Tag: Kat Barrell

  • Kat Barrell and Tyler Hynes show off their roller disco moves in new movie

    Kat Barrell and Tyler Hynes show off their roller disco moves in new movie

    Kat Barrell and Tyler Hynes get to show off their skating moves in the new Hallmark rom-com Shifting Gears, which premieres this weekend as part of the Spring Into Love lineup.

    In a short Instagram video, Hynes and Barrell show off some impressive moves on the roller rink. Hynes, who posted the clip, also teased co-star Kristin Booth.

    “If you close your eyes and listen carefully…you can still hear @kristintbooth falling in that roller rink,” Hynes wrote in the caption.

    Booth replied with, “@tyler_hynes bahahahaha!! It was quite the fall but worth it to get all that delicious bts footage!

    New movie

    In Shifting Gears, Barrell plays mechanic Jess Barro, who runs a garage with her father (played by James Burke). Business is tight thanks to competition from a big auto repair shop chain in town. When she finds out about an auto restoration competition, she enters in the hope of winning the prize money.

    But she’s shocked to discover that she will be competing with her ex-boyfriend Luke (played by Tyler Hynes). As the competition revs up, Jess and Luke’s personal rivalry becomes a big hit with the audience and producers alike. After a few misfires, they work through their former relationship and start to bond again over their shared love of classic cars.

    “As they speed toward the finish line, Luke has a disastrous painting mishap that threatens to ruin Jess’ chances of winning,” reads a synopsis. “And when she learns his dad plans to buy her family’s garage, she suspects the painting disaster was sabotage rather than an accident. Will their relationship break down again and be beyond repair, or will they be able to restore it and jump-start their romance once again?”

    A family affair

    Hynes has had a blast posting footage from the set. In another video, he showed his nieces visiting him behind the scenes.

    “Lonely guy,” he wrote in the caption. “Family shows up at work. For the first time ever.”

    He was clearly thrilled to see his nieces, Haylie and Ella, and show them around the set.

    “Now they don’t answer my calls,” he joked.

    He also posted a tribute to his mother (which can be viewed here) when she came to visit.

    “Her love of going to the movies, which she passed to me, is surpassed only by her love of seeing them being made,” he wrote.

    Make Her Mark

    Shifting Gears was directed by Crystal Lowe (yes, of Signed, Sealed, Delivered fame) as part of Hallmark’s Make Her Mark directing program. Initiated by Ashley Williams, the program allows aspiring female directors to work with experienced women filmmakers on Hallmark movies.

    Lowe has posted regularly from the set, thanking just about everyone who worked on the film.

    “I’m so stoked that I can finally share the journey of directing with all of you!” she wrote in an Instagram post. “This was the beginning!! Meet @scott891 one of the other producers on #shiftinggears who held my hand during the stress and excitement of prep! Prepare yourselves to come on the journey with me and meet all of the incredible people that made this movie happen!!”

  • Tyler Hynes, Kat Barrell, and Kristin Booth to star in new movie directed by Crystal Lowe

    Tyler Hynes, Kat Barrell, and Kristin Booth to star in new movie directed by Crystal Lowe

    Four of Hallmark’s favorite stars are collaborating on a new movie. Tyler Hynes, Kat Barrell, Kristin Booth, and Crystal Lowe announced they have finished shooting Shifting Gears, a new Hallmark romance that will premiere in March.

    Lowe directed the movie as part of Hallmark’s Make Her Mark directing program, a new initiative to make movies with women directors. In an Instagram post, Lowe thanked fellow Hallmark star Ashley Williams, who created the program.

    “This woman!!!” she wrote in the caption. “@ashleywilliamsandcompany chose me to the the first recipient of the Make her Mark initiative. A project that took her five years to make happen. I am in awe of her tenacity, drive, talent and most importantly her light. She literally shines from the inside out.”

    New movie

    In Shifting Gears, Kat Barrell plays mechanic Jess Barro, who runs a garage with her father (played by James Burke). Business is tight thanks to competition from a big auto repair shop chain in town. When she finds out about an auto restoration competition, she enters in the hope of winning the prize money.

    But she’s shocked to discover that she will be competing with her ex-boyfriend Luke (played by Tyler Hynes). As the competition revs up, Jess and Luke’s personal rivalry becomes a big hit with the audience and producers alike. After a few misfires, they work through their former relationship and start to bond again over their shared love of classic cars.

    “As they speed toward the finish line, Luke has a disastrous painting mishap that threatens to ruin Jess’ chances of winning,” reads a synopsis. “And when she learns his dad plans to buy her family’s garage, she suspects the painting disaster was sabotage rather than an accident. Will their relationship break down again and be beyond repair, or will they be able to restore it and jump-start their romance once again?”

    Lowe praised both stars in Instagram posts.

    “#hynies you are in for a treat!!” she wrote. “A @tyler_hynes movie told through the female gaze. Hopefully you enjoy!”

    In another post showing Barrell in her costume, Lowe wrote, “This is @katbarrell if you’re looking for the epitome of grace and power….that’s Kat. Showed up every day ready to play in the work, shine in her beauty and make us all laugh. Thank you Kat for being such an incredible leading lady!”

    Tyler Hynes and his dog had fans cracking up during a recent Facebook Live appearance to promote the new Hallmark movie A Picture of Her. (Image: Hallmark Media)

    Make Her Mark

    Former Hallmark CEO Wonya Lucas announced the launch of its Make Her Mark program in 2022 at the Television Critics Association Summer Tour.

    “Hallmark is a brand built around giving to and connecting with others, and the Make Her Mark program is our gift of opportunity experience, coaching, and guidance for such deserving and talented women in our field,” Lucas said. “I hope one day, when she accepts her Emmy or Peabody or Oscar, that she fondly remembers that Hallmark Media gave her that first shot…and then she pays it forward.”

    The first movie in the series premiered as part of the 2023 Countdown to Christmas lineup. Dream Moms starred Tamera Mowry-Housley as a stay-at-home mom who gets a second chance at Broadway stardom. The movie was directed by Jessica Harmon, who was shadowed by Crystal Lowe.

    Signed, Sealed, Delivered

    Lowe was joined on the set by her Signed, Sealed, Delivered co-star Kristin Booth, who also appears in Shifting Gears.

    “This woman,” Lowe wrote. “Through thick and thin and ups and downs my @kristintbooth one of the stars of #shiftinggears.”

    Booth responded in the comments section with, “God I love you! I am so dang proud of you. You set your sights on your dream of directing many years ago and I was witness to both the conception of that dream and the birth!! I’m so honored to have been by your side and to watch you soar!! Can’t wait to see what you do next Wonder Woman!!”

    Fans of Signed, Sealed, Delivered are still waiting to hear when they can expect a new installation in the series. At a recent press event, Hallmark exec Lisa Hamilton-Daly told a Variety reporter to “standby” when she was asked about a new Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

    “The Signed, Sealed, Delivered fans are all over me every day,” said Hamilto-Daly, who is executive vice president of programming at Hallmark Media. “I love it, I hear them.”

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  • Best friends find romance and Christmas magic in new Hallmark movie

    Best friends find romance and Christmas magic in new Hallmark movie

    Cindy Busby and Kat Barrell play best friends who take a Christmas-themed road trip in the new Hallmark movie Everything Christmas. Along the way, they also meet two eligible bachelors and a man who may or may not be the real Santa Claus.

    The film, which will premiere as part of the network’s Countdown to Christmas lineup, also stars Corey Sevier and Matt Wells.

    New Hallmark movie

    In Christmas Everything, Cindy Busby plays LJ, a Christmas-obsessed woman who has finally planned a trip to the town of Yuletide Springs. She and her grandmother always wanted to take part in the town’s tradition of making a wish while placing an ornament on the town’s Christmas tree.

    She asks her best friend, Tory (played by Kat Barrell) to come with her. Tory, who is so obsessed with work that she can barely think about the holidays, agrees to come along.

    As they make the journey, they cross paths with a very friendly town Santa named Kris Kringle (played by George Masswohl), who seems to have a magical ability to appear whenever they need help.

    They also meet Zach (Corey Sevier), a tow truck driver whose passion for everything Christmas rivals LJ’s, and Jason (Matt Wells), who helps Tory see that there is more to life than work.

    About the cast

    Cindy Busby portrayed Ashley Stanton in the CBC series Heartland. She has also appeared in The Vampire Diaries, Supernatural, and The Secret Circle.

    From 2014 to 2015 she portrayed Rebecca Jennings on the Hallmark series Cedar Cove. She also appeared in the Hallmark series the Hailey Dean Mysteries alongside Kellie Martin and Viv Leacock.

    She has starred in more than 20 romantic comedies, including the Hallmark movies Unleashing Mr. Darcy (2016), Royal Hearts (2018), Marrying Mr. Darcy (2018), Wedding March 5: My Boyfriend’s Back (2019), A Godwink Christmas: Meant For Love (2019), Love in the Forecast (2020), Romance in the Air (2020), Follow Me to Daisy Hills (2020), Hearts Down Under (2020), Chasing Waterfalls (2021), Marry Me in Yosemite (2022), Crown Prince of Christmas (2022), and Love in Zion National Park: A National Park Romance (2023).

    Kat Barrell

    Kat Barrell played Joy Harper on the Hallmark series Good Witch. She also starred on the TV shows Workin’ Moms, Star Trek: Discovery, and Wynonna Earp. She has starred in the Hallmark movies A Nutcracker Christmas (2016), A Godwink Christmas: Miracle of Love (2021), and A Tale of Two Christmases (2022).

    She also directed the Countdown to Christmas movie Flipping For Christmas, which starred Marcus Rosner and Ashley Newbrough.

    “It was amazing,” Barrell said during a social media appearance. “It was all-consuming between the directing and the trying to be present with my family. It was a mad dash for the past two months but we did it.”

    Everything Christmas will premiere on the Hallmark Channel on Friday, November 10 at 8/7c.

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