Kavan Smith strikes once more with one other red-hot film. He stars as Boone Taylor in Huge Sky River, a single father of two boys who’s attempting to offer 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 in regards to the film (which you’ll adore) and for some When Calls the Coronary heart chitchat. Take into account this dialog your prep work earlier than catching the premiere of Huge Sky River on Hallmark Films & Mysteries on Sunday, August 7 at 9/8c.
Huge Sky River is such a lovely film, visually and emotionally. How did you get entangled with it?
Properly, as a matter of truth, I used to be planning a trip. And anytime you propose a trip as an actor, you may virtually assure that you’ll get a job supply.
I used to be really on my laptop, nearly to pay for the flight, and I obtained a name from my agent asking if I might be serious about taking a look at this challenge.
We did not know who was hooked up first, and infrequently when that occurs, I simply assume that it will be Pascale Hutton who was hooked up to it. However on this case, they stated that wasn’t going to occur.
However then, once I came upon it was Emmanuelle [Vaugier], who I might labored with earlier than a number of years in the past on a challenge known 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 good friend of mine. When he got here on board, I am like, “That is simply going to be enjoyable. It is identical to mates getting collectively.”
Like a trip.
Yeah. Precisely, I obtained a trip out of it anyway. The one factor I used to be somewhat bizarre about was the cowboy half as a result of I am not likely a lot of a cowboy. Regardless that I come from Alberta, Canada, which is cowboy territory, and possibly it is in my DNA someplace.
However I instructed my youngsters about it, they usually’re like, “Actually? You? A cowboy?” I used to be like, “Okay, nicely, thanks to your assist. 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 will 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 quite a lot of the Hallmark motion pictures are.
Certain.
It felt to me that this was extra like about two damaged households that had been getting a second probability. 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 she or he’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 in regards to the conventional Hallmark, one man, one lady.
I actually appreciated that. I assumed that the film would both sink or swim on whether or not or not everyone would have chemistry — if we might actually join as households.
If I might join with the boys and if Emmanuelle might join with the lady, after which if we might all join collectively, this could possibly be a extremely candy and enjoyable, pure film. I have never seen it but myself. So I am hoping that is what we obtained ultimately.
Sure, positively. It was one in all my favourite Hallmark motion pictures 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 performed, I used to be like, “I actually loved this.” It did not look like a Hallmark film.
There was quite a lot of that concerned. I actually do suppose they’re branching out somewhat 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 manner.
And since it was quite a bit much less about simply boy meets lady, it was these two households, like I stated, 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 actually see if we might put some chops into this and make you are 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 discuss to them. I added some stuff that’s the manner I discuss to my youngsters. And like I stated, I have never seen it. So I do not understand how a lot of what I put in there was saved 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 will make it extra pure.
While you’re coping with youthful performers, typically it helps them calm down within the scene and simply take heed 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 positively capable of deal with a few of that. And I have never had any of that in a Hallmark challenge outdoors of this one. So I used to be actually excited to try 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, but it surely was very delicate. It was actually sort 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 strategy 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 like about Pascale, is that she does not take herself too significantly. And typically, with actors, you have to do no matter it takes to do the efficiency that you are going for. I get that. However typically, 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 she or he’s a very nice actor, and she or he’s obtained a fantastic humorousness. And people issues actually converse to me as an individual.
So I prefer it once I present as much as work, and any individual is enjoyable, dwelling within the second, does not take themselves too significantly, and is an efficient performer who can work with improvisation. She will roll with issues as a result of I wish to attempt 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 obtained alongside fairly nicely 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 seems to be like on digicam, however I felt in entrance of the digicam that there was positively chemistry. So I imply, if you happen to say it is there, then I will take your phrase for it.
And there is one explicit scene on the romantic aspect 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 might need had somewhat kiss. It was very emotional. It wasn’t coy; it was so deep. I liked it.
I keep in mind capturing that. I obtained to offer quite a lot 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 try this whereas we had been barely turning.
And I felt like, “Ugh, I do not know, turning whereas we’re attempting to have this form of tete-a-tete second.” Nevertheless it actually labored. Additionally, one of many issues that you do not get in quite a lot of these motion pictures is time. We allowed that to develop.
It wasn’t simply head in, contact, suppose, kiss, performed. It was actually sort of sluggish and sanguine. And it was actually a lovely second. I am glad you appreciated that. That was actually cool.
And it virtually got here off like a dance.
Yeah.
You stated you did not know if it will work with the turning. It labored completely.
Oh, I am so glad. It felt somewhat bizarre doing it. However as quickly as we landed from the flip, then all of it felt actually fairly pure. And I feel that if you happen to’re … It is not 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 aren’t 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.”
Lots of Hallmark motion pictures do not do 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.
Should you present individuals what you are feeling, versus telling them, it goes quite a bit additional.
It actually does. It is the identical factor in writing and issues like that. You’ll be able to inform them stuff, however you needn’t hit them over the top. The truth is, the much less you may say, the extra impactful the second normally is.
And it was the identical factor with each of you as dad and mom within the film, the best way that Boone was simply enjoying 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 quite a lot of that on this film. Not so apparent, however like delicate little issues that made it really feel somewhat extra plausible and somewhat extra actual.
Precisely. And you do not have to inform me that you just’re good dad and mom as a result of I might see it.
That is precisely what we had been going for. No person needed to say, “Oh, nicely, he is a very good dad.” You’ll be able to see him the best way he talks with the children that dads do not discuss to youngsters like that except they love them except they actually need the perfect for them.
You do not have to have any individual within the background or in one other scene say, “Oh, he is such a very good dad.” We have already proven that. Or vice versa, “She’s a fantastic stepmother,” as a result of she’s proven it. Yep. That is precisely proper.
You stated you were not a very good cowboy. Have been you really in these driving scenes?
I used to be. I did all of the driving scenes aside from the high-speed stuff. I am pretty snug on horses as a result of I’ve performed a good bit of that on When Calls, and I’ve performed some Westerns up to now. However I am getting outdated now. And my physique does not love banging round at excessive speeds.
Emmanuel is a critical rider. She is a present jumper and owns her horse, and she or he competes on a regular basis. So the director and the producers actually wished to benefit from having her on digicam at these excessive speeds, doing a little 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 pondering, “That is one thing I all the time wished to do.” I had gone on path rides and that sort of stuff rising up, however I all the time wished to have that flat-out run. And what went by my thoughts was, “Now, with my physique at this age, there is no manner. I might be on the bottom.”
The primary cellphone name I obtained from Peter was like, “Okay, sincere.” As a result of actors lie on a regular basis about what they will do. I have been requested ‘trigger I journey bikes, and I have been requested so many occasions. They’re like, “Actually? Actually? Do you actually drive a motorbike?” As a result of actors simply lie about something to get the half.
However Peter known 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, “Hear, so long as it is simply trotting round and little galloping right here and there and scenes on horses, strolling with horses, no drawback.”
Actual hardcore driving? And I already knew that Emmanuel was an actual rider, and I knew they had been going to wish to benefit from that. So I used to be like, “Hear, you are going to want to herald a cowboy if you happen to actually wish to go for it.”
And so they introduced in a fantastic man. So he was terrific. And he or she was over the moon on that day. She was all the time glad and optimistic 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 nicely.
Whoever forged her, whoever reached out to Emmanuelle, will need to have recognized 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 best way this film happened.
Okay, granted, I did not do the hardcore driving, however I felt fairly good in regards to 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 screen earlier than?
Properly, not on Hallmark. No, I’ve performed quite a lot of scruffy cabin stuff on different issues again once I was youthful.
I am unable to even keep 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 quite a lot of clean-shaven roles, however I could not discover any scruffy.
There are a couple of on the market, however yeah, quite a lot of the stuff is clean-shaven. And I’ve a ritual that once I was a child, I might undergo yearly as an actor as a result of it’s a must to look a sure manner, and also you get bored with it after some time.
So each Christmas, I might develop a beard and shave my head. After which I might normally, by February, my hair has grown again, after which I might shave my beard. And that was my little rise up.
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 somewhat extra damaged down,” like not so nervous about his seems to be and never so nervous about shaving day-after-day.
So I used to be stunned after they okayed that as a result of it isn’t all the time been Hallmark’s factor. For me, they’ve all the time red-flagged it. However this one, I used to be sort of glad. It is only a completely different look.
Yeah, I appreciated it. I appreciated it.
Thanks.
It is the one place in addition to wrinkles as a result of I’ve quite a lot 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 offers me away beside the wrinkles.
However you realize what? These sorts of salt and pepper beards look good.
Yeah. Properly-
[laughs] I do not know that ladies might pull them off, however males look actually good in them.
Yeah. Properly, thanks. Thanks.
Have you ever ever performed a sheriff earlier than?
On Eureka, I performed Deputy Andy, and he wore primarily 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 all my favourite characters that I’ve ever performed.
Nevertheless it was humorous, once 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 … ” Apart 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?
Properly, I’ve joked about this up to now. I will take the credit score, and I will 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 will be a beginning, however we each wished this within the earlier years. After which it sort of felt to me like, “All proper, nicely, 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 no less than she obtained her manner. And I am really actually glad as a result of the best way they did it’s they crimson herring-ed us some other place. 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 path, hastily, it occurs. I actually did like that. I assumed that was a enjoyable strategy to play it. And now we’ll see what occurs this yr, this season, once 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 stated out loud as they had been strolling to church that they had been okay with their lives and that every part was all proper. Then, it was not a fear. And I assumed proper then, “Okay. It is not a fear anymore. They’re going to get pregnant.”
Do not you suppose that is an odd echo as a result of that is form of the way it occurs? It is not 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 is extra sophisticated. And in that complication, it appears to me that if you lastly simply say, “You understand what, let’s cease attempting so exhausting. Let’s simply go on with our lives,” that is when it usually occurs.
It’s. And so they had been so centered 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 working the lumber mill or the sawmill. They’ve a child coming. So there’s being pregnant right here. They’re sharing this house at dwelling 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 with these two. So I feel we’re arrange for a fantastic 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 keep in mind if you happen to had been in mattress collectively.
No. And we had talked about that. There have been issues 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 must be a swing set. So, oddly sufficient, we used the church.
It is a lengthy, sophisticated technique of establishing our bed room within the church. That is why it isn’t one thing that is performed fairly often. So we’re simply restricted by what number of buildings we are able to have on the bodily set.
Properly, it labored out very well, I assumed. That is the place she instructed him she was pregnant. It was such an intimate second.
Yeah, it was so enjoyable, man. We had been enjoying it sort 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 off the bed yelling, we each thought it was actually candy. However once more, you by no means understand how these issues will find yourself, how it will work.
I can leap off the bed yelling and hope it really works. And also you simply do not know ultimately. And one of many issues that occurred was that the crew was actually having fun with it. Crews very seldom get entangled in scenes when you’re capturing 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 may inform that we had been getting someplace. I do not know. I have never seen it myself but, to be fairly sincere with you, but-
Oh, you are kidding? Kavan.
No, I have never seen it. I am somewhat superstitious about watching myself. I will admit that my ego is large enough that I take a look at the flawed issues.
Oh, I perceive that.
It is actually exhausting to observe your self. I will watch myself somewhat bit right here and there, simply to verify I am not manner off, however my ego’s large enough that I are inclined to typically fixate on the flawed factor as an alternative of efficiency. So consider one thing silly. So I choose to not. Pascale watches all of them, and she or he and her husband inform me the way it went.
Good, good. A minimum of you get an upfront there.
Precisely.
Properly, my final query for you, is there any probability that Lee may nonetheless be capable to 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 might be a fantastic match for Lee. No person has talked to me but in regards to the story arc for this yr. I am hoping to have a dialog quickly, however I feel half of what is going to add to the dynamic of the infant is for them to every have their very own world pulling at them. We set it up this manner.
So now, proceed that and have him pulled in that path, have her pulled in a special path, all whereas being in one another’s house and never with 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 somewhat directionless. I’ve struggled with that personally, as an actor. I’ve saved asking to have some path.
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 path 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 data 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 following.
So I hope that we set up some sort of interior path. 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 somewhat bit as a person.
He is nonetheless a robust marriage, good husband. He will be a very good 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 duties on the small paper have actually hit dwelling 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.
Properly, fingers crossed. And I am unable to watch for individuals to see this film. I feel you are going to get nice suggestions on it.
Properly, thanks a lot. I actually respect it. I had a good time making it.
Remember to observe Huge Sky River on Hallmark Films and Mysteries on Sunday, August 7 at 9/8c!
Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a workers author and critic for TV Fanatic. She’s a member of the Critic’s Alternative Affiliation, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of tv and movie with anybody who will hear. Comply with her on Twitter and e-mail her right here at TV Fanatic.
