When Calls The Heart Executive Producer

Brian Bird Responds to Nine Hearties' Burning Questions

In 150 Words or Less (Give or Take)

Colleen Perry Patynik: Brian, with how influential social media has been for the success of When Calls the Heart (WCTH), do you think any of your previous projects (i.e. Touched by an Angel) would have lasted longer than they did? My mom used to watch TBAA religiously. I know if she were able, she would be a huge fan of WCTH, as well. She is proud to know you and that you are a success at your profession. ‬‬

Brian: Colleen, first, it’s very meaningful to me that we go back all the way to Junior High together and that your mom even remembers who I am! Please say hello to her for me! Secondly, TBAA went on for 9 seasons, so it had a good, long run. However, had social media been as powerful then as it is now, I believe that show could have gone for 20 seasons. Social media and the #Hearties are the most significant reasons why WCTH even made it past the first season. I would be all for 20 seasons of WCTH, wouldn’t you?

Debbie Woods: Thank you, Brian, for your efforts in the entertainment industry. I'm a teacher and I am pleased to share your work with my students’ parents as truly acceptable for the family to view. Why don't we get to see replayed episodes on the Hallmark Channel?

Brian: Thanks for doing the bravest, most important job in our culture! As you can see, teaching and teachers are a huge theme in WCTH! Regarding your question, things have changed a lot since the days of big networks airing 24 brand new episodes every year, and then repeating those same episodes. The big reason for this change is all the new ways to see the show on services like Netflix. Since Netflix pays for the right to air WCTH, that helps pay for the original costs of making the show. Additionally, Netflix exposes the show to lots of potential new Hearties who may not subscribe to Hallmark. So, in effect, the show does air in repeats… they just happen on Netflix and other places like iTunes, Amazon Instant Video and Google Play – which also helps defray costs.

Nora Koonce Avery: I love sharing my name with a character (LOL). How long does it take to film the series, and is it done altogether or with breaks for the actors/actresses to go home? ‬‬

Brian: Nora, I’m still waiting for somebody in Hope Valley to be called “Brian”… even “Bird Brain” would be fine because that’s what I’m called at home… so you’re way ahead of me! Anyway, each season of actual production takes approximately 4 months to film, from start to finish, 5 days a week, without any breaks… except for the occasional holiday. Of course, the writing and prep time to get ready for production takes 3-4 months leading up to production, and the post-production phase (editing, visual effects, music and sound design) takes approximately another 3 months. So, you can see, we are in various aspects of working on the show about 10 months a year.

Renee Garczynski: I wanted to know if it was easy or hard to cast such a perfect bunch of actors and actresses for this wonderful show? I was also wondering if Michael Landon Jr. is just as wonderful to work with as his dad was? Michael Landon?

Brian: Renee, it’s always hard to cast a movie or a TV show. There are just so many terrific actors who come in and audition for every role. In fact, almost everybody we see has something good to offer the show. But I find the thing that distinguishes those we cast from those we don’t is this: the perfect actor comes in and “owns” the role. They just take the role off the table by diving deep and blending their own personality with the dialogue. Something in their own experience lines up with the character they are reading for, and that extra 5 percent is what wins us over. In terms of working with Michael Landon, Jr., I never had the privilege of meeting his father. But Michael Jr. is one of the kindest, smartest, sincerest men I’ve ever worked with. I’m honored to be his partner!

Kathy Garchar: Brian, thanks for your support of the #Hearties! I enjoy all your Production Blogs! Would you consider working with Michael Landon, Jr. on a movie or series based on any other of Janette Oke’s books?

Brian:‬‬‬‬ Kathy, thanks for the plug about my Production Blog for HallmarkChannel.com. I hope everyone will be watching for my new Season 4 Production V-logs – as in Video-Logs – going hi-tech this season. Anyway, I would show up to just to build a fence, or paint a post, or do pretty much anything, with Michael Landon, Jr. That’s how much I love the guy. We would love to do more of Janette’s wonderful books in the future. In fact, Michael made several of Janette’s Love Come Softly series of books into movies, and has written a script based on her book, Gown of Spanish Lace, that we would love to film sometime, somewhere. You might also enjoy our films based on Beverly Lewis’ novels: The Shunning, The Confession, The Reckoning and Saving Sarah Cain.

Carolyn Yoder: Brian, how is it working with a show for so many years… does everyone become like a family? ‬‬‬‬‬

Brian: Carolyn, you are absolutely correct… the cast, crew, writers and producers of When Calls the Heart have absolutely become a family. It’s very hard to spend so much time, and expend so much creative energy on a project and not become very relationally dependent on each other. While I would never compare the making of a TV with the heroism of soldiers working together to defeat an enemy, the comradery of hard work and close quarters for months at a time, is very comparable. That doesn’t mean, like in every family, that there is not some dysfunction or disagreement, but I like to think of it as reflecting the verse, Proverbs 27:17… “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” I hope the fact that you and millions of other Hearties love this show is proof that our little family is working!

Mary Jo Scheid: Do you feel this little show that could has made a difference in television in general? Do you feel that the world of TV is realizing When Calls the Heart’s family-friendly qualities and popularity and that maybe they should act on this? ‬‬‬‬‬

Brian: From your lips to God’s ears, Mary Jo. I sure hope we are making a difference in the state of TV. This year there are 455 original scripted programs in all of TV. That does not include all the reality TV shows (although some would argue that they are scripted, too). It’s very daunting launching a show in this very noisy marketplace and it can be discouraging to break through all that noise and somehow grow our audience. However, the Hearties always buoy our spirits with their love of the show. Five million viewers of our Christmas special ain’t too shabby, and we’re praying they continue showing the Hallmark Channel how much they love the show in season 4. We think that will prove to all those other networks out there that they need to copy us and do more family friendly programs!

Angelia Echeverria: My question is, with all the time you put into filming, what do all of you do on your down time?

Brian: Angelia, it’s very sweet of you to worry that we don’t get much time off, but none of us are complaining, and we do all have most weekends off during the production cycle. The film and TV business is a very gypsy-like enterprise in that the workers often move from place to place in search of their next job. So when a show like When Calls the Heart comes along, supported by such a loyal and vocal community like the Hearties, and goes for several seasons, many of us feel like we’ve found a good place to set down roots and not have to go looking for greener pastures. We get to water the pasture we’re in and make it green for a very long time (dear Lord, let it be so).

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Carol Gatlin Jimmerson: Brian, the sign that was found which said, "Forgive me, Pa" still confuses me. Because of the comma, was that meant to be to Pa or by Pa? ‬‬‬‬‬

Brian: Carol, we have heard that question many times in our first three seasons. Honestly, when we first wrote that story, we meant for the meaning of that sign to be somewhat vague. We wanted viewers to be able to speculate about whom that sign was intended for. Was it written by Abigail’s husband, Noah, or son, Peter? Was it from Gabe’s father? Was it a note from Pa? Or was it meant for Pa, written by a son? In the end, the meaning we wanted the viewers to come away with is the same meaning the entire town was left with: Perhaps it didn’t matter who wrote the note because every family could draw healing and significance from the idea that it was their beloved father or brother son who left them those meaningful last words.