Actor Carlo Marks (“Chesapeake Shores”) chatted about his new Hallmark movie “The Wedding Veil Inspiration.”
Terry Ingram directed it from a script by Betsy Morris, inspired by the book “There Goes the Bride” by Lori Wilde.
Aside from Marks, it stars Autumn Reeser, Alison Sweeney, Lacey Chabert, and Kacey Rohl. It will premiere on Saturday, January 14, 2023, as part of the network’s “New Year, New Movies” programming event.
In the second movie of this sequel trilogy, Emma (Autumn Reeser) is sticking to her five year plan, as Paolo (Paolo Bernardini) prepares to open a lace shop in Chicago with his cousin Matteo (Carlo Marks).
On track to assume a promotion to department chair, Emma feels strongly that things fall into place before she and Paolo can consider growing their family; however, Paolo worries that that day may never come. When a crisis at home calls Paolo back to Italy, the couple must navigate busy schedules to make time for each other from afar.
Missing Paolo, Emma bumps heads with Nancy (Lynda Boyd), the current chair of her department and begins to question her life choices. Thankfully, she has frequent calls, texts and visits with Tracy (Alison Sweeney) and Avery (Lacey Chabert), who seem to know her better than she knows herself.
She also has a friend in her smart and quirky teacher’s aide, Lily (Kacey Rohl), who provides Emma with a novel opportunity to get people excited about art, but it might mean giving up everything she’s worked for.
Meanwhile, Emma cannot help but notice a spark between Lily and Matteo – who both happened to be touching the veil when they met. As Emma tries to get Lily to trust her heart, she must find the courage to stop planning her own dream life and start living it.
“It was a lot of fun,” he admitted. “Obviously, the whole cast knew each other but I was coming in fresh as the new guy.”
He had great words about Paolo Bernardini, who plays his cousin. “Paolo has a lot of energy, but I liked him. Working with him was so great,” he said with a sweet laugh.
“Kacey is a tremendous actor, she is new to Hallmark but she fit in perfectly and she has a unique sense of humor. It was lovely working opposite her. Autumn Reeser is lovely and a grounded human being.”
He noted that “Chesapeake Shores” was six years of his life. “It was fun and it was nice to come back to it each year,” he said. “It was in the most beautiful location in the world, where I happen to be from. It felt like going home, it was such a gift.”
On being an actor in the digital age, Marks said, “It doesn’t make a difference to me. The camera is still the same camera. It changes more as a viewer and as a consumer, you have so many options it’s overwhelming. As an actor, you are connecting with other human beings. The industry has changed more than the art.”
For young and aspiring actors, he said, “Do it whenever and wherever you can, and take every opportunity to do it. Have fun doing it no matter what it is. That’s my advice.”
On the title of the current chapter of his life, Marks said, “Halfway There.”
Regarding his definition of the word success, he said, “Being happy no matter where you are and what is going on outside of you. That’s the ultimate success. Superficial success is being able to eat, have shelter, and take care of the people that you love.”
To learn more about Carlo Marks, follow him on Instagram.
