Personal Narrative: My Role On Edgemont

delighted to see Oklahoma! or Hamilton, there are aspects of every show that draw audiences

If you are a fan of Hallmark’s “When Calls the Heart,” or if you have seen a couple recent Hallmark films in which a “snobby, rich guy” never seems to win the heart of his presumed intended, you may be quite familiar with the masterful, young actor, Marcus Rosner. Though he seems to be typecast as the “bad guy,” or the “guy who never gets the girl,” there is no denying that this dashing and delightfully gifted actor is rising quickly in the hearts and minds of loyal Hallmark aficionados. Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Marcus about “most things Hallmark” as well as his upcoming film, “Appetite For Love.”

I think this was your first time to work with Andie MacDowell. What was it like working with her? Any behind-the-scenes stories?

I know you 're a Heartie and as you know, I am a Heartie too. So a few stayed and came to our Home & Family taping. There were a few others that came to that show too. We actually had our first meeting and started putting it together at the Home & Family taping. I 'm really excited. I was also able to introduce some of them to our executive producer Dan Paulson and also to Bill Abbott, who is the president and CEO of Crown Media. So we have their full blessing and I just think it 's wonderful. You know, it 's not just our show. We 're a network that has the heart of TV. Hallmark is really a network that embodies that. It 's not just our show and doesn 't just belong to the people who work behind the scenes--the cast and crew. It belongs to you guys too. You 're the ones who are creative, and you share it with others. You watch it with us and you interact with us. You tell us what you like and what you don 't like so we can fine-tune it. It 's a joint effort, and to me, that the most fun part about what I do. I love acting, but being able to share it and have it come full circle with the viewers and then get to know everybody is one of my favorite parts of what I do. It 's become a perfect dream of what I always hoped it would be.

I joined crew and painted sets, worked the curtains, helped the prop master, and was a stage hand. I did not audition until the fall of my junior year for A Christmas Carol. I received the part of the Ghost of Christmas Future and caroler. Then in the spring I auditioned and was given the role of Emily Parrish in Phantom of the Soap Opera the Musical. I also started auditioning for shows at Muncie Civic Theatre and got into The Little Mermaid Jr. and Once on this Island Jr. both in which I was chorus. Each time I stepped on that stage I experienced the same thrill. The same rush of jittery ecstasy that I experienced for Romeo and Juliet. I was addicted.

You've mentioned that you would love to convince Hallmark to do some kind of musical movie. So many of the actors and actresses have incredible song/dance talents. Any chance this might be in the works? How can the fans help something like that to happen?

My 20time is on running. In sixth grade I tried out for track, hoping I will be fast enough and would make it. But it didn't turn out that way. It was at lunch with all my friends when I checked the track website and didn't see the name, Carly Jakob, on the list. I was so shocked i started bawling my eyes out. After this traumatizing day I made a goal that I will make the track team when i'm in eighth grade. To do this I knew I had to make many drastic changes. I changed my diet to proper eating habits, and learned facts about form and technique that would help me get through the horrifying try outs and right onto the team.

“All the work that we did paid off, and that feeling was incredible,” said Angie Chacko, the group’s public relations officer. She said that winning the Hallmark awards, “was more rewarding than anything.”

Have you ever heard of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air. The show aired in the early and mid 1990s and was very popular. It was a big hit then and is a big hit with me now. I started watching it when i was 8 land liked how funny it was and also liked the storyline.

"It's funny, a friend of mine was producing it, he called me up and he said, "Lori, I need your help. I want to try to sell this into a series." There are people at Hallmark who I love, like Bill Abbott, the president. I have a fan in Bill and I'm so thankful for that. This producer knew that. He was like, "I want to put you in this show because I need a name to help me sell it into a series. If it goes into a series, you can have the option of being a part of it." I went in and I worked the show for literally one day, and then it went to series."

My friend Simon (not his real name either) had gotten a central role, and Eric and Donnie had small parts. I could easily be stuffed in a corner. As it was a very low budget made for T.V. serial, I wound up helping out more behind the scenes then in them.

So without spoiling anything, you get a little taste of what's to come just from the little bit that Hallmark has already released. They've teased the idea that Elizabeth's job is at stake. And getting to show this stronger side of Elizabeth as she fights to do the thing she's really meant to do and is called to do.... that was a really powerful storyline to get to play. Lots

It is these three, however, who absolutely make the film what it is. Such unparalleled acting and interactions between Lucas, Rachael and Travis. No, it's not the "three stooges," for these three tell a much more compelling story and give stunningly impressive performances that far supersede the antics of those superb comedians from another era. While the story does involve a love triangle, Hallmark's writers seem to avoid the pitfalls we sometimes witness when viewing films that revolve around that particular issue. In fact, jealousy doesn't even seem to be the dilemma between the two young men. At least, not jealousy over the young lady's affections.

If you are like me, Hallmark's "Countdown to Christmas" is a tradition that is almost required viewing in my household. Last year, Candace Cameron-Bure starred Journey Back to Christmas, one of their most popular and most-watched films. My mother is not a fan of time travel tales, but this wasn't your typical time travel story. It is a sweet romance featuring a gripping saga that demonstrates what is genuinely paramount in this world--true love. Additionally, it emphasizes how vital everyone is in this world, and each of us has a very special purpose for our lives that touch scores of individuals both in our lifetime and beyond. Recently, Hallmark Publishing began publishing books based on a few of their popular Christmas movies, and Leigh Duncan happens to be the first published author with them. Because of this auspicious event, I gleefully jumped at the opportunity to ask Leigh a few questions about herself, her books, and most noteworthily, her work with Hallmark.

After the premiere of The Christmas Cure on the Hallmark Channel's annual "Christmas in July" programming, I contacted a few of the actors who were involved with the film. Steve Byers is the male lead for this delightful offering, and now that Christmas is upon us yet again and this film is currently getting plenty of air time, I am honored to finally bring you my interview with an actor who is certainly no stranger to Hallmark Christmas films amongst other well-known programming. {You may notice that Steve does an exhilarating--ahem--sense of humor, so readers may want to take some of his statements with a grain of salt :) }