A Key Scene in ‘Winter in Vail’ Had to Be Changed for Lacey Chabert

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Hallmark launched its 2020 Winterfest TV movie series with “Winter in Vail,” starring Lacey Chabert and Tyler Hynes. And while the movie was shot in both Colorado and Canada, one key scene had to be changed because of Chabert.

Winter in Vail premiered Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 9 p.m. Eastern (8 p.m. Central.) Encores still air, including 8 p.m. Eastern on Monday, June 28.

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The synopsis for this movie reads: “Chelsea inherits a house in Vail. She meets Owen and gets a much-needed break. Together, they put on Strudelfest to highlight the charm of Old Vail.”

A Skiing Scene Was Turned Into a Tubing Scene Because Chabert Couldn’t Ski

Director Terry Ingram had planned to have a skiing scene in “Winter in Vail.” But he had to change his plans when he realized that Chabert couldn’t ski, Vail Daily reported.

Ingram had to improvise, he said, because the mountain’s tubing area wasn’t even set up yet when they were filming.

“That’s what filmmaking is,” Ingram said. “But will we feel the flavor of Vail? Without question.”

He added that Chabert was stopped every 10 minutes or so by people in Vail who wanted to get a photo with her.

Chabert’s not the only Hallmark star who needed special accommodations because for a winter sport. For a December 2020 Christmas movie, Danica McKellar needed a stunt double because she couldn’t ice skate.

‘Winter in Vail’ Was Filmed in Vail, Colorado & in Canada

“Winter in Vail” was filmed on location in Vail, Colorado, The Know of the Denver Post reported. But many scenes were also filmed in Canada. In fact, local residents reached out to Heavy to let us know that it appeared most of the movie was filmed in Canada.

This was director Ingram’s first time in Colorado, The Know shared. The Colorado locations in the movie included a bell tower, a skating rink, the Covered Bridge, and the opening scene is near the Children’s Fountain in Vail.

Ingram told Vail Daily: “It was an absolute pleasure (to film in Vail.) Everyone was so kind, generous and open.”

Businesses from Vail were featured in the movie, and some employees from Kemo Sabe were extras. Vail Square is also featured, and local residents took photos with Chabert when they saw her.

Many scenes in the movie were also filmed in Canada, Vail Daily shared, including the Calgary area.

Brent P. and Terry S., who live in the Calgary area, noticed that most of the scenes in the movie were actually in Calgary and not Vail. Brent wrote Heavy and shared some of the locations they spotted in the filming.

Brent shared, “It’s pretty clear that about 95% of the movie was shot in and around the Calgary, Alberta, area with only a handful of establishing aerial shots (Vail and Los Angeles) and a few street scenes filmed in Vail.”

He wrote that he noticed the following locations from Canada in the movie:

• Downtown Calgary can be seen in urban exterior shots and the  Elegant Events office scenes
• Edelweiss Restaurant exterior and interiors were filmed in Bragg Creek, Alberta (30 minutes west of Calgary) at The Italian Farmhouse Ristorante & Bar (www.theitalianfarmhouse.ca)
• Uncle Grady’s chalet is a private home in Bragg Creek
• Strudelfest exterior street scenes were filmed at The Old West Mall in Bragg Creek (across the street from The Italian Farmhouse restaurant)
• Banff National Park, Alberta (1 hour west of Calgary) was featured in many exterior mountain scenes that were shot at two ski areas. This included the Gondola base station and gondola ride, which were at Sunshine Village ski resort (www.skibanff.com).
• The tubing scene was shot at Mount Norquay in Banff National Park, where you can even see the Norquay staff jackets, Brent noted. Learn more here: www.banffnorquay.com/winter-2/tubing
• Sebastian Lodge exterior and interior scenes were shot at Azuridge Estate Hotel in Priddis. Learn more about the hotel here: www.azuridgehotel.com.
• The opening scene’s Los Angeles lunch is also shot at Azuridge Estate Hotel in Priddis, Brent noted.

Heavy is very grateful to Brent and Terry for all the eye-opening details they shared with us!

The movie started filming in mid-November. This post below on November 16 was made after the first three days of filming.

Filming wrapped in early December.

Chabert shared some photos from Canada during the filming.

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos and videos from Hynes.

Meet The Cast for ‘Winter in Vail’

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Lacey Chabert stars as Chelsea. In February 2019 her movie Love Romance and Chocolate premiered, which was filmed in Belgium. She’s also the lead in Hallmark’s Crossword Mysteries, which has a new movie premiering on January 5, 2020. She recently starred in Hallmark’s Christmas in Rome and Love on Safari. Lacey is a favorite in the Hallmark universe and she frequently stars in some of their best movies. Lacey’s feature film debut was Lost in Space in 1998. Her versatile resume includes Party of Five, All My Children, Baby Daddy, A Little Piece of Heaven, What if God Were the Sun?, Moonlight in Vermont, All of My Heart, Matchmaker Santa, A Royal Christmas, The Color of Rain, Ghosts of Girlfriend’s Past, Mean Girls, Daddy Day Care, The Brooke Ellison Story, and more. Her Hallmark movies include All of My Heart, Moonlight in Vermont, The Sweetest Christmas, Matchmaker Santa, My Secret Valentine, and more.

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Tyler Hynes stars as Owen. He’s a familiar actor for Hallmark fans, having starred in Falling for You in October, Flip that Romance in March, The Mistletoe Secret in 2019 and It’s Christmas Eve in 2018. He was born in Toronto and his many acting credits include Amazon, Tagged: The Jonathan Wamback Story, The Last Sign, Camille, The Firm, Betty and Coretta, It’s Christmas Eve, UnREAL, Peace, Saving Hope, Transporter: The Series, and 19-2. He’s also a talented musician and enjoys directing, writing, and starring in indie projects.

Crown MediaSage Kitchen, Marla Renae

Sage Kitchen (above, left) stars as Molly. She is Brigitte on Fortunate Son, which is currently filming. She’s also starred as Kelly on Jann, the girl in white on I Am the Night, and a prisoner on The Thinning: New World Order.

Marla Renae (above, right) stars as Vienna North. She was Kontra on Necessary Evil in 2018, Ms. Medak on Christmas Cupcakes, and has appeared in a number of shorts.

Crown MediaGreg Lawson, Tyler Hynes, Lacey Chabert, Sage Kitchen

Greg Lawson (above, far left) stars as Karl Becker. His many credits include Heartland (Clint Riley), Black Widow (Danny), Christmas Cupcakes, Wynonna Earp (Sheriff Nedley), Damnation (Rev. Alistair Rainey), Blackstone (Teddy), Dark Hearts, Mutant World, Klondike (Goodman), Haunting Melissa, Northern Lights, When Calls the Heart (Rev. Dickenson), Wild Roses, Carolina Moon, Comeback Season, Tom Stone (Staff Sgt. Claude Pennington), In Cold Blood, The Arrangement, and more.

Crown MediaKaren Barker, Lacey Chabert

Karen Barker (above, left) stars as Bev Hankins. Her credits include Heartland, Wynonna Earp, Anatomy of a Hate Crime, A Marriage of Convenience, The Diviners, The Challengers, and more.

Crown Media Rae Farrer, Liana Shannon

Rae Farrer (above left) stars as Helen. Her credits include Realization (Beth), Burn Your Maps, Galaxy Trek, Fargo, Bluff (Marcy), Poker Girls (Marcy), and more.

Liana Shannon (above right) stars as Chef Laura. Her credits include Fortunate Son (now filming, as Mrs. Montgomery), Placebo Love Story, Jann, Hold Me, Blackstone, The Plateau, Fear Itself, and more.

Also starring in the movie are:

• Constance Marie Lopez (Trish Simmons)
• Chris Cook (Rob)
• Chantelle Han (Chef Frank)
• Lonni Olson (Ice Cream Shop Owner)
• SSE (Hans Frost)
• Miku Beer (L.A. Restaurant Waitress)

Here are some more photos from the movie.

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