person or
every every single member of this community has to be
so brave in comparison to the people who haven't had
to do this, And like sometimes I feel sorry for
people who haven't had to come to terms with parts
of themselves because it's like you learn just so.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
Much, and you learn so much about yourself and about
who you are as a human. Yeah. Absolutely, what that's
really well sad. I've never heard anyone say that on podcasts.
That's a new answer, and I really really like that.
You know, we're talking a lot about things that are
going on. We have this new movie at Hallmark Channel
premiereing December eleventh, The Holiday Sitter. We're making strides and
(50:36):
for representation on camera, it's just so amazing. But in
order to look forward, we always have to look back.
So we're gonna do a little bit of gay history.
Play the music. Each week we look back at something
that happened this week in gay history, because in order
for us to look forward, we have to always remember
(50:56):
where we came from. So George, you're going to take
the role of James Vaughan today my husband, and say
what happened this week in gay history.
Speaker 2 (51:05):
George, Okay, this is a good one. This week in
LGBTQ plus tongue Twister history. December eighth, nineteen eighty one,
the New York City Gay Men's Chorus becomes the first
openly gay musical group to play at Carnegie Hall with
their Christmas Concerto. Only two years later after it was established,
(51:26):
the New York City Gay Men's Chorus made its debut
at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall and then Carnegie Hall
on December eighth, nineteen eighty one. New York Times music
critic Theodore W. Libby Junior, who noted that the concert
had been sold out, considered the singer's impressive, glowing and vibrant.
Other words for gay.
Speaker 1 (51:47):
Were express come on.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
The Amateur Vocal ensemble continued to earn the respective music
critics and not only became a musical force commissioning new works,
but also became for many the face and voice of
out gay men. One year later, Meg Christian and Chris
Williamson became the first out lesbians to perform there with
the choruses founding. With the choruses founding came a surge
(52:15):
of gay and lesbian choral groups and the founding of
the umbrella organization ga La Choruses Gala Choruses, which stages
in international festival with hundreds of choruses and thousands of
singers every four years. How great is that?
Speaker 1 (52:32):
So this week in gay History, the Gay Men's Chorus
saying at Carnegie Hall boom, Do you know how to
get to Carnegie Hall? Practice? Oh man, what a fun time?
That is so cool. And each week we shine our
big gay spotlight on members of the LGBTQ plus community
(52:53):
that are doing extraordinary things for the community, whether they're
famous or not. And this week I want to shine
my spotlight, my big a spotlight on someone that is
kind of famous but people are really gonna know soon.
And this week I'm shining my big a spotlight on
George Chrisa. Let me tell you, and let me tell
(53:17):
you why. Because George Chrisa came into this movie, The
Holiday Sitter, and it was the first time he had
been a number two on a call sheet for a
movie like this. And let me tell you. We're shooting
fifteen day, we shoot for fifteen days, we shoot three weeks,
we shoot long hours. It's a ton of dialogue, and
(53:39):
it's you basically have the weight of the entire movie
on your shoulders when you're number one and number two.
And I was number one, of course obviously, and then
George was number two. And for George he stepped up
into this role that was not only it's only hard
to do when you're doing, you know, a movie that
where you're a straight couple, but to play this character
(54:01):
and to be doing what we did, and to be
making history and be doing such a big job of
being the first gay rom com where we fall in love,
that adds another level of stress onto you as an actor,
because you know you're representing an entire community. And so
for George to step in and deliver every single day
(54:21):
the performance he delivered, and to show up to set excited, happy,
knowing every single one of his scenes, backwards and forwards,
and to show up and really carry the weight of
not just this character, but the entire community on his shoulders.
As the first time doing it, you would have thought
he had been doing it for one hundred years, because
he's that good in it, and he did it that well.
(54:43):
And I'm going to tell you what you said to me.
And I've told this before, but driving home our last
day of filming, we wrapped and George and I would
always like to drive home together in the same car
so we could talk about the day. And we're driving
home and he saw the sunset overlooking Toronto, and as
a a actor that's been doing this a long time,
sometimes I forget why. Sometimes I forget how special what
(55:07):
we do is. And George looked at me after we wrapped,
and we were very emotional, and he just goes, Man,
we are so lucky, And that will always stick in
my head until the end of time, being reminded that
what we do is not only special, but we are
lucky to get to do it. So this week I'm
(55:28):
shining my big a spotlight on George Chris Up because
so many people are going to watch this movie and
feel seen because they see you play Jason. So, George, congratulations.
Tell everyone why they should go see our movie.
Speaker 2 (55:42):
Because it's so funny, it's so heartwarming, there's so much
love and family and Christmas, and it's going to be
just a great.
Speaker 1 (55:52):
And because I'm really because you're really handsome. You're very handsome,
and I'm very funny. It's a perfect combination. George, thank
you so much for coming to Pridecast. I love you
so much and we will we'll talk to you soon.
But guess what, everyone go watch The Holiday Sitter on
Hallmark Channel Saturday or Sunday, December eleventh, watch The Today
(56:16):
Sitter eight pm. All right, bye, George, Bye,
This is Pridecast with Jonathan Bennett and James Fox on iHeartRadio. Hey,
what's up, everybody. It's the host of Pridecast, the one
and only Jonathan Bennett, coming to you live well kind
of Life. We've prerecorded it, but you're listening to it
live here on Pridecast on iHeartRadio. I am so excited
(00:23):
because today's episode is so special. My husband James is
shooting right now. He's filming a TV show, so he
can't be here. But since my new movie on Hallmark
Channel comes out this weekend, I thought who better to
host with me this episode and to be my guest
on this episode than my co star and romantic love interest,
my husband on screen, George Chrissa. So today's episode is
(00:48):
so special because we're gonna be talking all things gay
Hallmark Channel. And I know I said those words together
gay Hallmark Channel. What a time to be a lot,
What a time for representation. This man that I'm about
to bring on is such a great person. I worked
(01:09):
with him and got to know him so well, and
I can't speak highly enough about him. He's just the
real deal. He's talented, he's kind, he's a blast to
be with. On set, and we're going to talk about
making our new Hallmark Channel original movie for Countdown to Christmas,
The Holiday Sitter, So, which is the first LGBTQ plus
(01:33):
led rom com for Christmas on Hallmark Channel. That's right,
the first LGBTQ plus led rom com for Hallmark Channel
for Christmas. We're making history. And right now we're going
to talk to my co star, the one and only
talented George Chris. Hello, George, Hello, thank you for having me.
(01:55):
Do you like that intro? Because I know George, of
all things that you love, you love George the most,
and so I thought giving you a nice intro you
would love it.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Well, if there's one thing I'm a sucker for, it's compliments.
Speaker 1 (02:08):
But it's true. Like on set, if George was having
like this is true because we work together so much
that we like learn each other's quirks and like if
I do something and I don't think it's funny, I
have to turn to George and he has to be like, no,
it was really funny. That was really funny.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
It was it worked. Everyone laughing.
Speaker 1 (02:23):
Oh, everyone was laughing at the mod The acoustics.
Speaker 2 (02:26):
In the room were weird, but you just couldn't hear it?
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Yeah, yeah, he was laughing, and then like he would
do a take and I'm like, oh my gosh, you
look so handsome in that take. You did so great
And he's like really, and I'm like absolutely. So we
learned each other's uh, insecurities and quirks along the way,
which was really fun. George, you're joining us from where
are you right now?
Speaker 2 (02:46):
Toronto? Well, just outside of Toronto in where Canada? In Canada?
Speaker 1 (02:50):
Right? But where what little town are you in?
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Oh? I'm a little town called Stratford, home of the
the world renowned Stratford Festival and home of me and
Brian and my dog.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
You and your husband and your dog and or your fiance,
which we'll get into. But I think before we start
talking about the magic that is The Holiday Sitter, our
new movie coming out December eleventh on Hallmark Channel, I
think we want to deep dive into you, George. I
want to talk. I want I want the listeners to
get to know you like I got to know you,
(03:26):
because you're just such a good person. And I think
people are are gonna watch this movie and fall in
love with you. Ah, it's all lies.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
It's like this is just this has never been this
nice to me in my life.
Speaker 1 (03:39):
Yeah, you don't mean that, do you.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I don't think that I'm nice? Do you?
Speaker 1 (03:45):
I'm pretty? Do you bacically about me?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Do you think it's pretty?
Speaker 1 (03:52):
Guys? We had so much fun on set. But so George,
you're you grew up in a tiny little town and
it was almost like a Hollark Channel movie where you
grew up. Like, tell everyone about where you grew up,
because I think it's fascinating, and like what you did
for a living, because I think it's really adorable.
Speaker 2 (04:09):
What I well. Where you weren't where I were.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
My parents owned it.
Speaker 2 (04:13):
Yes, I'm originally from a very small town in Saskatchewan,
Canada called lash Burn, population seven hundred and fifty when
I lived there, But I honestly like, I think some
people left. I think at seven hundred now. My parents
still live there. And yeah, that's where I grew up.
I went to school there. I played guitar in the
(04:35):
school band. We weren't It wasn't a big enough school.
It was only like one hundred and sixty kids grade
seven to twelve. My graduating class had twelve kids in it.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
Jesu Pedes yeah, so.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
This is a true story.
Speaker 1 (04:47):
This is like a Hallmark town kinda smaller.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
It's smaller, but there. It was my ten year high
school reunion some time ago. Yeah, and only half of
the class could make it. So the six of us
went to Starbucks.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Are you kidding? The six of you?
Speaker 2 (05:08):
The six of Yeah, there's yeah, there's there's a picture.
Speaker 1 (05:10):
Do you have a Starbucks in Lashburn or do you
have to know?
Speaker 2 (05:13):
Earl? It's like half an hour away. It's Lashburn is
like half an hour from a town called lloyd Minster.
And so there was like that's where I grew up swimming.
So that's where I swam. That's where I did music
lessons that you did voice lessons.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
And no, we we do a lot of Starbucks runs
on the set. Speaking of Starbucks, quiz pop quiz for you, George,
since we've drank Starbucks together a thousand times, what's my
Starbucks order?
Speaker 2 (05:39):
Iced coffee?
Speaker 1 (05:40):
Duh? I'm gay? Anything in it?
Speaker 2 (05:45):
Yes, I want to say, no.
Speaker 1 (05:47):
No, no, nothing milk sometimes sometimes yes, sometimes we wanted
to splash of oat milk to cut the taste.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
Majority of the time, just plain.
Speaker 2 (05:57):
Black, okay, from my memory, I remember it not being
completely black.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
But yeah, there's a little oat milk in sometimes milk. Okay,
Well that's it depends it's my fourth if it's like
my fourth coffee of the day.
Speaker 2 (06:09):
Because we're filming, How you're not just like shaking all
the time.
Speaker 1 (06:12):
Oh I am. That's what makes me good actor. It's
the anxiety riddled acting that makes me funny. It's not
it's not the talent, it's it's it really is. Now.
You grew up in this little town, but I think
it's so adorable you're you worked at the general store.
Speaker 2 (06:29):
My mom owned general her with her business partner, a
Gale Lashburne corner store. And it's it's a movie. It was.
It's it's like it's it used to be the old pharmacy.
It's on Main Street, which is the only street in
town that has sidewalks. And uh yeah, So I worked there.
(06:51):
I worked the till and I stucked the shelves and
I worked. There was a little kitchen. It was like
it was a kind of a catch all store.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
There was Yeah, you had like me, pizzas.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
I made pizzas. I made subs. I personally like a movie. Well,
I think that I made the best pizzas because the
thing is you have to take the toppings close enough
to the crust that you don't have to Like, you
could eat the crust if you wanted to, but if
you ate the toppings off of it, you wouldn't be
bogged down with.
Speaker 1 (07:19):
Right, No, totally, Yeah, I mean this is I mean riveting.
It really is you and your pizza making and lash
Burn I mean. And so I thought it was hilarious
like that you just lived in this like Hallmark town
growing up and then you went on to be because
we bonded the first second. I think we met over
(07:39):
musical theater because we are both musical theater freaks and
you have done quite a lot of musical theater. You
went to college and you're a voice major. Was that it?
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Yeah? So I went to gret mahew And College in Edmonton,
which to me, like Edmonton was the big city, which
I don't know, most people here listening probably won't know
Whatminton is. No, but it's not a it's not a
very big city. But I remember the first time I
went there for like I got it, went into my
(08:12):
dorm because I was about to start college like that
that week, and I had never like really taken a
bus before, so I but I was like too nervous
take the bus. So I stood at the bus stop
and I was like waiting for the bus to go
by because I was going to take a practice run
to get to my to my campus. And I stood
there waiting for the bus and he just drove right
(08:34):
past me. And then I was like, I was like,
oh God, this isn't gonna work. So I went to
Harvey's and I got a couple of burgers, and I
was fine.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
A riveting story. You should save that for a talk show.
The first time you're on a talk show, George, I
want you to use this story because it's absolutely riveting.
But tell me about the shows you did in college,
because you did some shows in college. But tell me
more so about Stratford Festival, because yeah, I love it. Well.
Speaker 2 (09:01):
So I went to college for music, and then I
decided that I wanted to be an actor, and I
like worked in a at Edmonton. I sang in a
corporate band and we did special events and functions and
that sort of thing, and then I decided that I
wanted to act. So stop looking at me like that,
stop it.
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Tell us more about the corporate brand.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
Oh no, no, I swear I'm not as podunk as
you make.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
No, it's brilliant. I love it. Keep going, well we did.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
We did like special events and functions and it was cool.
We got to travel. I went to New Orleans, I
went to I went to California. Good Lord, thank you
for having me. This has been very fun.
Speaker 1 (09:43):
No, it's just that's what I love about you so much.
It's George like, he literally is this like kid from
this podunk town in the middle of nowhere in Canada,
and he's every time he sees anything, he's like, ooh,
a bus. I'm like, yes, George, there are buses.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I didn't. I didn't go on buses. Like we walked
down the middle of the road because there was no sidewalks.
And if cars drove like because because you know, sometimes
a car would drive by, they just kind of drive around.
You need wave and then yeah, and then you'd you
keep going.
Speaker 1 (10:12):
So tell us about Strafford Theater Festival, because.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
Okay, so so yeah. I worked at the Strafford Festival.
I did the Rocky Horror Show and in which I
played Rocky obviously, yes, and I was spray tand for
the year and starving for the year, which is really fun.
And but what's really fun about the stre like the
(10:35):
I worked at the Strafford Festival, and there's another one
just in that ground, the Light called the Show Festival,
which is also a big deal in Canadian theater. And
what's really fun about these festivals is they work in reps,
so you get to do two shows at once. So
while we were doing Rocky Horror, uh, the cast was
(10:55):
crossed with the music Man, so like on Yeah, so
in in the afternoon we'd be like done up to
the neck in our because I was in the barbershop
quartet with a couple other guys who were also in
Rocky Horror, and the guy who played riff Raff and
the guy who played Brad and so like we were
all basically naked and running around and revenant each other
(11:20):
in Rocky Horror, and then we'd come and get done
up in our little barbershop outfits. And so it was
really cool to get to do like such off showings
at the same time. Yeah. But like, but because they
were so opposite, it was it was really It's like
these festivals are like like feed Er boot Camp. They're
like acting boot Camp. You learned so much because on
top of those those like the two shows that you're doing,
(11:44):
there's workshops and directors projects and like concerts and all
sorts of things. So you're like learning all of these
different things at the at the same time. And and
it's yeah, it's fantastic. Some like some huge people have
performed at the festival. Maggie Smith has been here. Yeah,
(12:05):
Christopher Plumber heard of him, has been here. He was
here in twenty twelve. George chris George Chrisa was there, Chrisa,
Danielle Wade? Who was? Who was? She was in Our
Music Man, She was Marian Perue. She was in the
(12:25):
first national tour Mean Girls. You played Katie.
Speaker 1 (12:29):
I don't know what that movie is. I've heard of
it though, but.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
No you haven't heard No, I thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Yeah, yeah, I think i'd like it.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
I think you'd like it. It's sweet. Yeah, but yeah,
lots of like some Broadway people, she and Kennedy, Paul Nolan,
all sorts of people have been here. So it's yeah,
it's very it's a very cool place.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
I love it. Now. Have you wanted to be an
actress since you were a little kid or what Yes, okay, good,
next question.
Speaker 2 (12:56):
No, it's funny. Actually, I because I grew I grew
up in in the very small town and there wasn't
a lot to do. But I loved movies. I loved
old musicals. I love Sound of Music and My Fair
Lady and of oz and and so those were kind
of like I just found them so wonderful. It's such
(13:20):
an escape. And like since I was a little kid,
I wanted to be an actor. Like I wrote in
my journal, I have it somewhere, and I was think
like grade two, and we had to say, like, you know,
when I grew up, I want to be or whatever.
And for mine, I was like, when I grew up,
I want to be an actor. And if I'm not
an actor, I want to be a singer. And I mean, dreams.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Do come true, they really do. You have one of
the best voices in the world. Like I love listening
to you singing, and on set every day we would
I would make you sing all the time, because we're
just musical theater nerds like that. And then we would
sing on the drives to and from work. Yes, what
this is, this is our move. Our movie is coming
out this weekend. Our Christmas movie. So maybe we're gonna
(14:05):
have you sing some Christmas songs later, but we'll get
into that. We're gonna take a quick break and we'll
come back. We're gonna talk all things The Holiday Sitter. George. Yes,
you and I star as Sam and Jason and The
(14:27):
Holiday Sitter on Hallmark Channel, coming out this weekend. We
have so much to talk about this movie. But I
think the best thing to do is if you you know,
just like Maria von Trapp would say, let's start at
the very beginning. It's a very good place to start.
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Start when you read and you.
Speaker 1 (14:45):
Begin with a see when you sing, you begin with
sing it doray no, but my dough is up here,
yours is down here, this is my note. That's your no, no,
no there no no.
Speaker 2 (15:04):
Gosh, man, well I just heard everyone click their radio.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
Yeah, and how Pridecast got shut down? Fantastic. Okay, So
let's start at the beginning. So you're you, you got
an audition, but I want to hear about the audition, Like,
you got the audition for this movie and it came
into you, And what did you think when you read it?
Speaker 2 (15:27):
Well, for when I first saw it, I was like
I was like, oh, cool, Jonathan Bennett is doing this
this movie. And then so I read it and it
was really sweet and really charming, and I was like, oh,
they're like, I mean, this would be a great part
for me, but I mean they're obviously going to hire
someone who's famous. They could pick anybody in the world
(15:49):
for this part. Like it's you know, it's it's fun
So like I did my I did my tape and
I sent it off and what's funny actually is I
send it off And I was like, man, you know,
I think I probably could have done that better. I
was like, I think. I was like, I was like
this close to writing my agent and be like, listen,
(16:11):
I think I did a sloppy job on this tape.
Can I just like try again and send it off?
But then I was like, nope. You you make your
choices and you stand by them. So I was I
was very shocked when I when I got the call
that you all were interested.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Did now did you when you read the breakdown in
the audition that came through in the script, did you
know immediately that it was for a gay couple?
Speaker 2 (16:44):
Yeah, because it was it said right there in the
breakdown it said Jonathan Bennett stars in this in this
first of its kind. I can't remember exactly what it said,
but something along those lines.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
And how did I feel reading that, like being well,
being a queer gay man.
Speaker 2 (16:58):
Yeah, it was so cool because oftentimes, like I've played
mostly actually, this is the first gay character I've ever played,
so like, you know, you it's not that you second
guess everything that you do, but there's like a little
voice in the back of your head that's like, is
well this read is gay? Yep if I if I
(17:19):
say it like this? And what was so what was
so cool about doing the audition and and then going
on to shoot the movie was I never thought about that? Yep,
you know, because I like I got to just just
be myself, which is like so freeing and something that
I've actually never really experienced, which is kind of sad
(17:44):
to say, because yeah, like I mean, I love playing
straight characters. I've done it a lot, and I hope
to do it again. But yeah, it's like it was
just that like little extra bit of freedom that I
haven't had before.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
I identify with that so much because my whole life
until I came out, especially even after I came out,
like when you're reading for straight characters as gay actors,
I don't care. Like, from from my experience at least,
which seems like yours, it's there's always something in the
back of your mind that's telling you, like, hey, butcher
(18:21):
it up, Hey mate, did that come across gay? And
it's so stupid because some of my best friends who
are straight are the gayest people I know. And so like,
this whole thing of masculinity and what that means has
evolved to such a great place, I think, because like,
(18:45):
there is no such thing as something being too straight
or too gay. It's just they're just there's only what is,
you know, and what is is this person breathing, alive
in this moment saying these lines. And so you know,
I know when I did a movie called Wedding of
a Lifetime with Brooke Dorsay and my character was straight
in it, and it had a lot of physical comedy
(19:06):
and a lot of like gags that I wanted to do,
and the old me would have been like, ooh, be
careful when you're doing the comedy that don't come off gay.
But what I realized is brooking him. Our characters are
best friends and they love each other, and so they
are silly around each other and they act like best
friends half the time, and then they act like lovers.
(19:28):
So I just went in with that attitude and didn't
think about it once and it was the most probably
one of my best performances I've ever done on camera,
and probably one of my favorite roles that were straight
that I filmed, because it was so freeing, because I
think we're getting away from that idea of like, ooh,
don't be too gay, don't be too this.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
You know, what's so cool about this next generation coming
up is that it doesn't seem to matter as much.
Like people are openly everything and and it's like, God,
I mean, I grew up in a small town as Sasketchewan,
and as far as I know, I'm still the only
(20:07):
a person that came out there. I'm sure that's not true,
but I'm the only one right up. And like there
was there was a gsah for a little while, but
I wasn't going to join it, are you kidding? Like
I made the conscious decision when I was in high
school not to come out because I was like, I'm
(20:29):
not going to make the last couple of years of
high school harder by coming out when I could just
like do it in college like everybody else.
Speaker 1 (20:40):
Right, Yeah, and it's obviously a different time too, right,
Like that's that's what happens with a lot of us
that are from these small towns, myself included, you know,
like we're scared because we don't want the pressure of
having to be someone else during high school, like being
our true self would be bullied so much that it's
(21:02):
easier to just pretend and not say anything. So, which
is super sad. But what's great is that there's a
huge shift in young people these days where it's much different,
So they're going to have a different experience than we did.
And thank god. But so you did your audition and
you send it out there. I'm going to tell you
my point of view from watching George's audition. George, I've
(21:27):
been talking with the producers and the network and I'm like,
we're never going to find adjacent. We're never going to
find adjacent because our Jason has to have all these qualities.
He has to be he has to be hunky, he's
got to be handsome, he's got to be at least
as tall as me. He's got to be muscular, he's
got to have he's got to have blue eyes because
I have brown eyes, and we need to look really
(21:47):
different on camera. He's got to have good comedic timing,
be really good with charming and romantic stuff. And he's
got to be Canadian. Oh and out and gay. Those
were the things we were like looking for. And I
was like, there's no way, because we're shooting in Canada,
(22:07):
he has to be a Canadian. There's all these rules
we have to follow and all these characteristics that this
character has to have. And I'm like, we're never going
to find him. Like it's we're asking for a unicorn
and it doesn't exist. And I was sitting there watching
hundreds of audition tapes and I remember the day I
was off for the day shooting a different movie, and
I was watching the tapes and this idiot, George, pops
(22:34):
up on camera and his back is facing to the
camera in his audition and he turns around and smiles,
and I was like, uh oh. I Like I literally
held my breath and I was like, please, when you speak,
just be good. Like that's all I was thinking, because
(22:54):
you turned around and you were the exact Jason in
my head that I have had since I wrote this movie.
From day one. It was exactly the look in the
feel of who I wanted. And I was like, please
just let him be good when he opens his mouth, please,
And I held my breath and you started doing the scene.
And you got done with the first scene, and I
(23:15):
literally just sat there frozen and let the tape play,
and I was like, okay, please let the second scene
be good. And you did a costume change and showed
off your muscles.
Speaker 2 (23:25):
I took my flannel off.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Yeah, you showed off your muscles. And then he go
and then he did the second scene and was so
charming and so funny. I picked up my phone and
I called James first, and I go, Babe, we found him.
And I sent James your tape immediately, and then I
sent it and then I called the producers and I
was like, we found our guy, George CHRISA. Look him up.
(23:48):
And so getting to see you on that tape made
me so excited for the movie. We we're gonna shoot.
So we found our unicorn and it's his name is
George Chrystla and he's fantastic in this movie. So we
get to set George and we get to shoot this movie.
Let's talk about filming the Holiday Sitter for Hallmark Channel
(24:10):
when we come back. Okay, so George, we're on set
for three weeks together, Yes, shooting a movie. We laughed,
we cried, fun was had. What was it like for
(24:31):
you once you booked the role and you know that
day one you show up to set, well it was
or even the week before.
Speaker 2 (24:44):
It was on it well, because yeah, I came a
little bit early and we read lines and what was
so just to compliment you for a little while.
Speaker 1 (24:54):
Oh, yes, please take all the time you want. What
was so.
Speaker 2 (25:00):
Wonderful about the whole experience, truly was working with you
because this was like, this is obviously a very big
deal for me. It was my first lead. That's my
first lead for a Hallmark Channel, and so I like,
I really wanted to do a good job. And I remember,
(25:23):
I don't think I told you this, but so I
followed you on Instagram and then you followed me back
after like before we ever talked, and like after I
got the job and I screencapped it and I was like,
Brian Jonathan Bennett just followed me on Instagram, It's real.
And then and then I think you messaged me right away,
(25:45):
and I was like, I think I said, I was like,
oh my god, what do I do? Jonathan Benett dismis
And then I think I messaged you back, and then
you and then and then you called me.
Speaker 1 (25:57):
Yeah immediately, I was like, as soon as we cast
you and locked in the deal, I was like, I
need to talk to him immediately because I had so
much anxiety about finding the right George or the right
Jason for this movie that like, when we found him,
it was like I had to talk to you well.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
And so you called and I didn't answer right away
because I was like, I was like, I was like going,
oh my god, Brian, who do I answer it? Me?
And and so I was like I was like, okay, okay,
pulled together because like I mean, obviously, I mean, Girls
is one of my favorite movies growing up. I think
I told you this too.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
I had you were like a huge Jonathan Bennett fan.
Speaker 2 (26:34):
I get it mean Girls theme birthday party when I
was twenty one, that's you did. We had we I
made I don't my friend Janessa has it somewhere. We
made a burn book, yep. Because I like to make crafts.
I know, I'm so lame.
Speaker 1 (26:51):
I love it.
Speaker 2 (26:52):
It's fine.
Speaker 1 (26:53):
I'm I am perfect. You're perfect. And so you're a
huge fan obsessed with me. I get it. Yeah, and
that I'm calling and then here I am calling you
on the phone.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Yeah, and then you called me on the phone. And
but you're immediately so kind and you're like, listen, you're
you were the first choice. Like I know that sometimes
you can go into something ready to overthink it, but
like you're like, just you're you're perfect for this, like
where you were a first choice. We're so happy to
have you. And just like just having like someone who
(27:25):
I know even respects so much be so instantly kind
and welcoming, and like because I've I'm like it's been
my experience that some people with your level of success
aren't always the most kind. I mean they're not unkind,
but they're they're not as warm, not as warm and welcoming.
(27:49):
So and then we went I went to Vancouver for
like a few days early and we got I met
you in the lobby, gave you a great big hup,
and we got the chat and run things. So like
before we started, I felt ten out of ten, like
confident and good and like, and then when we actually
and then my my first the first shot on the
(28:10):
first day, you weren't even in so like I got
to like I got to do I got to like
find my find my footing and like, and I think.
Speaker 1 (28:20):
Before the tornado shows up, right, you had you had
to like a.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
Nice calm before the inevitable three week storm.
Speaker 1 (28:29):
Yes, exactly, And let me tell you, I'm a tornado
on set. But I remember saying to you when we
were rehearsing it because we ran our lines a ton
before we even started shooting the entire movie because we
wanted to like really have it down and have our
chemistry really like working, so we like knew how each
(28:49):
other sounded when they talked, like it's very important. And
so what I loved is you were trying to figure
out one day, because you had done so many plays
in so much theater, you were trying to find out.
I think one day you were figuring out like what
it looks like for like this character, like how other
people would do it or how you should play Jason.
(29:09):
And I had to stop and remind you, and I
was like, you're not playing Jason, honey, you are Jason.
Like George standing there saying the lines. That's Jason, Like,
you don't need to do anything but find your mark
and say your lines, and you're cast because you are you.
(29:30):
And so that was really fun for us when you
find someone that is the character from a producing standpoint
that just like you don't need to do anything, just
stand there and say your words and it all just
comes together. And so then we go to our first
day on set and we're filming. What was our first scene?
Do you remember? Oh?
Speaker 2 (29:50):
Our first scene? Well, the first scene I did was
at the general store.
Speaker 1 (29:55):
Right, And then I came, oh, no, we did the walking.
Speaker 2 (29:58):
And yeah, the little Chris stuff getting the Christmas market,
and I think you did the reindeer toss y, Yeah,
the reindeer toss moment.
Speaker 1 (30:06):
Yes, And I remember it was really fun because I
love being with you on set because as someone that
puffs cigarette and goes I have been doing this a
long time kid. As someone that's been doing this for
a long time, kid, this like being with you on
set the first day, on your first day was really
fun because you really your excitement to be there, but
(30:32):
also your little bit of jitters and nervousness at first,
which everyone has and I have it too. You know.
It was fun to watch because it reminded me of
how exciting it is what we do. So hm, that
was really fun.
Speaker 2 (30:44):
Because I mean I've done some stuff. I haven't done nothing,
Like I've been in things and stuff, but like, just
to be able to do this job, like to be
able to be an actor is so much work and
it's so much time and dedication and I and I
know how many people really want to do it, and
(31:08):
like even like just yeah, just just who really want
to do it? And like a lot of people don't
have these these chances that that some people have, So
like I I will never take an experience for granted,
whether it's it's it's theater or or film, because we're
(31:30):
so lucky to be able to tell stories, and like
we're so lucky for people to even want to spend
their time or their their money to watch us tell stories.
Like we're so fortunate to be able to do that.
Speaker 1 (31:43):
So yeah, so we're on set and we have we
had such a great director, we had Ali Liebert, we
had such a great producer producer, we had Mara, we
had great writers, we had Tracy and Greg. Everyone was
queer we were on set and everybody was queer on
the creative side. What was that like for you?
Speaker 2 (32:03):
That was a first yeah, and like and it goes
to the what we were saying before about feeling comfortable
and not coming off as as too gay or too whatever. Right,
It's like we've all had that kind of experience where
we had to hide something about ourselves to fit in. Like,
(32:24):
you know, Alie's a a wonderful actress and brilliant director,
but like, so she's been on both sides of it,
having to like be herself and so like it just
it was so it was so fun. Gay people are
the literally the most fun and hilarious people in the world.
Speaker 1 (32:44):
Yeah, queer people are the most fun and we I
don't want to say we're the superior species, but we're
the funniest. I'll say that. Okay, we're funnier because no
one ever says, oh, my boring gay best friend. Like
no one ever is like, oh, have you met my
gay bff? He's so boring. Like No, they're hilarious and
we're charming and ridiculous and that's what but we that's
(33:07):
what makes us so fun to be around. So, like,
you have this whole cast and crew that are all queer,
and we're on set and in between the takes shooting
this movie, we're like listening to RuPaul's drag Race songs
and we're like having walk offs. And I like looked
at you one day and I was like, this is
a Hallmark Christmas movie and everyone's gay, Like this is
(33:29):
such a moment in time that is so cool, And
I wanted to talk a little bit about how hilarious
I am in the movie.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Listen, I listen.
Speaker 1 (33:40):
I know you're very funny. Tell everyone how funny I'm
in the movie.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Okay, so.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
Very well do it, because yeah, because we because it's
only an hour long show. So I'll tell everyone I'm
hilarious in the movie. But so is George. But the
reason our comedic chemistry and the reason our chemistry I
think is so good on camera, Like I watched it.
I watch moments at the end that are very special
(34:09):
and intimate between the two of us. I watch moments
throughout the movie that are intimate and hilarious between us,
and our chemistry is probably my favorite chemistry I've ever
seen on camera with somebody. And I think the reason
we have such a good comedic chemistry together on camera
(34:29):
is because what we were doing, which is creating the
first LGBTQ plus rom com for Hallmark Channel, wasn't lost
on the two of us. Every single day that we
showed up to work, like we're sitting, we would stand
there like, I remember we're doing our meat cute scene,
and the meat cute scene, I like fall backwards and
(34:51):
you literally catch me like a traditional rom com meat cute.
And I remember when we went to shoot that scene,
we were both really sighted because we looked at each
other and we're like, we're about to shoot the first
gay meet cute and a Christmas movie for Hallmark, and
that had so much weight to it, but so much
(35:14):
excitement behind it. So in our eyes when we're looking
at each other, there's like a vibration of excitement of
being the first to get to do this in every
single scene, and so there's just this like kind of
vibration between the two of us on camera of like
excitement of being these trailblazers in this space.
Speaker 2 (35:38):
Well, and what also added to the excitement speaking to
you being very funny is I never really knew what
you were going to do, so like it was also
just like, you know, it was impossible not to be
in in the moment because I didn't know what was
going to happen. I didn't and so it was like.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
You know that, Yeah, that energy was there. Well, it's
all comedy, George, it really is. Ask me what the
secret to comedy is timing. We have fun. We have
fun here, we have fun, we really do. So yeah, there,
it was just it was such a fun experience. And
(36:22):
there's a couple scenes in the movie that are my favorite.
But I'm going to tell you my favorite scene when
we come back after this break. Okay, So George, let's
tell everyone about our new movie, The Holiday Sitter. So
(36:43):
this movie is so much fun. It was inspired by
the movie that was one of my favorites growing up,
which is Uncle Buck. And I love the idea of
an uncle having to take care of his niece and
nephew that he doesn't really know. So when I pitched
this to Hallmark, I said, what if we did Uncle Buck?
The idea of Uncle Buck, but we made him gay
And they loved the idea and they jumped on it,
(37:04):
and so you know, The Holidaysitter was born and the
story takes place. It's about my character, Sam, who is
a workaholic bachelor living the high life in New York
City and his sister is adopting and her husband are
adopting a new baby, and the birth mother goes into
labor right before the holidays, and they try to call
(37:26):
everyone on their list to come and watch their two kids,
Miles and Donia, while they go get the new baby
from the birth mother, but they have no one that
is available, and Sam, my character is the last person
on the list, like the dead last person on the list,
and they have no other choice but to call me
and have me come home for the holidays and watch
(37:48):
the two kids. So reluctantly I go home, watch my
niece and nephew and have to put on Christmas for
them as a bachelor, eternal bachelor that has never done
for Christmas, doesn't really like Christmas and doesn't really want
a family. And in doing that, I meet Jason, who's
George Cris's character, who is the handsome, hunky contractor building
(38:12):
the addition onto the house. And I'm not going to
say we fall in love, but sparks Fly will say that,
and you'll have to see what happens. But sparks Fly
and we end up. I end up hiring him as
an uncle consultant because I'm not good at uncling or gunkling,
and so I hire George to help me take care
(38:34):
of these kids and put on a Christmas And through
doing that, we kind of learn a lot about each
other and learn a lot about what it means to
be a family. And the movie is so magical, It
is so funny, has so much heart and humor in it.
It's filled with love, but it's hilarious, and it has
so many great messages in it. I think The Holiday
(38:56):
Sitter is easily going to be one of these classic
movies that people watch every year. And in doing the
movie there we have all these amazing scenes where we
talk about real issues. Because what's so great about Hallmark
Channel in what they have done for queer people is
they've created a safe place for queer people to tell stories.
(39:17):
And that's how it feels for me, I know it's
how it felt for George and all the producers and
everyone involved and directors and all the crew, all the
cast members like having a safe place where we can
tell stories and push ourselves and push our boundaries and
get creative. It's really no other place like it in
(39:39):
the world. There's nothing better in the world as an
artist than having a place you can tell stories and
be safe while you do.
Speaker 2 (39:46):
It, right, mm hmm, oh, absolutely, And it's.
Speaker 1 (39:49):
It's it was such a great experience. How much Hallmark
Channel supported us throughout the whole process, and we have
these really great scenes that really make you think and
really identify with what it's like to be a gay
man in twenty twenty two, trying to figure out life
and figure out relationships and figure out love and figure
(40:10):
out so many things. But you know, The Holiday Sitter
isn't a movie. We didn't set out. What I think
people are going to really take away from this is
we didn't set out to make a movie for queer people.
We set out to make a really good holiday movie
for everybody. It just happens that they're both men that
fall in love, and so it's not an LGBTQ plus
(40:31):
rom com. It's just a rom com. We just happen
to have two dudes as the leads.
Speaker 2 (40:37):
Yeah. Well, and I think that that comes across really well,
because like it's the fact that they're they're gay, and
the fact that they're both men is a non issue
for everybody.
Speaker 1 (40:47):
And the fact that the straight couple is adopting and
one of the gay characters is adopting isn't an issue,
and it isn't even addressed why, well you they don't
need a why. It's what they want to do.
Speaker 2 (40:59):
Yeah, and so their families are just as or as
excited for for everything is as they are for the
straight people. And it's just so it's so nice to
not have to like that. No one's fighting for anything there.
It's just it just just happened.
Speaker 1 (41:18):
Yeah, it just is, and they do. The movie has
so many great scenes in it, but one of my
favorite scenes is something that we added as a real
thing that happened to me as a child growing up
with my house, we would sit by the Christmas tree
on Christmas Eve every single night and we would sing
(41:40):
Silent Night, or we'd listen to Silent Night. And there
is a great moment in this movie. It's the Silent
Night scene. It's my favorite scene in the film. I
don't want to give too much away, but at that moment,
George chrisa Jason here sings a little Silent Night and
(42:00):
so because you are a Strafford Theater theater musical person
with an amazing voice. Can you give everyone a little
preview and just give us silent night? Please? Just a
little bit. Here's a little preview, Go ahead. George was
right here. I didn't I didn't prepare for this. Okay,
(42:20):
just give me a little sin Oh no, oh is call.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
Pray? Do you want more? Gonna have to watch the movie?
Speaker 1 (42:40):
Ah there he goes, Wow, yay, his voice is so good.
Speaker 2 (42:46):
What's some? It's just another compliment.
Speaker 1 (42:49):
If you if you need ahead, I do I do.
Speaker 2 (42:54):
How much of yourself that you you put into this
movie inicular? And just like and I you know, I
watched Wedding of a Lifetime and you you put your
whole self into it like you watching you on set
like you you were so you you treated everybody the same,
(43:17):
You were so kind to everybody. You created such a fun, boisterous,
like energetic atmosphere on set, and it was like it
was really it was so nice to be there for
that and to and to watch you do that, because
I was like, Oh, that's what That's how I want
to be, Like, that's how I want to I want
I want to be able to make people feel the
(43:38):
way you make people feel because it was it was
really it was it was really something special that you created,
and it was it was amazing to watch.
Speaker 1 (43:48):
Thank you. It was well, when you love what you do, uh,
you show up every day and you're so excited to
be there. And if you're going to do these movies,
put all yourself into them, because there's that's it's the
only way to do it. All right, So George, this
is Pride cast. Okay, this is we talk about things
like pride. Do you remember the first Pride that you
(44:11):
went to?
Speaker 2 (44:12):
I do?
Speaker 1 (44:14):
Tell me about it.
Speaker 2 (44:15):
It was two thousand and eight in Edmonton, Alberta. And
it was like it was wild because people, oh, like
both gay people showed up.
Speaker 1 (44:31):
No, it was like friends.
Speaker 2 (44:33):
There's a couple of other friends. Like I went with
my because I had like just finished college. It was
a two year program. It was but like I had
like finally a group of gay friends and we had
so much fun together. And that was back when drinking
was still fun yea. So we like we went to
(44:54):
the beer gardens and there was just there was gay
people everywhere and.
Speaker 1 (44:59):
Like to see that.
Speaker 2 (45:01):
It was like it was so it was so freeing,
it was so wild. It was so exciting and like
a little titillating, and you're like, oh, what if I
what if I meet someone? What if someone like thinks
I'm cute? Like what if you know, what if I
think someone's cute? Like how exciting is that? And this
(45:22):
is like and this is like before, like you know
when you remember when you take like a cyber shot
to the to the bar to take pictures, like before
iPhones and stuff. So it's like so it was just
like there was it was just it was just all
happening at once, and I didn't like so, yeah, it
(45:43):
was it was really really exciting. And I saw there's
a drag queen that was like passed out in the
middle of the day, kind of upside down on the
steps in Nathan Phillips Square, and I was like, wow,
I never saw that before.
Speaker 1 (45:59):
Yeah, yeah, there have it there. They had a blast. Yeah,
they're having a great time. So pride means a lot
of things to a lot of different people. What does
pride mean to you?
Speaker 2 (46:13):
Oh, I think that it's being able to live your
life openly and authentically with whoever you choose, whether it's
whether it's by yourself, whether it's with a partner or
if you want to get married, Like I feel that
(46:35):
it's the ability to live your life how it's authentic
to you, without without judgment or without consequence, or just
to just to be able to be happy. Mm hmmm, yeah.
Speaker 1 (46:54):
That no, that's true. And it's funny because pride changes
every day for every single person. Yeah, And so you
know what's fun is that maybe next year when we
ask the same question, it might mean something different to
you then as well, because I know pride changes to
me every single day. What pride means HiT's differently depending
on what I've learned and what I've gone through that day.
Speaker 2 (47:15):
So well, And and what's what's interesting too, is because
I live in Canada, and like I mean, it's a
you know, an artistic community, like it's there's lots of
openly gay people here. I forget that it's still an issue.
Speaker 1 (47:33):
That like in some parts of the world, in some parts.
Speaker 2 (47:35):
Of the world, like just living openly is an act
of defiance, right, you know, And so like I I
think that it's important to just remember that being who
you are is it's just so important to so many
people just just being comfortable in who you are, and
(47:56):
and and the life that you live can can mean
a lot to the people around you, for the young,
for the young Georgies and Jonathan's growing up.
Speaker 1 (48:09):
Yes, you know, you're never too much and you're always enough.
You just being you in that moment. You're never too
much and you're always enough, just being you on this
planet Earth. And you know, we talk a lot about
them podcast what why It's so great to be gay?
Because there's so many things in the world. I love
(48:29):
it where where Yeah, there's so many things in the
world that you know, try to say why it's not great,
but we know those are all lies. So on podcasts
we like to talk about why. What's the best part
about being gay to you? Or what do you love
the most about being gay? Why do you think it's
so great to be gay?
Speaker 2 (48:49):
I feel like I have the best time all the time.
Speaker 1 (48:53):
Yes, like I said earlier, you're just more fun are
like yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:59):
Like I feel like I laugh constantly, like like the
gay people in my life are like truly the funniest
people in the world. And we like when we get together,
we just howl, like I every time we get together,
(49:21):
I laugh until I cry yep, And so like it's
just it's it's a blast.
Speaker 1 (49:26):
It's a blast. It's a blast. It's a blast.
Speaker 2 (49:30):
And what's so funns It's like you get to know
yourself so well because like having something that you're at
first terrified of and then have to come to accept
and then you have to tell everybody that you know
about it, Like how how strong of a person you
have to be? Like every single gay person, whether you're
(49:52):
whether they're out or not, or a queer person or
every every single member of this community has to be
so brave in comparison to the people who haven't had
to do this, And like sometimes I feel sorry for
people who haven't had to come to terms with parts
of themselves because it's like you learn just so.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
Much, and you learn so much about yourself and about
who you are as a human. Yeah. Absolutely, what that's
really well sad. I've never heard anyone say that on podcasts.
That's a new answer, and I really really like that.
You know, we're talking a lot about things that are
going on. We have this new movie at Hallmark Channel
premiereing December eleventh, The Holiday Sitter. We're making strides and
(50:36):
for representation on camera, it's just so amazing. But in
order to look forward, we always have to look back.
So we're gonna do a little bit of gay history.
Play the music. Each week we look back at something
that happened this week in gay history, because in order
for us to look forward, we have to always remember
(50:56):
where we came from. So George, you're going to take
the role of James Vaughan today my husband, and say
what happened this week in gay history.
Speaker 2 (51:05):
George, Okay, this is a good one. This week in
LGBTQ plus tongue Twister history. December eighth, nineteen eighty one,
the New York City Gay Men's Chorus becomes the first
openly gay musical group to play at Carnegie Hall with
their Christmas Concerto. Only two years later after it was established,
(51:26):
the New York City Gay Men's Chorus made its debut
at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall and then Carnegie Hall
on December eighth, nineteen eighty one. New York Times music
critic Theodore W. Libby Junior, who noted that the concert
had been sold out, considered the singer's impressive, glowing and vibrant.
Other words for gay.
Speaker 1 (51:47):
Were express come on.
Speaker 2 (51:52):
The Amateur Vocal ensemble continued to earn the respective music
critics and not only became a musical force commissioning new works,
but also became for many the face and voice of
out gay men. One year later, Meg Christian and Chris
Williamson became the first out lesbians to perform there with
the choruses founding. With the choruses founding came a surge
(52:15):
of gay and lesbian choral groups and the founding of
the umbrella organization ga La Choruses Gala Choruses, which stages
in international festival with hundreds of choruses and thousands of
singers every four years. How great is that?
Speaker 1 (52:32):
So this week in gay History, the Gay Men's Chorus
saying at Carnegie Hall boom, Do you know how to
get to Carnegie Hall? Practice? Oh man, what a fun time?
That is so cool. And each week we shine our
big gay spotlight on members of the LGBTQ plus community
(52:53):
that are doing extraordinary things for the community, whether they're
famous or not. And this week I want to shine
my spotlight, my big a spotlight on someone that is
kind of famous but people are really gonna know soon.
And this week I'm shining my big a spotlight on
George Chrisa. Let me tell you, and let me tell
(53:17):
you why. Because George Chrisa came into this movie, The
Holiday Sitter, and it was the first time he had
been a number two on a call sheet for a
movie like this. And let me tell you. We're shooting
fifteen day, we shoot for fifteen days, we shoot three weeks,
we shoot long hours. It's a ton of dialogue, and
(53:39):
it's you basically have the weight of the entire movie
on your shoulders when you're number one and number two.
And I was number one, of course obviously, and then
George was number two. And for George he stepped up
into this role that was not only it's only hard
to do when you're doing, you know, a movie that
where you're a straight couple, but to play this character
(54:01):
and to be doing what we did, and to be
making history and be doing such a big job of
being the first gay rom com where we fall in love,
that adds another level of stress onto you as an actor,
because you know you're representing an entire community. And so
for George to step in and deliver every single day
(54:21):
the performance he delivered, and to show up to set excited, happy,
knowing every single one of his scenes, backwards and forwards,
and to show up and really carry the weight of
not just this character, but the entire community on his shoulders.
As the first time doing it, you would have thought
he had been doing it for one hundred years, because
he's that good in it, and he did it that well.
(54:43):
And I'm going to tell you what you said to me.
And I've told this before, but driving home our last
day of filming, we wrapped and George and I would
always like to drive home together in the same car
so we could talk about the day. And we're driving
home and he saw the sunset overlooking Toronto, and as
a a actor that's been doing this a long time,
sometimes I forget why. Sometimes I forget how special what
(55:07):
we do is. And George looked at me after we wrapped,
and we were very emotional, and he just goes, Man,
we are so lucky, And that will always stick in
my head until the end of time, being reminded that
what we do is not only special, but we are
lucky to get to do it. So this week I'm
(55:28):
shining my big a spotlight on George Chris Up because
so many people are going to watch this movie and
feel seen because they see you play Jason. So, George, congratulations.
Tell everyone why they should go see our movie.
Speaker 2 (55:42):
Because it's so funny, it's so heartwarming, there's so much
love and family and Christmas, and it's going to be
just a great.
Speaker 1 (55:52):
And because I'm really because you're really handsome. You're very handsome,
and I'm very funny. It's a perfect combination. George, thank
you so much for coming to Pridecast. I love you
so much and we will we'll talk to you soon.
But guess what, everyone go watch The Holiday Sitter on
Hallmark Channel Saturday or Sunday, December eleventh, watch The Today
(56:16):
Sitter eight pm. All right, bye, George, Bye,
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