Hallmark Channel brings Karen Kingsbury’s beloved book, The Bridge to life just in time for the holidays. The beautiful story is set in a charming bookstore that serves as much more than a place to buy the latest best-seller. Its proprietors Donna and Charlie (Faith Ford and Ted McGinley) created the store as a place where its patrons can find a sense of community and count themselves members of an extended family.
“It really focuses a lot on community and people all supporting each other through the tough times in life that we sometimes find ourselves in,” says actor Wyatt Nash, who plays one of the shop patrons, and is a special part of The Bridge’s community. He adds that the story “Is really just about supporting and loving each other.” Nash and Katie Findlay play two young college students who spend their study hours dreaming about their future and sharing a special bond with everyone they meet.
Nash and I chatted about the role and the unbelievable connection he found to his character.
Channel Guide: Wyatt, tell us a little about your character, Ryan.
Wyatt Nash: Ryan grew up in Franklin, TN, and is a big friend of The Bridge bookstore, and as he goes into college his freshman year he’s sort of trying to decide which path to take, whether he wants to play it safe, or if he wants to pursue his true passion, music. In his freshman year, one of the first days, he meets a girl named Molly Allen, and kind of turns his life upside down a little bit. Together they both just sort of try to find their way and help each other decide which path they truly want to go on, and The Bridge is sort of a center stage for their relationship.
CG: This is the second time you’ve brought a famous literary character to life (Nash played Christopher Dollanganger in the 2014 TV film, Petals on the Wind, a sequel to Flowers in the Attic.) Tell us about giving a face to someone who comes from a beloved book…
WN: I read the book in about two days, before I even read the script, and I definitely empathized with Ryan’s plight, and his life, and the character of who he is. I felt a strong connection to him, and a lot of similarities to myself, so I was just really excited to bring a lot of myself to the character.
CG: You mention that you felt connected to Ryan, how so?
WN: Well, he’s from Franklin, Tennessee, and I’m from about ten minutes north of Franklin, so I grew up in the same area, which was pretty ironic to me. My jaw dropped when I started reading the book and I read that. He’s really torn between, like I said, playing it safe — pursuing a different type of type of degree — and supporting those around him, or to pursue music, which is his true passion.
I found my self in a very similar situation in college; I had to decide whether I wanted to continue down the pathway to medical school, or if I wanted to become an actor. Ultimately, I’m an actor, but it’s not an easy decision to figure out what direction you want to go sometimes. You don’t want to let people down in your life, but you also want to be true to yourself. I definitely strongly felt that tension.
Photographer: Duane Prentice
CG: You mentioned Nashville. Karen Kingsbury lives in Nashville too. Is that a world that you two could talk about? Did having a location as a touchstone for the character, and knowing that that’s where Karen’s heart is, make it easier to know your character?
WN: Oh, definitely. There were several times in the script where Ryan would be talking about something from his past, be it a festival or a history of the area, and I remember, as a kid, going to these festivals and going on field trips, learning about the history of Franklin and of Nashville. It was definitely a touchstone.
I was able to talk with Karen a lot. She was on set for a couple of weeks, and I spoke with her beforehand, as well. She continued to encourage me to keep going down the path that I was on, because to her, she said, it was just kind of spot-on, and to keep doing what I’m doing. She was really great.
Photographer: Duane Prentice
CG: Tell me about working with Kate, who plays Molly. How were you able to build that friendship that’s so paramount to the roles?
WN: That was kind of nerve wracking, because I hadn’t met her. I met her right before we filmed the first scene, which, ironically, was the first time that we met on camera … I was really nervous, because I didn’t know how she was, or anything like that, but as soon as we starting taking to each other — and just kind of joking and laughing and being absolutely ridiculous — I wasn’t worried about that anymore. She’s a wonderful actress and I learned a lot from her, but she’s a great person, too, and we got along really, really well.
CG: Did you have that same kind of fun chemistry with Ted and Faith?
WN: Yes, for sure. Ted McGinley makes me laugh like no other person I’ve met. He is always joking around and always playing games, and is just so much fun to be around on-set. He just brings a great energy, as well as Faith. They’re just both so professional and so seasoned, and know exactly what they’re doing, and so they were so much fun to be around on-set, for sure.
CG: Having read the books, did you think that Ted and Faith were the perfect casting choice for the roles?
WN: Yeah, I think they were perfect. I think Ted fully embodies Charlie and Faith is definitely Donna, in my mind. They did a great job with what they brought to both the characters, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the final cut. It’s so much fun to watch on-screen, and they have great chemistry themselves.
Photographer: Duane Prentice
CG: Did you all become an on-set family? In the book and film, The Bridge becomes kind of a home away from home for a lot of people. Did you find yourselves falling into that family?
WN: Yeah, in a way. We were away from L.A. — we filmed up in Canada — and you hang out with the people that you know, and the only people you know are the people you work with. I got to spend a lot of time with both Ted and Faith outside of filming and especially Katie. We all definitely enjoyed getting along together up there. Yeah, I think we had a real strong connection between the four of us.
CG: Hallmark is calling this The Bridge, Part One. Is there going to be a part two, is the story left unfinished?
WN: Yes. Yes, it is, indeed. They took Karen’s book, The Bridge, and split it into two parts. There’s so much juicy story in her book, it’s so dense, there’s so much to tell, that they thought it would be better if we split it into two pieces, instead of brushing over and rushing through it. I think they made the right call. We actually filmed both parts back-to-back, and this year, you’re only going to be seeing the first half of the book. I believe the second half will air sometime next year around the same time.
CG: That’s incredible; so next year we’ll have another movie to look forward to?
WN: Yes. It’ll be The Bridge, Part Two — basically the second half of the book.
Karen Kingsbury’s The Bridge > Hallmark Channel > Sunday, Dec. 6 at 8pm ET/7pm CT
All movie images Copyright 2015 Crown Media United States, LLC/Photographer: Duane Prentice
Beautiful movie, then Bang…HUGE let down. Shame on Hallmark Channel and Karen Kingsbury for allowing a 12 month time frame betwwen 2 halves of 1 movie. Very disappointed!
I loved the movie and could not believe part 2 will not be shown next week! Hallmark channel, you’d better gives us The Bridge part 2 this year! What a huge disappointment….
I never watch the Hallmark Channel. My wife talked me into watching the Bridge-a great movie-and I was pleasantly surprised how good it was. Then the zinger “part 2 not on until December 2016” what? are you kidding me? most people don’t have an attention span of 10 minutes let alone a YEAR!!! Please reconsider this ridiculous decision.
my family are very disappointed on the ending of Karen Kingsbury s The Bridge.Why do we have to wait until December 2016? thank you
BEYOND mad!!! a whole year… really. I stayed up watching this wonderful movie, got hooked quick then only to be let down with… to be continued!! I was really thinking ok now I have to wait another week to see the end…Oh NO next freaking year…..!!! So disappointed with Hallmark right now!!!
Yes I think I will take a break from Hallmark channel that’s just wrong
I first saw Ted McGinley and Faith Ford interviewed on a favorite morning show Kelly and Michael … I was really looking forward to this movie in part because of the accolades etc.
Hallmark channel there are some people that will not be here next year.
Hallmark Channel, I’m disappointed too! Always watching Hallmark and what a let down last night. I too was thinking that the “to be continued” would be in the next week or so. I would have never believed that it would be next December!—then I got it too…increased book sales, what a shame. I’m no so interested now. To a Not so Happy Holiday.
I will have to agree with all the earlier comments. Talk about being so disappointed and then to find out we aren’t going to see the ending until Dec.2016. Why would you do such hugh disappointment to all your viewers.
One year is to far apart. I can’t believe you would do a 2 so far that a person will forget about it. Sad
Very disappointed at the ending. Who know what next year will hold for everyone. With all the hoopla regarding part 2 being shown December, 2016 !!! you would think they would have a change of heart and show part 2 this December for the viewers.
I too was very disappointed at the ending when I saw that part 2 would be in December, 2016. I always look forward to the Hallmark movies at this time of year. I enjoyed the 1st. part and look forward to the 2nd. but who knows what next year will hold for anyone, to put off the 2nd. part like this. You would think that with all the hoopla and disappointment by many that they would change their mind and show the 2nd part this December.
Very, very disappointed that only half of movie was shown….I can see if that was a book but for hallmark to do this…..upsetting….
So very disappointing and frustrating! I never expected this from the Hallmark channel. I could not believe my eyes – December 2016??? Instead of the wonderful Christmas feeling after a Hallmark Christmas movie I went to bed disappointed and frustrated. Karen Kingsbury, why would you agree to such a thing?
What a disappointment! Waiting a full year for the 2nd part of a Hallmark movie is pretty ridiculous. What a sneaky thing to do to promote book sales, shame on you.
Where’s part two! Bah humbug!
I gree. How do you show part 1 with a 1 year wait for part 2. I would of skipped it an watched reruns.
Well I stayed up 2 hours later than normal on a work night to watch this movie, and was expecting a wonderful feel good happy ending as with most all my Christmas shows. When it said to be continued, I thought okay they will show the rest of it sometime this week or even next Sunday. I was so disappointed when I saw it said December 2016. I thought who the heck does that? I have never heard of this before. Has any network ever done this? I have seen premiers like the Good Witch, where every year they come out with a new version, but definitely not the 2nd part of the prior year. I suffer from clinical depression, and these beautiful Christmas movies really help me a lot. Although this was a wonderful 1st half, it left me feeling depressed and disappointed. Are they doing this hoping the viewers will go buy the book so they know what happens? If so that is horrible! Can this be rented or watched on you tube between now and next Christmas. I think I will ban the Hallmark Channel from my tv for a while because of this.
I agree with everyone else. I am really disappointed that the second part is not until next year. I watch all your movies over and over and really love them. People watch because they know they are going to feel good when it’s over and that is something we really need with all that’s going on in the world. Last night we were all left feeling very disappointed and did not “Feel Good”.
December 2016?!? Bah Humbug, Hallmark. Bah Humbug.
Why in the world would you wait a year to show part 2? That is stupid. Please, please Hallmark, stop the loud music, people have complained about this so much you would think you would get the message.
They won’t show the second part of this made-for-TV movie until next Christmas!!! Unbelievable. I kept rewinding because I thought that “Christmas 2016” was a typo. That is a ridiculous an inconsiderate thing to do Hallmark.
What a GREAT movie – or should I say 1/2 of a movie? I was stunned at the end when I found I would have to wait until next Christmas to see the second half. This is truly absurd and really very inconsiderate of whoever thought (or should I say “didn’t think”) to show the rest of the movie in a year!! Never heard of such a thing……..and to think my favorite channel had to be the one to be so thoughtless. I’m surprised and VERY disappointed in you, Hallmark.
I totally agree. The Hallmark Channel has always been one of my absolute favorite channels until now that is. This time of year it is so wrong to be so thoughtless. What if someone is ill and wont be here next Christmas to see the rest of the movie, or the cable companies decide to remove the Hallmark channel, like they have so many other channels. I still think this was done to boost book sales. I will not be watching anymore Hallmark Channel this year, I believe you just ruined your ratings this year from the other comments I’ve read. Shame on you Hallmark, suppose to present family values and Christmas joy, well there was no value or joy in knowing I can’t watch the rest of this movie until next year. Not even a warning before I watched it. How unfair is that???
I also think it was bad planning of Hallmark to not show the whole movie. And yes, some elderly people who enjoy a Hallmark movies may not be here next year.