Kat Harlton
Erin Agostino & David Lafontaine star in “Christmas Masquerade” a new, original movie premiering November 6 (7PM ET), on UPtv as part of the network’s Most Uplifting Christmas Ever programming event.
Erin portrays Julieanne who is mistaken for her glamorous boss at a Masquerade ball by a notoriously aloof businessman, and continues the ruse over Christmas. Will she be able to find real love in the makeshift Fairytale world they’ve created?
I had the opportunity to chat with Erin about her role, what she hopes the audience connects with and what’s next.
Kat: You’re in an exciting new holiday movie, how did you prepare for the role? Did you find any similarities between yourself and your character?
Erin: Well first I read the script over and over again and then I take a very analytical approach. Lots of writing down thoughts, questions and intentions. I write out a lot of my characters actions too, ‘when a character says something to me, I respond by doing’.. It’s a big nod to the Warner Laughlin technique. I find you can really get to know a character by their actions and reactions rather than what they’re actually saying. I’ll also create a full timeline. Always helpful with these type of shoots because they’re often quick and shot out of sequence. Right before we start I’ll have pages and pages of hand written notes, thoughts, memories, actions about the character and then on day one of production I throw it all away. I tend to never reference it again and instead trust that she’s in there and try to be as present and malleable as possible on set. It’s a very ‘right’ and ‘left’ brain approach.
When it comes to similarities between myself and Julianne I would say that we are both hard workers, we’re both a little awkward haha, both creative and dreamers.
Kat: Was there anything about your role that was particularly challenging?
Erin: Well it was actually my first time playing a mother. I myself am not one, yet.. so I really wanted to honour all the moms out there. I felt like that was a huge weight on my shoulders, I didn’t want to let them down. I love that Julianne really expresses that being a mom is hard and exhausting and isn’t so quick to glamorize it. But you also get a chance to see the unconditional love between mother and daughter and even despite all the sacrifices Julianne has made, you know that she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Kat: What were some of your favorite scenes to shoot and why?
Erin: Well getting dressed up in a ball gown and going to a masquerade ball is a pretty good day at the office. But funny enough one of my favourite scenes was when Michael (played by David Lafontaine) shows Julianne the gardens of Vitania. It wasn’t a scene that necessarily jumped out at me when reading the script but there was just something special about that moment. The sun was setting, it was freezing, we were in a time crunch chasing the light but when our director yelled action we stopped shivering and entered a beautiful state of flow. I love it when you don’t have any expectations and scenes just get to surprise you.
Kat: Feel-good movies are more popular now than ever, what message do you hope fans take away from these types of movies?
Erin: I think after the last couple of years everyone can do with a little more joy in their lives. Sure life is never going to be that simple but why can’t we be entertained by the thought of it. Maybe feel-good movies are little reminders that we can all strive for a version of happily ever after in our own lives.
Kat: Do you have a favorite holiday movie?
Erin: I’m a huge old Hollywood enthusiast! My father and I used to sit for hours watching every film noir or classic film we could get our hands on. In doing so I became a big Jimmy Stewart fan and would have to say my favourite holiday film would be, It’s a Wonderful Life. But I’ll throw in Rudolph the 1964’s stop-motion version too. I honestly don’t go a year without watching it haha. I love a humble Bumble!
Kat: Do you or your family have any special holiday traditions?
Erin: Christmas has always been a huge deal in my family because it’s a moment where we can all be together. As kids, my parents went above and beyond. They always created this special feeling that would be present the entire month of December. We would order pizza every Christmas Eve and read the polar express before leaving out carrots and cookies that would turn into crumbs by the morning. Also boot prints and snow ended up appearing all over our house that next day too (our Santa was a little messy). Now these traditions continue with my niece and we get to re-live the magic all over again.
Kat: What’s next?
Erin: I just wrapped a thriller that I’m really excited about with Vortex Media that will air in 2023.
Connect With Erin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinblaira