When two longtime Hallmark Channel favorites — and longtime pals — staff up, an excellent time is certain available by all.
And that actually was the case for Ashley Williams and Alison Sweeney, who’ve come collectively for a pair of flicks set in Spain and debuting this month.
For To Barcelona, With Love and To Barcelona, Without end, Williams, 46, and Sweeney, 48, costar, they each government produce, they usually despatched ipromiseyoumedia a handful of lovely unique behind-the-scenes pictures from the making of the movies.
Written by Julie Sherman Wolfe (one other Hallmark favourite who additionally wrote 2024’s Vacation Landing: A Chiefs Love Story), To Barcelona, With Love, sees Sweeney as Erica, an American expat residing in Barcelona. Based on the official synopsis, Erica “interprets novels into Spanish, although her dream is to be revealed herself sometime. Anna (Williams) is the American creator of the e book Barcelona, Mi Amor that turned an enormous hit after Erica’s translation. On account of its native recognition, Anna involves Barcelona for a e book signing occasion. Her arrival not solely catches the eye of native bookstore proprietor Nico (Alejandro Tous), for whom Erica has lengthy had emotions, Anna’s look on the retailer threatens to convey to mild Erica’s secret: She took liberties along with her translation to enhance the story and infuse it with the native authenticity it was lacking. As the 2 ladies grow to be pals over the course of Anna’s go to, they finally assist one another embark on a path to seek out their true happiness.”
To Barcelona, Without end takes place 5 months later. Erica and Anna “are fortunately navigating new chapters of their lives. This time the chums discover themselves touring exterior town of Barcelona to an enthralling village the place a misunderstanding results in sudden romance for one in all them.”
Double Bother
“Attending to work with my expensive good friend in such shut capability for these initiatives in Europe was a kind of magical moments in life the place the one factor to do is concentrate on gratitude,” Williams says, describing this picture as “us wanting cute.” “We hugged one another. Rather a lot. And oh my phrase, did we chuckle. It was merely the most effective!”
Cómo Se Cube ‘Love Curiosity’?
“Alejandro Tous was a lot enjoyable to work with,” Sweeney says. “He took me significantly after I mentioned I needed to follow my Spanish with him. We spoke in Spanish off digicam (virtually) on a regular basis!”
Friendship Is Golden
“Ali requested for a pic with this magical gold ‘statue,’ and I feel everybody (together with me?) was shocked after I jumped up on his field to provide him a hug,” Williams says.
Provides Sweeney, “I used to be not anticipating Ashley to leap up on his stage with him! He was an excellent sport doing the scene with us.”
Air Time
“I cherished filming the scene within the gondola but it surely was nerve-racking to get the entire scene in a single take,” Sweeney shares. “We solely had the period of time it took to get from the launch level to the halfway level earlier than the jostling of the equipment would make the take unusable. It was enjoyable to work with such distinctive circumstances.”
Based on Williams, the expertise was additionally a bit scary: “We did scream each time the gondola shook even a tiny bit within the wind. However by some means even that was thrilling.” Nonetheless, she says, “The views have been unreal! A type of moments after we had the chance to get an actual scope of town of Barcelona. It’s large and completely stunning.”
Familia at Sagrada Família
“The primary time I noticed Sagrada Familia I really gasped,” Williams says of the biggest unfinished Catholic church on the planet, designed by architect Antoni Gaudí. It started development in 1882. “It is virtually inconceivable to absorb Gaudi’s masterful element. And the truth that it has been beneath development for therefore many a long time was an excellent metaphor for all times. I feel I’m nonetheless, in some ways, undoubtedly beneath development!”
Getting Right down to Enterprise
“Filming in Spain was actually a magical expertise,” says Sweeney. “I’m so grateful. To have director Ron Oliver lead the cost was a dream come true. He’s a implausible filmmaker. Our third AD, Anice Mateu, is giving a thumbs up on this pic, as a result of for as soon as the wind didn’t flip the umbrellas inside out. She and I have been singing Mary Poppins as a result of it saved occurring.”
“Ron Oliver is a legend,” provides Williams. “One time earlier than we have been pals I cornered him in a resort gymnasium—I knew who he was—and requested him if he would mentor a bunch of up-and-coming administrators sooner or later. He mentioned sure! Attending to collaborate with him on these films was dreamy. He is aware of find out how to shoot in Europe, he is aware of what it takes to make a humorous, romantic Hallmark film with all of the feels, and he retains us laughing the entire time.”
(Oliver additionally directed 2024’s beloved Groomsmen trilogy for Hallmark+.)
El Gran Cuarteto
“It is the dream staff!” Williams says of (from left) Miguel Brocca, Sweeney and Tous. “These boys have been the right steadiness for us and our characters in these films, they usually have been each extremely affected person with our eccentricities and desires. We could not have requested for 2 higher main males.”
Provides Sweeney: “Miguel, Alejandro, Ashley and I had a lot enjoyable attending to know one another on this venture. It was enjoyable on daily basis, and each guys introduced a lot to the roles and the film as an entire.”
It Takes an Aldea
“On the final day of filming, our Spanish manufacturing firm shocked us all with these hilarious crew shirts,” Sweeney says of the black t-shirts seen on a number of individuals on this group shot. “Just a few members of the crew have been large followers of an early film Ron had directed that was a bit extra within the horror style in order that they made a joke design with the saffron that turns into a narrative level within the second film. I like the camaraderie we developed with all of the forged and crew after virtually two months of working collectively. There have been undoubtedly tears that final day. Goodbyes are all the time so exhausting!”
“I did not know what to anticipate with a Spanish crew,” Williams admits. “I used to be apprehensive about language obstacles and completely different capturing kinds. However I’ve to let you know, I might go wherever with this crew. They have been so hardworking, type, humorous, sensible, {and professional}. I miss every one in all them. I need to convey them extra films so we are able to do all of it once more!”
To Barcelona, with Love premieres Saturday, June 7 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel, and To Barcelona, Without end premieres Saturday, June 14 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, additionally on Hallmark Channel.