Kavan Smith on Big Sky River’s Beauty and Subtle Storytelling, Lee and Rosemary’s Next Adventure on WCTH

Kavan Smith strikes once more with one other red-hot film. He stars as Boone Taylor in Large Sky River, a single father of two boys who’s attempting to supply the perfect life for his household.

He’s doing that each one alone with out grievance, however when Tara (Emmanuelle Vaugier) rents the home subsequent door for the summer season along with her stepdaughter, their two households develop nearer as Boone and Tara uncover that they may not should go it alone, in spite of everything.

We caught up with Kavan concerning the film (which you’ll adore) and for some When Calls the Coronary heart chitchat. Contemplate this dialog your prep work earlier than catching the premiere of Large Sky River on Hallmark Films & Mysteries on Sunday, August 7 at 9/8c.

Large Sky River is such a lovely film, visually and emotionally. How did you get entangled with it?

Effectively, as a matter of truth, I used to be planning a trip. And anytime you intend a trip as an actor, you’ll be able to virtually assure that you will get a job provide.

I used to be truly on my laptop, nearly to pay for the flight, and I acquired a name from my agent asking if I’d be serious about taking a look at this undertaking.

We did not know who was hooked up first, and sometimes when that occurs, I simply assume that it’ll be Pascale Hutton who was hooked up to it. However on this case, they mentioned that wasn’t going to occur.

However then, after I came upon it was Emmanuelle [Vaugier], who I might labored with earlier than a number of years in the past on a undertaking referred to as Mistresses. I used to be tremendous excited as a result of we had a extremely good time collectively. She’s tremendous enjoyable. So I used to be actually enthusiastic about it.

After which I additionally came upon that the director, Peter Benson, is one other pal of mine. When he got here on board, I am like, “That is simply going to be enjoyable. It is identical to buddies getting collectively.”

Like a trip.

Yeah. Precisely, I acquired a trip out of it anyway. The one factor I used to be slightly bizarre about was the cowboy half as a result of I am not likely a lot of a cowboy. Though I come from Alberta, Canada, which is cowboy territory, and possibly it is in my DNA someplace.

However I advised my children about it, and so they’re like, “Actually? You? A cowboy?” I used to be like, “Okay, effectively, thanks in your help. However sure.” After I learn the script, one of many issues oftentimes with Hallmark scripts, there are some issues that bump, and also you’re undecided how it’ll play.

And this one the place there have been no bumps in any respect. And it had me involved, although. I used to be like, “Okay, the place’s the what is going on on right here?” And I noticed that it is not likely an image about boy meets lady, which lots of the Hallmark films are.

Certain.

It felt to me that this was extra like about two damaged households that had been getting a second likelihood. It wasn’t only one man and one lady. It was this man; he was attempting to maintain his household afloat with two boys combating the lack of their mom.

After which this different lady who involves city, and he or she’s attempting to piece collectively this relationship out of a divorce the place her step-daughter is nearer to her than she is to her father. I assumed that is actually about two households coming collectively extra so than it’s concerning the conventional Hallmark, one man, one lady.

I actually favored that. I assumed that the film would both sink or swim on whether or not or not everyone would have chemistry — if we may actually join as households.

If I may join with the boys and if Emmanuelle may join with the lady, after which if we may all join collectively, this may very well be a extremely candy and enjoyable, pure film. I have not seen it but myself. So I am hoping that is what we acquired in the long run.

Sure, undoubtedly. It was one in every of my favourite Hallmark films I’ve seen in ages. And I am not simply saying that as a result of I am speaking to you. Every time I used to be finished, I used to be like, “I actually loved this.” It did not seem to be a Hallmark film.

There was lots of that concerned. I actually do suppose they’re branching out slightly bit. So that they’re tackling some issues that they have not, or that they shied away from. the concept of divorce and stuff and coming collectively that means.

And since it was lots much less about simply boy meets lady, it was these two households, like I mentioned, coming collectively, that has not all the time been their factor. So this actually felt to me that this was going to permit Emmanuelle and I to essentially see if we may put some chops into this and make you’re feeling for these characters.

And I actually loved the scenes that I did with the boys. I imply, there have been a few scenes with every child the place… I’ve two boys myself.

I do know. How nice is that?

Yeah, it was actually thrilling.

You are that dad.

Yeah, I’m that dad. And I speak to them. I added some stuff that’s the means I speak to my children. And like I mentioned, I have not seen it. So I do not know the way a lot of what I put in there was stored or not. However I do know I added a good bit of pop from my repertoire into it as a result of I hoped it might make it extra pure.

Once you’re coping with youthful performers, generally it helps them loosen up within the scene and simply hearken to you. I assumed that every one of many boys that performed my sons had been so good at various things, and it actually made it enjoyable and attention-grabbing for me.

So I used to be undoubtedly in a position to sort out a few of that. And I have not had any of that in a Hallmark undertaking outdoors of this one. So I used to be actually excited to do this.

Yeah. It actually labored. Each households had been plausible, and also you felt for each. Good.

Additionally, from the boy meets lady perspective, you and Emmanuelle had been clearly snug with one another from having labored collectively earlier than. And it was a really grownup and candy assembly of two individuals who had been afraid of affection once more.

Yeah. It was within the script, however it was very refined. It was actually form of, “We’re not going to beat this over the top.” That is going to sink or swim on whether or not or not Emmanuelle and I can discover a approach to join.

And one of many issues that she brings to the desk that’s nice, and it is also one of many issues I really like about Pascale, is that she does not take herself too severely. And generally, with actors, you have to do no matter it takes to do the efficiency that you are going for. I get that. However generally, it is exhausting.

Generally working with actors is exhausting, and that is coming from an actor. So she was so enjoyable and uncomplicated and within the second, and he or she’s a very nice actor, and he or she’s acquired an amazing humorousness. And people issues actually communicate to me as an individual.

So I prefer it after I present as much as work, and any person is enjoyable, dwelling within the second, does not take themselves too severely, and is an effective performer who can work with improvisation. She will roll with issues as a result of I wish to try to change takes up and stuff.

She was nice with all of that. And I knew she could be as a result of I might labored along with her a very long time in the past. And I knew we acquired alongside fairly effectively again then.

However on day one, we simply began making one another giggle straight away. I by no means noticed any of it on digicam, so I do not know what it appears to be like like on digicam, however I felt in entrance of the digicam that there was undoubtedly chemistry. So I imply, in case you say it is there, then I am going to take your phrase for it.

And there is one explicit scene on the romantic facet that blew me away for a Hallmark film.

Oh, nice.

It is when the 2 of you had been simply leaning your heads collectively. You may need had slightly kiss. It was very emotional. It wasn’t coy; it was so deep. I liked it.

I bear in mind taking pictures that. I acquired to provide lots of credit score to the director on that one as a result of he requested for a bodily transfer. I like the concept of coming collectively and being nonetheless, however he wished a digicam angle on that. So he wished us to do this whereas we had been barely turning.

And I felt like, “Ugh, I do not know, turning whereas we’re attempting to have this kind of tete-a-tete second.” Nevertheless it actually labored. Additionally, one of many issues that you do not get in lots of these films is time. We allowed that to develop.

It wasn’t simply head in, contact, suppose, kiss, finished. It was actually form of gradual and sanguine. And it was actually a lovely second. I am glad you favored that. That was actually cool.

And it virtually got here off like a dance.

Yeah.

You mentioned you did not know if it might work with the turning. It labored completely.

Oh, I am so glad. It felt slightly bizarre doing it. However as quickly as we landed from the flip, then all of it felt actually fairly pure. And I feel that in case you’re … It isn’t burned in love, as a result of he misplaced his spouse, she died, and Tara [Vaugier] was burned in love.

Generally the vulnerability of that second the place you open your self up, there are not any phrases. You needn’t say something. And also you lean your head and also you’re saying to the opposite individual, “I belief you. I am right here. Let’s examine the place this goes.”

A variety of Hallmark films do not try this. And I used to be glad that we took that point, and that’s all Peter. Peter Benson, who directed, that was all his thought. So I give him full credit score for that.

In the event you present folks what you are feeling, versus telling them, it goes lots additional.

It actually does. It is the identical factor in writing and issues like that. You may inform them stuff, however you needn’t hit them over the top. In truth, the much less you’ll be able to say, the extra impactful the second often is.

And it was the identical factor with each of you as dad and mom within the film, the way in which that Boone was simply taking part in ball with them out within the yard. I imply, you do not see that fairly often.

No, no.

And one thing so simple as an image, the little lady’s image was on Tara’s fridge, simply issues that talk volumes with out having to say a phrase.

Sure. I feel there was lots of that on this film. Not so apparent, however like refined little issues that made it really feel slightly extra plausible and slightly extra actual.

Precisely. And you do not have to inform me that you simply’re good dad and mom as a result of I may see it.

That is precisely what we had been going for. No person needed to say, “Oh, effectively, he is a superb dad.” You may see him the way in which he talks with the children that dads do not speak to kids like that until they love them until they really need the perfect for them.

You do not have to have any person within the background or in one other scene say, “Oh, he is such a superb dad.” We have already proven that. Or vice versa, “She’s an amazing stepmother,” as a result of she’s proven it. Yep. That is precisely proper.

You mentioned you were not a superb cowboy. Had been you truly in these driving scenes?

I used to be. I did all of the driving scenes apart from the high-speed stuff. I am pretty snug on horses as a result of I’ve finished a good bit of that on When Calls, and I’ve finished some Westerns up to now. However I am getting previous now. And my physique does not love banging round at excessive speeds.

Emmanuel is a severe rider. She is a present jumper and owns her horse, and he or she competes on a regular basis. So the director and the producers actually wished to reap the benefits of having her on digicam at these excessive speeds, performing some actually high-end stuff. So I am simply not adequate to observe her in that.

Trotting round and doing issues on horses, I am good with all that. However the high-speed stuff, no. They introduced in an actual cowboy for that.

What’s humorous is, as I used to be watching it, I used to be considering, “That is one thing I all the time wished to do.” I had gone on path rides and that form of stuff rising up, however I all the time wished to have that flat-out run. And what went by means of my thoughts was, “Now, with my physique at this age, there is no means. I might be on the bottom.”

The primary telephone name I acquired from Peter was like, “Okay, trustworthy.” As a result of actors lie on a regular basis about what they’ll do. I have been requested ‘trigger I trip bikes, and I have been requested so many occasions. They’re like, “Actually? Actually? Do you actually drive a bike?” As a result of actors simply lie about something to get the half.

However Peter referred to as me, and he’s like, “Look, I would like the reality. How good are you on a horse?” And I used to be like, “Pay attention, so long as it is simply trotting round and little galloping right here and there and scenes on horses, strolling with horses, no downside.”

Actual hardcore driving? And I already knew that Emmanuel was an actual rider, and I knew they had been going to need to reap the benefits of that. So I used to be like, “Pay attention, you are going to want to usher in a cowboy in case you actually need to go for it.”

And so they introduced in an amazing man. So he was terrific. And she or he was over the moon on that day. She was all the time glad and constructive on set, however boy, that day, she was over-the-moon on horse galloping day.

And the way neat is that? As a result of that was what her character liked to do as effectively.

Whoever solid her, whoever reached out to Emmanuelle, should have identified that she was a rider as a result of it was an ideal match. And I feel that we had a extremely nice time collectively. I used to be tremendous pleased with the way in which this film took place.

Okay, granted, I did not do the hardcore driving, however I felt fairly good concerning the stuff that I did do. So for a man who’s not a cowboy, I used to be pretty snug simply doing the cowboy stuff.

Yeah. Is smart to me. And have we ever seen scruffy Kavan on display earlier than?

Effectively, not on Hallmark. No, I’ve finished lots of scruffy cabin stuff on different issues again after I was youthful.

I can not even bear in mind you from different issues. You had been clean-shaven on Eureka. You had been clean-shaven-

Yeah, I used to be.

Yeah. There have been lots of clean-shaven roles, however I could not discover any scruffy.

There are a couple of on the market, however yeah, lots of the stuff is clean-shaven. And I’ve a ritual that after I was a child, I’d undergo yearly as an actor as a result of it’s important to look a sure means, and also you get bored with it after some time.

So each Christmas, I’d develop a beard and shave my head. After which I’d often, by February, my hair has grown again, after which I might shave my beard. And that was my little rebel.

However on this one, I did not know he was a sheriff straight away, however I did … After I heard the cowboy stuff, I used to be like, “It is sensible if he was slightly extra damaged down,” like not so nervous about his appears to be like and never so nervous about shaving daily.

So I used to be stunned after they okayed that as a result of it is not all the time been Hallmark’s factor. For me, they’ve all the time red-flagged it. However this one, I used to be form of glad. It is only a completely different look.

Yeah, I favored it. I favored it.

Thanks.

It is the one place in addition to wrinkles as a result of I’ve lots of these, however I am not grey on my head but. However I’m fairly grey in my beard. So it is the one place that provides me away beside the wrinkles.

However you realize what? These sorts of salt and pepper beards look good.

Yeah. Effectively-

[laughs] I do not know that ladies may pull them off, however males look actually good in them.

Yeah. Effectively, thanks. Thanks.

Have you ever ever performed a sheriff earlier than?

On Eureka, I performed Deputy Andy, and he wore basically the identical outfit. So-

I used to be going to say. However he is a robotic. So I did not actually consider him because the Sheriff. [laughs]

He is a robotic. Sure. Yeah, no, he was a robotic. I liked Deputy Andy. He was one in every of my favourite characters that I’ve ever performed.

Nevertheless it was humorous, after I placed on this sheriff’s outfit, I used to be like, “Oh, this takes me again.” As soon as they put the holster on me and all of the radio and all of the GAC, I used to be like, “Ah, this feels … ” Aside from the cowboy hat, this felt precisely like Andy.

Oh, enjoyable!

Yeah. It was enjoyable.

So going away from this film, I simply have a few questions on When Calls the Coronary heart for you. Lee and Rosemary are having a child. How excited are you guys for this story to play out?

Effectively, I’ve joked about this up to now. I am going to take the credit score, and I am going to say, “Oh, that is all as a result of I pushed this ahead.” [laughs] I did not actually have something to do with this. That is all Pascale.

We each all the time wished these two to have a household. We did not know if there could be adoption or if it might be a delivery, however we each wished this within the earlier years. After which it form of felt to me like, “All proper, effectively, I am not younger anymore. So possibly this isn’t the correct factor for these two anymore.” Pascale’s fairly a bit youthful than me.

However I used to be like, “Eh; I do not know.” However she actually, actually dug her heels in with the community and actually wished this. I nonetheless suppose it is the correct choice, the correct selection story-wise for these two. I did not suppose it was going to occur. I might given up hope, however she didn’t.

She was tenacious, and not less than she acquired her means. And I am truly actually glad as a result of the way in which they did it’s they pink herring-ed us some place else. They begin this newspaper, and we virtually neglect about it. There’s the odd reference right here and there, however they neglect about it.

After which, proper after they get actually busy doing different stuff, and their life takes a brand new course, unexpectedly, it occurs. I actually did like that. I assumed that was a enjoyable approach to play it. And now we’ll see what occurs this 12 months, this season, after we get going right here, how that performs out. My fingers are crossed.

Yeah. I liked it in the midst of the season after they just about mentioned out loud as they had been strolling to church that they had been okay with their lives and that every little thing was all proper. Then, it was now not a fear. And I assumed proper then, “Okay. It isn’t a fear anymore. They’ll get pregnant.”

Do not you suppose that is an odd echo as a result of that is kind of the way it occurs? It isn’t an issue, however for lots of people who undergo that, having a child is so seldom simply, “Hey, you are going to have a child. The primary time you get pregnant, and you’ve got a child.”

It is simply not many individuals’s story. Normally, it’s miles extra sophisticated. And in that complication, it appears to me that while you lastly simply say, “You understand what, let’s cease attempting so laborious. Let’s simply go on with our lives,” that is when it usually occurs.

It’s. And so they had been so targeted elsewhere. And with out placing that stress on themselves, their our bodies gave into it.

Precisely. And I feel that it is actually attention-grabbing as a result of now we’re set as much as have this actually attention-grabbing situation the place they’re getting a newspaper going, they’re nonetheless operating the lumber mill or the sawmill. They’ve a child coming. So there’s being pregnant right here. They’re sharing this area at residence and the workplace. You are simply arrange for craziness.

And that is what me and Rosemary, I feel, do finest is that mixture of humor and craziness and coronary heart. That is what we have all the time gone by means of with these two. So I feel we’re arrange for an amazing story arc, and I hope that’ll occur.

Was there ever a scene of you two sharing a mattress earlier than?

Yeah, we did do it as soon as earlier than. I feel it was two or three seasons in the past when she had Scarlet fever. I feel when Rosemary will get Scarlet fever.

Proper. I knew there have been scenes at or on the mattress at that time. I did not bear in mind in case you had been in mattress collectively.

No. And we had talked about that. There have been problems with the bed room stuff for Lee and Rosemary. Due to the property that we shoot on, we’re restricted within the variety of buildings we are able to have. So it needs to be a swing set. So, oddly sufficient, we used the church.

It is a lengthy, sophisticated technique of organising our bed room within the church. That is why it is not one thing that is finished fairly often. So we’re simply restricted by what number of buildings we are able to have on the bodily set.

Effectively, it labored out rather well, I assumed. That is the place she advised him she was pregnant. It was such an intimate second.

Yeah, it was so enjoyable, man. We had been taking part in it form of humorous earlier than like he is falling asleep, and he thinks she’s alluding to one thing else. And when she tells him, and he simply jumps away from bed yelling, we each thought it was actually candy. However once more, you by no means know the way these issues will find yourself, how it’ll work.

I can leap away from bed yelling and hope it really works. And also you simply do not know in the long run. And one of many issues that occurred was that the crew was actually having fun with it. Crews very seldom get entangled in scenes whilst you’re taking pictures them. They’re doing their job.

They have their very own issues to do, however they had been actually having fun with it and laughing in between takes. And you could possibly inform that we had been getting someplace. I do not know. I have not seen it myself but, to be fairly trustworthy with you, but-

Oh, you are kidding? Kavan.

No, I have not seen it. I am slightly superstitious about watching myself. I am going to admit that my ego is large enough that I have a look at the improper issues.

Oh, I perceive that.

It is actually laborious to observe your self. I am going to watch myself slightly bit right here and there, simply to ensure I am not means off, however my ego’s large enough that I are inclined to generally fixate on the improper factor as a substitute of efficiency. So consider one thing silly. So I choose to not. Pascale watches all of them, and he or she and her husband inform me the way it went.

Good, good. At the least you get an upfront there.

Precisely.

Effectively, my final query for you, is there any likelihood that Lee may nonetheless be capable of take that editorial place from Hope Valley? I might like to see him do one thing bigger, however nonetheless with a smaller scope.

Yeah, you and me each. I feel that may be an amazing match for Lee. No person has talked to me but concerning the story arc for this 12 months. I am hoping to have a dialog quickly, however I feel half of what’s going to add to the dynamic of the child is for them to every have their very own world pulling at them. We set it up this fashion.

So now, proceed that and have him pulled in that course, have her pulled in a unique course, all whereas being in one another’s area and never having the ability to get away from one another. And whereas she’s pregnant, I feel that it units itself up for that.

And I actually hope that’s the case if he does have that. As a result of I’ve felt personally for Lee within the final couple of seasons, he is been slightly directionless. I’ve struggled with that personally, as an actor. I’ve stored asking to have some course.

I did not need him to be flailing within the wind, and I am actually hoping that no matter it’s, it is one thing that manifests itself quickly and provides him a course in life.

And he was enthusiastic about being the mayor too. I actually thought that was going to be his factor. I actually did.

I did, too, I did too. I assumed that is the place they had been going with it. No person tells the actors the place they are going with something. It is vitally seldom that we get any info earlier than we get the script. Generally your concepts are nearly as good as mine. I do not know the place they are going from one second to the subsequent.

So I hope that we set up some form of internal course. As a result of we set it up for him to be on this path. He has been trying and searching for a few seasons now, and he hasn’t discovered something. So I really feel he is simply flailing within the wind slightly bit as a person.

He is nonetheless a powerful marriage, good husband. He’ll be a superb father, all that is there, however there’s one thing person who appears to be lacking from Lee that I am hoping we are able to rediscover quickly.

Proper. And his editorial tasks on the small paper have actually hit residence with lots of people, so why not take it on an even bigger scale? It was dangled on the market.

Yeah, I feel so too. I imply, it is arrange for it. Let’s examine what occurs.

Effectively, fingers crossed. And I can not look forward to folks to see this film. I feel you are going to get nice suggestions on it.

Effectively, thanks a lot. I actually respect it. I had a good time making it.

Remember to observe Large Sky River on Hallmark Films and Mysteries on Sunday, August 7 at 9/8c!

Edit Delete