Jill Wagner Talks Thriller 101: Killing Time, Religion in Movie, and Really feel-Good Films

Spoilers

We had absolutely the please of chatting with the stunning Jill Wagner in anticipation of Sunday’s installment of the Thriller 101 film sequence on Hallmark Films & Mysteries.

We have been large followers of Jill, protecting her work Teen Wolf and now throughout the Hallmark household of networks.

Thriller 101: Killer Timing is the BEST installment of this franchise but, and Jill and her co-star, Kristoffer Polaha, are giving it all the pieces they have as Amy and Travis examine a sequence of recent incidents associated to a different surprising thriller.

Discover out extra about it under, and test again with TV Fanatic quickly to meet up with Kris, as effectively.

It is so good to satisfy you.

It is good to satisfy you too.

I’ve loved watching you for thus lengthy, and it is thrilling to get an opportunity to speak with you lastly.

Aww, thanks.

Completely. I used to be protecting you even approach again on Teen Wolf, which appears so way back now.

Completely completely different protection. You’ve got acquired the serial killer-vampire and now Hallmark.

I’ve to be trustworthy. I like your Hallmark model quite a bit higher.

Yeah. I believe my grandma would most likely have stated the identical factor.

I bear in mind she used to look at me as a result of I did a variety of type of darker stuff, and he or she was at all times like, “I simply do not assume I would be watching Teen Wolf except it was for you,” however she for positive cherished all of my lighter stuff higher as a result of she was like, “That is extra you, that is extra your persona.” I used to be like, “Nicely, after all, I am not a serial killer vampire.”

I am positive it is difficult to vamp out and make-up. You need to push your self in numerous instructions, but it surely’s additionally difficult to be extra like your self, and a few actors discover that to be tougher.

I truly assume that that’s tougher as a result of I’m such a troublesome choose. I imply, I really like actors which might be simply actual, prefer it simply looks as if they don’t seem to be saying any traces, and naturally, all of us cherished character actors, and I am not taking something away from that.

I believe that that’s actually exhausting, however if you’re simply taking part in your self, it is oftentimes extra tough as a result of if you look again at it, you are like, “Ah, that’s faux. That’s not you.” And so it is simply tougher to take care of the realness all through the scene.

Typically I truly like once I get to bust out and have an accent and simply be someone else as a result of then you possibly can’t be judged on how you are not being trustworthy with your self.

Proper. What do you want about Thriller 101 and taking part in Amy?

There’s a lot I really like about this sequence. I imply, there’s all the pieces from the writing of the present. I believe is basically good. I believe that simply being with my castmates who I am keen on. Kris, I actually like him.

He is an amazing co-star, and we get alongside very well, and I believe greater than something, we’ve got nice on-screen chemistry. I believe that is actually exhausting to search out, and it is not essentially one thing you possibly can at all times create simply by casting two folks, so I believe Hallmark acquired actually fortunate with that.

The truth that we do have that chemistry actually helps promote the present, I believe. The crew, we’ve got a tremendous crew. We regularly get to work with the identical folks. I believe it is simply the machine normally and all the pieces round it.

It simply works, and we’re simply so fortunate as a result of I have been on so many exhibits the place it is not a pleasing expertise, and this one is only a great expertise. You are having enjoyable beforehand, you are having enjoyable throughout, and you’ve got enjoyable after you are performed, and also you get to look at the completed product.

I believe that a variety of the explanation your chemistry with Kris is so good on display is that you’re each so pure on this present. It would not really feel such as you’re appearing, and that is precisely what you are in search of, so technique to go since you’ve each achieved it.

Yeah. Nicely, thanks. I’ve at all times admired Kris for that as a result of I believe in his appearing, that is why I’ve at all times been drawn to his appearing as a result of I do really feel like he is very actual. It is exhausting for me to evaluate.

It is virtually like I consider it this fashion. If anyone’s ever informed you something about your voice like, “Oh, your voice is low or excessive or no matter.” You possibly can’t hear it if you communicate. Nonetheless, if you report your self and take heed to your self, you possibly can hear every kind of flaws. It is type of the identical factor. I am unable to actually inform once I’m doing it.

I type of know if one thing feels a bit of off, but it surely’s actually once I watched the present afterward. I am my worst critic, and so I am like, I do not know if I am being actual. I do not know the way persons are going to understand me.

I do know what I am making an attempt to perform, and generally I do, and generally I do not, however I at all times take a look at Kris and assume, effectively, I believe he grounds the scene, and it is so pure and actual. I simply at all times hope that I complement that for positive.

Nicely, you do.

Nicely, thanks.

Completely. And that chemistry, as you stated, they acquired fortunate with casting you two as a result of your chemistry is so real.

Many of those Thriller film sequence tease the attraction between the characters, however on this, it is not as a lot of a tease as it’s only a sluggish, natural-feeling development. Do you assume that is due to the way in which you two are?

Nicely, I do not need to communicate for them, however I believe that perhaps it has a bit of bit to do with it and the truth that Kris and I have been each actually closely pushing it, and we’re very concerned within the script itself.

I sit down and possibly learn that script 10 instances earlier than I’ve shot the primary day, and I’ve notes, and I need to sit down with the director; I need to sit down with the producers, and I actually dive into it, as does Kris.

A part of our notes in going into this and seeing the place these characters have been going after a few motion pictures, I believe we actually needed them simply to be regular folks, proper? As a result of they’re adults and adults.

I imply, if there’s this a lot attraction, it is like, come on, they have to kind some form of relationship. You possibly can’t maintain these two aside for very for much longer.

That is one thing that Hallmark has been actually good at — that sluggish burn — however we needed to ensure that it occurred. That they have been allowed to have this relationship as a result of they’re two adults. I believe that they earned that.

They’ve labored exhausting for it, and I believe the viewers rated to see that as a result of we did not need to see an excessive amount of, after which it simply will get previous after some time. It is like, come on, guys sufficient already, and I believe we owed it to the viewers, and I believe they did it at an ideal time.

This subsequent installment has some fairly vital reveals and a few fairly vital developments in that space. What are you able to tease about it with out saying an excessive amount of?

Nicely, we get to satisfy his ex-wife, which is so superbly performed by Erin Cahill. They forged Kate completely together with her as a result of Erin herself could be very likable, simply in actual life. She’s very likable.

I believe she introduced that to this character, and I believe it actually helped as a result of initially, my thought in my character was type of, “Okay. Nicely, what does she need with him? What’s her motive for being right here? Is it to assist Travis, or is it to get Travis again?”

I believe that could be a actual feeling with any lady who loves someone and an ex is available in, particularly an ex-wife, they usually occur to be associates. You are going to query a bit of bit. That is simply human nature. I do not need to say Amy was jealous or something like that.

I believe that she was simply uncertain of what the connection was between them, and I believe that as a result of Erin performs it so superbly, you see this very  actual relationship come up between Amy and Kate.

I really like how their relationship is portrayed as a result of simply because somebody used thus far the individual you’re in love with or was once married to them doesn’t suggest that two girls should hate one another.

I really like seeing the way it was written and the way it was performed between each of our characters. I believe that there is actual respect between these two girls. I actually favored that a part of it.

I did too. I am more than happy with the entire approach this one got here out.

Yeah, and it was actually nice as a result of, in my actual life, my husband has an ex-wife that I am good associates with, and so I’ve that relationship together with her to type of pull from, and I do know what that appears like.

Extra girls than not have that relationship with one in every of their boyfriends’ exes or particularly an ex-wife. I believe it is good for that portrayal, and you do not have to have two girls going at one another and having a catfight over a person.

Completely. Yeah, as a result of it type of cheapens each relationships if it will get to that.

Completely. Yeah, I agree.

How has taking part in a literature professor affected your real-life curiosity in studying mysteries?

Nicely, it is humorous. I’m not the most effective reader on the planet, that means I can decide up a ebook and, as a lot as I need to learn it like proper now I am actually into flowers and gardening and making an attempt to do a minimize backyard and so I’ve gotten all these books and bless my coronary heart. I sit right down to learn them, and I can get by about, I do not know, 15 pages, and I am asleep.

It’s not the best factor for me. I’ve at all times actually admired… My grandmother was an amazing reader. I imply, she might learn a novel in a day. I imply, she cherished it. It isn’t that I do not love studying; it is simply actually exhausting for me as a result of it simply places me to sleep.

It is like a pure sleeping capsule for me. As I stated, I am not an avid reader, but it surely undoubtedly has sparked my curiosity, and I’ve performed some research as a result of I believe that Amy is like her personal little Sherlock.

I believe that she admires Sherlock, and I’ve undoubtedly discovered quite a bit on the present concerning the writers that wrote the mysteries and the old fashioned ones like Ms. Marple and all of that. I would say I’ve discovered quite a bit simply from being on the present.

What about thriller motion pictures and different TV sequence? Do you watch these and evaluate them to what you are doing?

Yeah. For positive. I’ve simply now began to comprehend that there are much more mysteries on the market than I even knew about and a variety of new ones popping out. Now, I simply evaluate. I evaluate and likewise take a look at it in a different way since you’re actually dissecting it when studying the script.

Whilst you’re studying it, you are similar to, “Oh, okay. Wait a minute. It might be this individual.” And also you’re actually making an attempt to assume, who is that this individual? Can I determine this out earlier than I get to the top of the script?

I believe simply now, in watching thriller motion pictures, that I actually focus on each little element as a result of I do know in our scripts, it is like each single element.

You would possibly assume it is the smallest little factor, however will probably be the important thing that solves the entire thing. I watch them a bit of in a different way now.

What about your Christmas motion pictures? I need to speak about these as effectively as a result of I completely love your decisions when choosing Christmas scripts. A few of yours are my favorites.

Aww, thanks.

Do you have got any extra arising?

Nicely, as of proper now, I am simply capturing Thriller 101, after which we’ll see if I shoot one. I haven’t got something proper now, however that clearly can all change, however I do love Christmas. I really like the capturing of Christmas motion pictures. It will get me within the spirit.

It is often clearly approach earlier than Christmas once we’re capturing them, but it surely’s like at all times a cheerful set, proper? As a result of you possibly can’t be unhappy if Christmas carols are taking part in and also you’re speaking about Santa Claus.

I at all times attempt to do a faith-based Christmas movie as a result of I believe that is an important a part of Christmas. I will be looking for a script like that.

Yeah, that is good. I will be unhappy that the Christmas in Evergreen motion pictures will most likely change since all people used to return.

When you do one, you type of return and entry the city supporting characters for different motion pictures, and now that is not going to essentially work with two-week quarantines in every single place. That is so unhappy.

It has been critically troublesome. I imply, simply me and my husband, we’re not placing our little one on a airplane but, so we purchased an RV, and we have been touring throughout the nation. That is one other seven days hacked onto the 14-day quarantine. We’re away from dwelling for nearly two months.

It is a exhausting factor to do, but it surely’s vital for us simply to maintain her protected. We take care of it, but it surely’s not simple. The 14-day quarantine will not be simple. You need to take like three checks earlier than you even begin working, however they’re simply making an attempt to make all people protected, and I perceive and admire it.

Positive. I do not envy that scenario, particularly as a result of it is so exhausting for actors if you’re filming so removed from dwelling anyway and including all that additional time to it. I am glad you can go along with your loved ones.

Yeah. I imply, I am not leaving her for something and my husband… I am so fortunate as a result of he has a distant place, so he is at all times been capable of journey with me for probably the most half.

Thank God as a result of I do not know the way we might make it work in any other case as a result of I am unable to stand to be away from him both. It is actually good that we’ll all be collectively, although.

My final query for you is what sort of modifications you have got seen beneath the steering of Wonya Lucas since she’s taken over the helm?

Nicely, I believe there are fairly a couple of modifications, and all people can see them. There is a bit extra variety. I believe we have had our first homosexual couple. We have had a lesbian couple. There’s a variety of change. I do not know the way a lot of that’s simply from her or if it was percolating earlier than her.

I can solely communicate to what I’ve seen since she’s come on board. I’ve had the chance to e-mail backwards and forwards together with her, and he or she’s been so good and so form. I am actually comfortable for her and simply want all of them the most effective. I am comfortable for the community that it is rising, hopefully in a constructive route, and all people will get a bit of love.

I am hoping that Hallmark Drama will get some love. Perhaps that might be a spot for a faith-based Christmas film.

Yeah. I imply, my story with my husband is kind of a narrative, and it is fairly a faith-based story that we will flip right into a film and. I have been making an attempt to work on that script, and it most actually might virtually be a Christmas film, however we’ll see.

For positive, I believe that is a superb place and if not, perhaps some others; you by no means know. There are one million corporations on the market that, hopefully, need to provide extra religion. We want extra faith-based motion pictures on the market—extra good faith-based motion pictures.

Sure. High quality.

Precisely. I am not into the type that if you’re performed with it, you are feeling such as you may be going to hell. You are unsure. You are like, “Oh my gosh, I’ve performed all the pieces mistaken in my life.” I am not into these varieties.

I am into the type that leaves you with hope and leaves you feeling good, and leaves folks questioning the individuals who might not consider in God. Perhaps it makes them need to decide up the Bible and browse it and see what the massive hoopla is.

I believe if you can also make folks really feel good after a film like that and make them really feel safe of their religion, then that is wonderful. That is all we’re making an attempt to do.

Remember to tune in to Hallmark Films & Mysteries on Sunday, March 21 at 8/7c for Thriller 101: Killer Timing!

Carissa Pavlica is the managing editor and a employees author and critic for TV Fanatic. She’s a member of the Critic’s Choice Association, enjoys mentoring writers, conversing with cats, and passionately discussing the nuances of tv and movie with anybody who will pay attention. Observe her on Twitter and e-mail her right here at TV Fanatic.

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