Kim Matula Teases Ghosts of Christmas Always: It’s Not What Anyone is Expecting

Movies with some supernatural component are at all times a deal with, and Ghosts of Christmas Always performs like a modern-day model of A Christmas Carol.

Kim Matula stars as Katherine, a Ghost of Christmas Present, and he or she and the ghosts of Christmas Past (Lori Tan Chinn) and Christmas Future (Reginald VelJohnson) are tasked with serving to Peter (Ian Harding) rediscover his Christmas spirit.

But this case is not like all of the others, and Katherine has to work additional onerous making an attempt to determine why.

I had the prospect to leap on the cellphone with Kim to speak in regards to the film, and yow will discover our dialog, which has been edited for content material, beneath.

I’ve already had the chance to look at Ghosts of Christmas Always, and I beloved it.

Well, thanks. I’m so glad. I’m excited to look at it when it airs on Sunday.

It’s simply lovely. It’s humorous. And it is transferring. I used to be laughing out loud at one level, after which I used to be tearing up later.

Perfect. And that is what I did after I was studying the script. So then which means we did our job.

How did you get entangled with it?

The script variety of discovered me. My supervisor reached out and he or she mentioned, “Hey, you’ve got an offer to do this movie. Do you want to take a look at the script?” And I mentioned, “Yes, please.” And I learn it.

And such as you simply mentioned, I felt all of the issues that you simply simply mentioned. I used to be laughing. I used to be so pleasantly shocked to see that there was some actually good comedy. And then I used to be crying studying this script.

This is so transferring. And it was variety of a no brainer for me. I knew that I wished to be an element of it.

Are you a fan of A Christmas Carol?

I’m a fan of Christmas Carols particularly. I just like the Bill Murray Scrooge. I do know that one is not beloved by all people, but it surely’s 1000% beloved by me. And I additionally am an avid watcher of the Muppet Christmas Carol. That was a giant in my home rising up.

So what’s it wish to get to be one of the three ghosts of Christmas Eve?

I by no means thought that this was a personality that I might get to play. What an obscure alternative to play this. I simply by no means thought that I might. And it was actually enjoyable. It was actually fascinating.

I believe in case you had given me a selection — previous, current, or future — I would not have picked current as a result of, in my head, I’m like, “Oh, I get to do that all the time. I’m already in the present, but let’s do something more interesting, past or future.” But I’m so happy with what I obtained to play.

And I do know that this film was undoubtedly a unique journey than what my character was used to. So perhaps her abilities weren’t used the way in which that she usually would. But it was actually enjoyable.

It was actually enjoyable, particularly attending to do all the lovable little transitions in numerous places. I’m excited to see how these results prove within the last product.

They look fairly good. They have slightly whirring impact within the area the place they had been. And then, as they’re disappearing, there’s like slightly flutter of some type. That’s actually cute.

That sounds proper. That sounds proper. Cool. I’m excited to see it.

I used to be going to ask you which of them one you’ll have wished to play previous, current, or future. But is not it fascinating that this story does not simply tie you to your position?

It’s very true. I get to play all types of alternative ways; I get to go to the previous.

She will get to play together with the opposite ghosts, which is like, it simply does not occur.

Yeah. It’s one of the best of each worlds. I get to be two ghosts, basically.

Yeah, it was actually enjoyable.

It was actually enjoyable to do. My expectations had been met after I obtained to set. I used to be actually, actually blissful.

Well, I used to be excited as a result of I at all times assume films which have ghosts in them or angels or one thing from the previous or someone from the long run; they’re at all times simply actually enjoyable to me. So I at all times have excessive expectations. And this one, fortunately, met and exceeded my expectations, to be trustworthy.

I’m so glad to listen to that. I can not wait to see it. I imply, we had been simply such foolish giggly whereas we had been capturing this. We simply had one of the best time that I knew that it was going to be a venture that I might be excited to look at. And I’m so excited to get to see it lastly.

When the ghosts first go see Peter, he is so excited. He’s like, “Oh, it’s the ghosts!” Were these scenes enjoyable to movie? Because that is how I believe I might be. “Oh my gosh, it’s just my night. What’s going to happen?”

I do know. Because clearly, this particular person doesn’t want any assist discovering his Christmas spirit. Playing that actually variety of childlike pleasure about can now we have this enjoyable journey,’ simply accepting that this is what’s occurring and going alongside for the trip. Yeah, it was actually, actually enjoyable.

And Ian and I obtained alongside so nicely in actual life. We have lots of mutual associates, however we had by no means truly met. So getting to fulfill lastly was seeing an previous buddy. We obtained on so nicely, and I hope that that comes by as a result of, yeah, as I mentioned, we had been similar to giggly children.

It actually comes by. You each appear actually pure with one another on display screen.

Our director Rich [Newey], was actually improbable in letting us mess around with the dialogue slightly bit and letting us discover what got here naturally to us as actors and what we thought this character was considering and feeling. We did not have to stay solely to the script.

I imply, we undoubtedly caught to the script, however he allow us to play and discover slightly bit, which we by no means know in case you’re going to have the ability to try this while you get to a set. And that was actually superior.

What variety of preparation do you need to do to play a Ghost of Christmas Present?

Oh God. Well, I known as so many ghosts. [laughs] I did so many seances simply to get that ghostly perspective.

[laughs] Good for you!

Well, thanks. Thank you. I actually dabbled at the hours of darkness arts. [laughs] There wasn’t a complete lot of prep that I needed to do to be a ghost. I knew there was going to be some extra heartfelt scenes and a few humorous scenes. And I do know that I can try this.

And a lot of it is assembly the opposite actors that you simply’re attending to work with and seeing how they will play the half, after which assembly the director and seeing how he needs to shoot it. And all of it got here collectively. It all got here collectively actually properly.

So how would you describe Katherine out of your perspective?

Oh, Katherine, she’s such a candy soul. She actually is. And I believe she does not have a complete lot of expectations for her. I imply, I say life, however she was lifeless. She had already accomplished the residing half of her life and accepted the position that she was enjoying now.

Now she is the Ghost of Christmas Present. And she loves her job. She has a extremely good time doing it. She has good associates and coworkers, and he or she has accepted this actuality. And so when this very fascinating man reveals up in her life, I simply do not assume she was anticipating it.

So she actually accepts this nice shock in her life. And I believe that, generally, folks have a tough time accepting change or issues they weren’t anticipating. And she ultimately actually embraces it. And I really like that about her.

What do you want about this completely different spin on this traditional story?

This is not what anybody is anticipating. I believe everybody expects a Christmas Carol to go as deliberate. We’re going to point out you your previous and your current and your future the place you are lifeless. And then you are going to really feel dangerous, and you may study to like once more. Your coronary heart will develop three sizes just like the Grinch, however this one does not take itself too significantly.

It can deal with itself and what the story thinks the story is presupposed to be. It can variety of poke enjoyable at that, and it completely turns it on its head. The second that you simply notice that this particular person doesn’t want his Christmas spirit restored and that the Ghost of Christmas Present is now capable of tag alongside, why would she be capable to tag alongside?

And I believe from the start that one thing is going to disclose itself. And I do know after I was studying the script, I used to be so curious to search out out what that was.

So you mentioned it was a extremely enjoyable shoot, and also you had lots of room to maneuver inside the script. Did it really feel prefer it was going to be magical when you had been making it?

Yeah. I did assume it was going to be magical. And I do not precisely know why, however I knew that. I do know the units had been so stunning. I knew that our costumes had been so stunning. And I believe while you’re having enjoyable with someone that you’ve got by no means met earlier than, it is at all times a big gamble.

You go in to work on one thing new, and also you simply actually hope that you simply perceive one another, that you simply work in related methods, that your sense of humor is related; you hope all this stuff, however you may’t make certain that is at all times going to be the case.

And when it occurred, I imply, really, that in and of itself feels magical. It actually does. And so with the ability to work alongside individuals who all wished the identical great expertise, and we’re so giving as actors and as folks on the whole, they had been simply additionally beautiful to spend time with.

And that makes you wish to watch the ultimate product, that makes you wish to do it once more. We would joke, Ian and I, like we’re prepared for the sequel. We’ll signal on to do one other one simply because we had been having such a good time.

And sure, that is magical while you get all the best items collectively to create one thing, and it simply blooms. It’s one thing nice.

Is this your first Hallmark film?

Yeah, that is my first Hallmark film.

What a superb film to begin with.

I agree. I give it some thought, and I’m like, “Oh man, if I do another one, how am I going to top it?” This one was simply so nice that you simply hope the following one can be as nicely.

Will you do extra, do you assume?

I might like to. I’ve no plans to do one in the meanwhile, however I might like to.

And what are your favourite Christmas films? We already established which Christmas Carol you watch. What do you do along with your family and friends for Christmas? What films do you need to watch that make it Christmas for you?

It’s a Wonderful Life. That was one rising up that we watched on a regular basis as a household. We at all times watched It’s a Wonderful Life. So that one lives in a really nostalgic pocket of my mind, so it undoubtedly does not really feel like the vacations till I’ve watched it.

And Elf is additionally simply such a feel-good traditional. Oh, and yet another. And The Polar Express, that is a more recent movie, clearly. It got here out within the final ten years or one thing. But I learn that e-book as a toddler on a regular basis. So when the film got here out, all I needed to do was watch the trailer, and I burst into tears like, “Oh my God, it’s a movie.”

And so something that actually makes me really feel nostalgic for childhood Christmas time. I’m all in. I would like it. I find it irresistible. So that is what we’re doing.

I do know. I’m the identical manner. And I’m manner past my years, at this level, to be infantile when a Christmas factor occurs, however I can not cease myself.

That’s what the vacations do. You wish to return to that childhood time when, I imply, God, you simply keep in mind counting down the months till it could lastly be Christmas time. And now it feels, as an grownup, life strikes so rapidly, and also you blink, and it is the vacations once more.

And you are like, wow, they did not simply do that. But with the ability to return and participate in these traditions that you simply had while you had been a child, it brings again so many good reminiscences. And that is what makes the vacations so particular.

What had been some of your favourite vacation traditions?

Oh gosh. Making cutout cookies with my mother and my sister. Listening to the John Denver and the Muppets Christmas album was one other actually good one which we at all times did. And we used to drive round and take a look at Christmas lights, of course, on a regular basis. We’d all get within the automobile and take a look at Christmas lights.

We used to depend the angels the folks would put within the home windows. And in order that was at all times a factor. It was variety of like an I spy sport. “Ooh, we found another angel.” And if it was transferring, if it was an digital angel, that was even higher. You obtained extra factors for locating these angels. So each time I see an angel in a window, I at all times return to these reminiscences.

And that matches rather well along with your love for It’s a Wonderful Life.

I do know, each time a bell rings, an angel will get its wings, precisely.

You’ve obtained a complete factor going along with your Christmas. It’s all interconnected. I prefer it. And a Wonderful Life is additionally similar to the Christmas Carol.

Yeah, it is. I imply, there is a ghost displaying him what his life might be. Yeah, completely. Absolutely. And I’m a giant decorator.

I really like the vacations. And that is one thing that I obtained from my mother and father. My dad would at all times go all out on the surface of the home and my mother would go all out on the within of the home. And as me and my sister would at all times assist in any manner we may.

And I actually carried that with me as an grownup. I simply find it irresistible. I really like adorning up the surface and yearly, arising with one thing new, me and my man, we made Christmas balls to hold from our tree within the entrance yard that we made out of rooster wire. And we wrapped it with Christmas lights, and we had a pulley system of a rock on a giant extension wire.

And we pully them up onto the branches of the tree, and all of our neighbors will cease us and be like, “Wow. How did you make those? We love them.” And I really feel like that is my manner of giving Christmas spirit to folks round me.

I’m picturing you hovering over blueprints.

You’re proper. [laughs] You will not be mistaken.

Plotting the place the following decorations are going to go. And this 12 months, you have got spherical rooster wire balls. What are you able to do subsequent 12 months?

How can we high it?

That is so good.

It’s at all times about topping it for the following 12 months, the following season. We simply find it irresistible.

How early do you get began?

I like to begin adorning the week earlier than Thanksgiving or perhaps two weeks earlier than Thanksgiving. I do not activate any of the lights, however we at all times exit of city to New York for Thanksgiving.

So after we get again to our dwelling in California, I like to simply be capable to activate the lights. And now Thanksgiving is over, and it is Christmas time. So I haven’t got to scramble to get all of it accomplished earlier than December 1st. It’s already put up, and I can simply flip the lights on.

Do you invite all people over so you may have a lighting?

No, I do not, truly. I do not actually do a Christmas Vacation-style lighting ceremony.

You would possibly take into consideration that. It can be a pleasant option to spend a while with your folks.

It might be good. You’re proper. It might be.

The thought you place into it.

It’s true. I’m so kind A that I thought of having a traditional tree trimming social gathering the place my associates come over, and we would all beautify the Christmas tree collectively. But I do know that the second all of them go away, I might rearrange the ornaments. I might put some the place I would like them as a result of I’m so particular about the place they go.

You would want a second tree.

Oh, completely.

Have your predominant tree that might be yours, after which you might have one thing particular that everyone decorates. That manner, you won’t really feel like you need to change them.

Yeah. It’s a superb factor to do with all of the ornaments that do not make it onto the primary tree. I at all times find yourself with lots of ornaments that did not make the minimize and that will be good.

So what else is arising for you?

Oh my gosh. I’m very open to something proper now. I haven’t got lots arising within the pipeline, however I’m very excited for everybody to see this film.

Well, I can not wait so that you can do a second one. I’m simply saying I like my Hallmark folks to go in and make magic for me on a regular basis. All the seasons.

I do know they do not do Christmas sequels, however I might find it irresistible in the event that they did.

Have they ever accomplished a Christmas sequel? I do not know.

I do not know that they’ve. I used to be speaking to 1 of our producers; he was like, “Yeah, we don’t really do Christmas sequels.” And I mentioned, “Maybe you should rethink that.”

After you see Ghosts of Christmas Always, you may be longing for a sequel, too. Welcome Kim to the Hallmark household while you tune in to Hallmark Channel on Sunday, October 30 at 8/7, to search out one of your new Christmas favorites!

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