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Katie Lee Biegel will admit that her novel Groundwell getting to see the Hallmark movie has been a “welcome surprise” since she published the book in 2011. The film, which opens August 21 at 9 p.m. on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries, stars Lacey Chabert and Ektor Rivera.
“When I first heard that Hallmark wanted to start producing the movie, Lacey was the first person that came to my mind,” says Katie. HollywoodLife ONLY. “I really want her because I love her so much. I think she’s great in the Hallmark movie. I think this is like her 32nd Hallmark movie. She’s very nice and very reliable, and I think she’s a great actress. Ektor really embodies Ben, and the two of them when you see them on screen together, they have great chemistry.”
The film follows a chef named Emma who arrives in Hawaii after a personal and professional failure. During her stay, she meets Ben, a handsome, reclusive surf coach, and the lessons help her regain her footing.
The cooking host serves as an executive producer and also guest-stars on the film. “It was an unexpected surprise,” admitted Katie. “I was so excited when they asked me to play a cameo role. I played myself so it wasn’t a real act. I was a little nervous because I couldn’t remember my lines, but our director was great. She made me feel comfortable. I was probably the most nervous about having to shoot a scene with Lacey and just talk to her in private because mostly I judge a food competition so I felt like this, I can do it. this. But when I have to give a little bit more than just critique the food, I get a little nervous.”
In the journey to get Groundswell to the TV screen, the changes have been made. “It’s quite different in the movie version from the book version, but I like that,” noted Katie. “I feel like my characters have taken on a new light and a new dimension. It was interesting to see how the screenwriter shaped my origin story to fit a TV series. I just love it. When I got to Hawaii, it was all about those moments that made me nauseous all day, feeling like I couldn’t believe this was happening and watching it. “
When Kitchen co-host saw the movie for the first time, it brought her to tears at best. “I was crying. I was sobbing. I just felt like I couldn’t believe it was really happening,” Katie said. HollywoodLife. “Honestly, it was a dream come true, and by the time they made it to the final line of the movie – I won’t say anything to ruin it for anyone – but it just made me cry. I was just blown away by the whole thing.”
The movie features some gorgeous dishes. Katie has a chance to reunite with a Top Chef alum Groundwell. “I talked to writers about different dishes to recommend and then was my co-judge on food competition scenes. Lee Anne Wong are from top chef,Katie revealed. “I knew Lee Anne many years ago when we were on the first part of Top Chef together. So when it came time to choose my role as a judge, I immediately thought of Lee Anne because she lives in Hawaii. So we put her in that role and Lee Anne was really involved and did a lot of the styling for the movie. She’s a talented stylist, so she stepped in and styled the dishes that were Lacey’s and made them look extraordinary. “
As she watches her book come to life on TV, Katie hopes that viewers will understand that “you always have strength within you. You just need to find it. It’s always there. Surfing is really a metaphor for that, and learning to pick yourself up shows that you’ve got your ankle rope attached to the board, so if you fall, you can pick yourself up. I think really about sometimes losing everything you once thought of is how you find exactly what you need. “
Katie has published several cookbooks over the years, but Groundswell remains her only fictional novel. She told HollywoodLife that she “would love to write another novel or screenplay. That’s what I really hope I can do. I feel as if my brain cells are no longer there after letting the child learn to run again. I haven’t been able to think of another story but maybe once she starts school I can write a novel again.”
