Interview with Carlo Marks on A Season to Blossom: The Apple Orchard, the Kisses, and Living the Dream
A Season to Blossom premieres on Hallmark on Saturday, April 4th and will be on Hallmark+ on Easter Sunday. We got to sit down for an interview with the very charming Carlo Marks during a press junket to talk all things Max, apple orchards, gummy bear cough cures, and yes, the smooch-o-meter.
We’re publishing a mini episode featuring our clips from the interview, and you can also watch the full press junket video below. But first, here are a few of our favorite moments from the conversation.
Listen to Girls Gone Hallmark’s Interview with Carlo Marks
Max the Apple Farmer — And What Carlo Sees in Him
When we asked Carlo to tell us about his character Max, he immediately connected to something personal. Max comes from a long line of apple farmers but he’s also hungry to branch out and build something of his own, specifically a cider business.
“That idea of holding on to your lineage and what your family does, while at the same time making it your own and going out into the world on your own — I really relate to that,” Carlo told us. He grew up in community theater, so performing has always been part of his DNA, but he took it a step further into the wider world.
What He Brought to the Role That Wasn’t on the Page
We asked Carlo if there was anything he brought to Max that existed off the page.
“A sense of humor,” he said without hesitation. “Whether it makes it to the screen or not, that’s something I’m trying to bring to any character I do. I think that’s so important, on screen and off screen, to just be having fun.”
(For what it’s worth — it comes through. Max is a genuinely fun character to watch.)
His Theater Background and What It Means for His On-Camera Work
Carlo has a theater background and has also stepped behind the camera as a director. We asked how those experiences inform his work on Hallmark films.
“When you have a play, the characters are so well-rounded,” he said. “You don’t always get that in film and TV because the lines are quicker, scenes are quicker. Theater teaches you to really flesh out who these people are. There’s a lot that’s not on the page, but that’s hinted at in the writing. That’s something you can bring.”
The Gummy Bear Story (You’ll Want to Hear This One)
Eric from Hallmark Mysteries and More asked if there were any Easter eggs to look for in the film, and he immediately launched into a behind-the-scenes gem instead. During a pivotal scene in the bookstore where Emily (who plays Elise) has a big speech, Carlo got hit with an uncontrollable coughing fit right in the middle of her coverage.
“I couldn’t stop coughing for like 15 minutes,” he said. Eventually, a craft services team member who was also a singer shared her remedy: melt down 15 gummy bears and drink them. The gelatin coats your throat and stops the cough.
“She melted them down for me. I had this insane sugar rush, but it worked.”
Keep an eye on that bookstore scene. You might catch something.
On the Smooch -o- Meter
If you’ve listened to GGH for any amount of time, you know about our smooch-o-meter. We let Carlo in on the secret during our time together, and naturally he wanted to know: what makes a kiss rank higher or lower?
Our answer: “Sometimes it’s not a nameable quality. You just know it when you see it.”
What we can tell you is that A Season to Blossom is going to score well. Carlo and Emily’s chemistry is palpable, and when we told him the kisses were particularly swoony, he genuinely seemed thrilled (and a little surprised in the best way.)
Living the Dream?
We wrapped our portion of the interview with a big-picture question: Is this the dream? Is young Carlo’s mind blown by where he ended up?
“If I could go back 10, 20 years, I think my mind would be blown that I am where I am and doing what I love, getting the chance to do that,” he said. “So that’s always a good thing to keep in mind.”
He also offered up what he described as the best piece of advice he’s ever received, something he says he has to keep relearning: this too shall pass. Nothing is permanent. Your thoughts don’t dictate your life. Hold things lightly.
Honestly, pretty solid advice whether you’re an apple farmer navigating a complicated reunion or just a person watching a Hallmark movie on Easter Sunday.
Watch the Full Carlo Marks Interview
We’re Your New Hallmark Besties
Hey there! We’re Girls Gone Hallmark! Megan’s a longtime Hallmark movie fan, while Wendy – well, she used to be a Hallmark hater. Now, we’ve teamed up to share our (often very different!) takes on these films. Get ready for some lively, fun-filled conversations!
Check out the library of Hallmark movies we’ve reviewed!
