Tyler Hilton Shares the Appeal of When Christmas Was Young, Working with Karen David

This Sunday, musical artist Tyler Hilton stars in a CBS unique vacation movie, When Christmas Was Young, with Fear the Walking Dead star Karen David.

Luke Dawson’s profession is at risk, and he can solely reserve it by getting the recording rights to a Christmas ballad for his solely consumer, Lindsay Wyatt. The drawback is the unique singer, Melody, is resistant to his cocky attraction.

Can Melody present Luke the true which means of Christmas, or will he educate her to imagine in her goals once more?

We chatted with Tyler about the enchantment of this vacation movie, working with Karen, and his favourite vacation traditions.

Hi Tyler. I cherished your film. One of the in style themes for Holiday movies this 12 months was a singer creating a success music and somebody visiting a small city to understand the true which means of Christmas. Why do you assume this theme resonates with viewers?

It resonates with me too, and I could not guess why. There’s one thing about visiting a small city, and a small city does Christmas properly. Maybe it is the quaintness of it, however there’s nothing like returning to a small city at Christmas. We all do it one way or the other after we return residence.

Christmas looks like a time after we return to our roots or origins. But it is like a check-in with who we have been, who we’re beneath, and whom we try to be proper now. Christmas is like that nice check-in with the bigger walk-through of our life for one thing, and one thing about returning residence in small-town sums that up.

And what do you assume is so in style about singers creating songs and Christmas films this 12 months?

I did not know there have been different films doing that, however Christmas songs are unbelievable and will let you get in contact with that aspect of you that is weak sufficient to jot down or uncover a Christmas music inside you. There’s one thing about Christmas music that will get to us all. If you are going to watch anyone discover that, that is wonderful.

In our film, the path to discovering the music may also be like discovering your self and turning into in contact with your self.

Absolutely. And why did this challenge enchantment to you?

The director, Monica Mitchell, is a pal of mine, and she or he’s cool, and she or he’s one of these folks I needed to work with once more, and I like displaying off for her. If you’ve gotten a director, you need to exhibit extra, you do higher, and she or he’s unbelievable.

I like being round her, and it elevates me, and I can strive new stuff, and if it does not work, she’ll inform me, which solely occurs sometimes. Monica was a giant half of it. And then Sheryl Crow and I was labelmates on Warner Brothers and at residence with her a number of occasions in Nashville once I lived there.

I’m an enormous fan, and our music is tremendous comparable. So, for Cheryl to be doing one thing that Monica was directing was such a shoo-in for me. I needed it so unhealthy.

That is smart. And what was it like working with Karen David?

Oh, it was nice. If you do not know somebody earlier than you are going to co-star with them, lots is constructing as much as the second you meet as a result of that is going to be the individual you are hunkered down with for the subsequent month or so. As quickly as I met her, I knew we might be pals eternally.

I texted my spouse and instructed my household I couldn’t have lucked out extra with this co-star. We have an identical background; she was a musician, signed, had a single, and toured. She acquired off that prepare sooner than I did, began performing, has finished so properly with it, and has finished a ton of musicals.

Only a number of folks I work with know that have I’ve been via the place you come at it from the musician aspect first after which transition into the performing, however she did. I did the music factor for thus lengthy that I nonetheless really feel like an outsider on a movie or TV set.

Even although I’ve finished many films and TV reveals, I’ve made much more music, and all my household was musicians.

I grew up doing it, so typically I point out when working with somebody, I’m going to be just a little rusty. I’m primarily a musician on the highway, and Karen knew what I meant. I by no means thought of whether or not I ought to do that or if one thing seemed dumb round her. I by no means thought that round her.

I simply did no matter got here to my mind, and also you solely do this with anyone you are feeling tremendous comfy with. And so, I used to be so relieved, particularly for somebody like me, who does not go from set to set, like she does, and I acquired to be with somebody so cool and understanding.

Yes, you guys have been lots of enjoyable. Without spoiling a lot, how do you assume Melody and Luke performed off one another?

This film jogs my memory of the basic rom-com from basic Hollywood the place somebody’s like a stick in the mud, they usually cannot get alongside. Many Cary Grant films are like that too, which is humorous. There was one thing about liking one another in individual however attending to play annoying to her that I cherished. It was simply a lot enjoyable to do.

Once we discovered our groove, she’d name me cheeky after so many takes. She would let me go for it, and I’d be so annoying and impolite. She gave it proper again, and it was so humorous and reverse from our vibes in actual life, however it was enjoyable. It allowed us to dive proper in and have enjoyable with it.

And what was it like so that you can work together with the relaxation of the solid?

It was nice. Everybody in the solid was skilled, and I wanted to maintain my sport elevated the complete time, which is the best-case state of affairs. I at all times felt if I might be the dumbest or least gifted, or least skilled individual in a bunch. I’ve finished a wonderful job getting there and realized a lot.

There was one thing about this film that was totally different to me than the different TV Christmas films I’ve seen yearly, the ones they make like 100 of on many channels. This had a way more elevated vibe. The solid was so gifted, and possibly ought to have had my half or a greater half, however it helped me develop into a greater actor.

The Wardrobe was fabulous and costly. The complete factor felt like a giant necessary challenge whereas we have been over there; typically, it felt totally different. But that went to the actors, and we collaborated proper after the scene, evaluating notes on new issues to strive.

I would not ask that of those who I did not belief, however I used to be acutely aware about everyone on there. I might be trustworthy with them and be weak.

That’s nice. And what are some of your favourite vacation traditions?

I like these items that you simply get in an envelope on the tree, and then you definately open it, and it is a scavenger hunt or a clue that goes to love one other envelope someplace. That’s my favourite. I do not even care what’s at the finish of it. The first time that occurred to me, I used to be most likely like 9 or ten, and what was at the finish of It was my first guitar.

I acquired a bicycle that manner typically, so there have been good presents at the finish of one thing like that. But one thing about the build-up that feels so magical, and I like that stuff.

And since this was a musical vacation movie, what’s your favourite Christmas music, and what reminiscences does it carry?

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas is my favourite. There’s one thing unhappy and blissful about it. I’ve recorded it and acquired to sing in lots of stunning locations with stunning folks and collaborate lots. I like that music and singing it.

When Christmas Was Young airs at 8:30/7:30c and eight pm PST on Sunday, December 18, on CBS and can stream on Paramount +.

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