"When Calls the Heart" Resumes Filming for Season 11 Amid SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement
"When Calls the Heart", the beloved family western drama from Hallmark Media, is slated to resume filming, all thanks to an interim agreement granted by the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA). The show, a star vehicle for Erin Krakow, joins the list of television series including Apple’s Tehran and the faith-driven series, The Chosen, to have received an identical reprieve from the actors' guild.
This provisional greenlight sets the stage for the shooting of the 11th season of the series prior to the Season 10 premiere, which is scheduled for July 30. As of now, SAG-AFTRA has dispensed 68 such interim agreements, enabling diverse projects to progress despite the ongoing strike. The range of beneficiaries includes not only television series but also movies, with Glenn Close’s The Summer Book and A24 films Mother Mary and I Dream of Unicorns among the most notable.
Based on the book by Janette Oke, "When Calls the Heart" has consistently delivered strong rating performances for the Hallmark Channel. It narrates the tale of Elizabeth Thatcher, played with aplomb by Krakow, a young teacher relocating to a diminutive coal-mining town in Western Canada. In the recent ninth season, audiences witnessed Lucas Bouchard, characterised by Chris McNally, proposing to Elizabeth with assistance from her son, Jack.
The series boasts a star-studded ensemble cast which includes Pascale Hutton, Jack Wagner, Kavan Smith, Kevin McGarry, Andrea Brooks, Martin Cummins, Loretta Walsh, Amanda Wong, Johannah Newmarch, Viv Leacock, Natasha Burnett, Ben Rosenbaum, Hrothgar Mathews, Jaeda Lily Miller, and Hyland Goodrich. The production effort is helmed by WCTH 10 Productions, with executive producing responsibilities shared by Krakow, Susie Belzberg, Michael Shepard, Eric Jarboe, Jimmy Townsend, Brad Krevoy, Brian Bird, Michael Landon Jr., Vicki Sotheran, and Greg Malcolm.
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Switching gears to the op-ed side of things, one is forced to nod in agreement that SAG-AFTRA's interim agreements have popped up like cinematic life rafts in an industry ocean mired in strife. Amid the churn of the strike, these paper handheld olive branches are ensuring your favorite actor can still make the rent, and is again, a reminder that even in Tinseltown, not everyone subsists on a diet of caviar and Champagne.
When it comes to "When Calls the Heart", it's heartening, if you'll pardon the pun, to see such a consistent player in the ratings game forging ahead amidst the upheaval. This slice of Western Canadian life has clearly found cozy nests in the hearts of Hallmark channel viewers, demonstrating that sometimes, it isn't only about comic book characters or dystopian futures to rev up an audience.
The ninth season concluded on a high note - with Lucas making the romantic leap and proposing to Elizabeth -- and left fans hanging on the cliff's edge of anticipation, desperate to know what lies ahead for the lovebirds. And with the SAG-AFTRA interim agreement, the cries from Hearties, as the fans call themselves, has been heard.
As we know, an ensemble cast can truly make or break a show, and in the case of "When Calls the Heart", it’s clear they've struck gold. The interesting mix of seasoned thespians and bright newcomers adds depth to the charming narratives spun in the quaint, coal-dusted span of Hope Valley.
The lifeline provided by SAG-AFTRA can be seen as a true testament to the power of solidarity in these challenging times. So, Hearties, uncork that celebratory bottle of wine, and let's raise a toast to a smooth 11th season!
