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Amanda Schull and Victor Webster star in " 'Tis the Season for Setups," the first of two-plus months' worth of new holiday films that are part of the Hallmark Channel's "Countdown to Christmas." (Credit: ©2026 Hallmark Media)

' 'Tis the Season for Setups': Talented, charming & funny Amanda Schull kicks off Hallmark's 'Countdown to Christmas'

by jmaloni

Fri, Oct 16th 2026 12:45 pm

Annual holiday movie marathon begins Oct. 16 with new romantic comedy set on the slopes

Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni

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As the weather gets colder, the days draw shorter, and retail stores start rolling out their finest in red and green, it’s the perfect time for Hallmark, “Countdown to Christmas,” and Amanda Schull.

The versatile actor is capping off a year in which she appeared in two critically adored series – HBO Max’s “The Pitt” and Prime Video’s “Spider-Noir” – with a funny, romantic, snow-covered feature that kicks off Hallmark Channel’s 11-week, 24-hours-a-day holiday movie marathon.

To say Schull can do it all on screen is an understatement. She was the breakout star of dance film “Center Stage”; recurred on soapy, coming-of-age dramas “One Tree Hill” and “Pretty Little Liars”; brought delicious deviousness to legal serial “Suits”; and saved the world in time-traveling “12 Monkeys” – an action role she absolutely crushed.

And did I mention this was after she was an elite dancer with the San Francisco Ballet?

Over the past decade, Schull has become a beloved part of the Hallmark universe with lead roles in films including “Love, Once and Always,” “Project Christmas Wish,” “One Summer,” “Marry Go Round” and “The Blessing Bracelet.”

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In “ ‘Tis the Season for Setups,” Schull plays Lexi, a buttoned-up event planner who longs to connect with her free-spirited teen daughter, Piper (Verity Marks). When an opportunity arises to travel to a holiday resort over the Christmas break, Lexi’s boisterous mother, June (Barbara Niven), makes sure Lexi takes the plunge.

Once on the mountain, Lexi is tasked with organizing the venue’s big shindig – and paired with adventurous, well-intentioned-but-underachieving ski instructor Ridge (Victor Webster) – who is under the thumb of his more-successful father, Dan (John B. Lowe).

Eager to appease their overseers, Lexi and Ridge plot to pair their parents. In the process, they begin to have feelings for each other – and their better traits start to mingle.

“ ‘Tis the Season for Setups” is delightful and heartwarming – and filmed amidst a terrific Christmas backdrop (including snowy Banff) bound to make spirits bright.

The feature film premieres at 8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16, and will repeat on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark+ over the duration of “Countdown to Christmas.”

Schull shared more about the project, her passion, and the perfect holiday beverage, in this edited Q&A.

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BTS: I watched this film; I thought it was really funny. I love that there is dancing and horses – I love that for you. We've talked about those things over the years. It feels very Christmassy. I think it's a great way to kick off this season, and to kick off this programming. What did you like about this script and about your character?

Amanda Schull: I liked everything about it.

Every single one of the characters had a life prior, and a life that they were trying to not so much grapple with, but reconcile. My character and my character's mother had marriages prior. We were trying to figure out what that meant moving on, and how to reconcile our past and who we were, and whether that dictated the future and going forward. They parallel each other.

I also really enjoy that my character felt like she had to be a certain way because that's always how she had been. She had been dependable. Lexi had been her mother's straight man, kind of, and she thought that that role dictated who she was going forward.

That's not who we need to be. We don't always need to be the same person always and forever.

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BTS: Maybe it's just me, but it seemed like, in this movie, there was a lot more interaction between you and the full supporting cast, which I thought was unique. It could’ve have just been you and Victor. Tell me about the cast and about working with this collection of costars.

Amanda Schull: Yeah, that was really fun.

I had never worked with Barbara before, which was a lot of fun. And what's interesting with Barbara, I knew who she was, of course – I had met her once before, and she didn't remember me. I think she remembered the instance after I sort of explained it to her. But, during the peak pandemic time, I was traveling to Canada for work; and I was in an Air Canada lounge, and you weren't supposed to sit next to people. You were supposed to be distanced and masked and all of that. And a woman walked in, masked, carrying a bunch of luggage, and nobody would give her a seat next to themselves. And I saw this woman, and I cleared a bunch of space, and I scooted over to make sure we were comfortable – and it turned out to be Barbara, and she was on her way to go film a Hallmark movie.

I introduced myself to her, and she introduced herself to me. We chatted for a little bit, and she said, "Maybe one day we'll get to play mother and daughter.”

BTS: Nice!

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Amanda Schull: And so, the second I saw her when she came in for the table read, I reminded her of that, and man, what a delight that woman is! She is so much fun. We drove in and out together a lot – you know, hours together in the car spent over our time. I really enjoyed it. That was a lot of fun.

And then Verity, who played Piper – Lexi's daughter – was a lot of fun also to get to work with on and off set. We got to dance a little bit. You didn't get to see the full scope of Verity's moves, but she can really dance! We had some fun videos behind the scenes of the two of us trying to come up with some choreography, and bouncing around in our little green room area.

And then, of course, I had a lot of fun with Victor, obviously. He's a lot of fun – and he brought his dog with him to work every day, and so there was Nova. There was an unseen cast member – sort of like an honorary cast member – behind the scenes for all of our days.

BTS: Victor is very talented – and very tall, apparently.

Amanda Schull: That's an understatement. To kiss that guy in skis was a feat.

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See also >> Joy lives here: Hallmark Channel announces annual 'Countdown to Christmas'

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BTS: There is a strong case to be made – and I could argue – that you are the most talented actor, and the actor in this genre with the best resume of anyone. But, to ask you that question would be, I think, silly, because I've never known you to be egotistical. So, I think the best way to say this is that, clearly, creators love working with you; audiences love watching you. But when it comes to your work – whether it's here or elsewhere – what brings you satisfaction and what brings you joy?

Amanda Schull: Thank you!

I am happiest on set. Anyone who knows me knows this to be true – and when I haven't worked for a while, I get an itch. I love – and maybe this says something about my personality – I love being other people and figuring out why they are the way they are.

I just think, with this particular genre, we are so lucky to be able to bring joy into people's households. I mean, nobody watches a Hallmark movie and doesn't feel better at the end of it.

I have done lots of other different types and genres, and nothing gets the reaction similar to when I tell people I have a Hallmark movie coming out. It delights people to know that. It's such a gift to be able to bring something like that to people's hearts.

The Christmas movies are their own very specific genre within the genre. Getting to be the first movie of the “Countdown to Christmas” is also such a treat! It sounds so corny, but I feel so honored to be able to do all of that.

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BTS: Building off that, you are a world-class dancer and a world-class actor. I'm wondering about the times when you're in the flow – when everything is clicking. How magical and how much fun is that?

Amanda Schull: That's the perfect word for it, which is “flow,” which a lot of artists experience. You probably experience that when you're writing; you know, you can look up at the clock, and hours have passed, and you didn't realize that had even happened. And that's the case, when you work and it's fun material, and you enjoy who you're working with, and you dive into it, and the scene is done. Or even just that one take is done; or the day is done. And sometimes I don't even remember what it is I did in that particular take. And if we watch playback, or the director says something, “Well, in that one you did that.” I have no idea, because getting to just live in the moment of that character, it's sort of just what I dream for each role.

I do all of the work, and I do all of the homework, and I create the backstory, and I create these little vignettes of who they were before this moment – and then I try to forget all of that homework when I walk out on set. I try to forget every single bit of it. It should just try to live within me. And that's why I say the things I say as that character, as Lexi, and I do the things. That's why she has those mannerisms.

And so, the flow of it is the result of all the homework. You have to do all of the work to be able to experience the joy of the moment, of the actual what-you're-getting-paid-for work, which is not work at all.

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BTS: Two other actors that I would put on the Mount Rushmore of this genre with you – this is kind of disturbing – they have told me they do not like hot chocolate.

I need to know: What is your position on hot chocolate?

Amanda Schull: What!?! Who doesn't like hot chocolate?

BTS: That was my response!

Amanda Schull: OK, I guess, what I will say: Powdered hot chocolate, like from a packet, that's not necessarily always tasty.

I was just very lucky – I was in Paris – and I was doing a “One Tree Hill” convention there. The last time I was in Paris was 2014. I had a list of all of these things to do, places to go. And one of those things that I did that last time was this little, tiny, hole in the wall, little shop. We had to pull a curtain back to get to the back room that specialized in hot chocolate.

And so, just to give you an example, that was one of the things that was on my list of places to revisit (laughs).

BTS: I feel so much better now.

Amanda Schull: OK, good.

I guess eggnog, maybe, is the quintessential Christmas treat; but eggnog doesn't do it for me. Eggnog is intense. I mean, maybe a little sip or something. I definitely don't buy a carton of eggnog over the holidays. I would take a hot chocolate over eggnog any day.

BTS: OK, good. You've restored my faith in humanity with that answer.

Amanda Schull: I’m so happy to have done that!

BTS: I'm in Buffalo, and you, I'm sure, have spent many a Christmas in a tropical location, whether it be Hawaii, California, what have you. The only way we're getting that kind of a Christmas is if it's the apocalypse – and at that point we're really not going to appreciate it.

So, sell me on a tropical Christmas.

Amanda Schull: Sell you on it. Well, I've also spent Christmas in Australia, which is their summer.

A tropical Christmas: It's warm first thing in the morning. My son's a big soccer player so, last year, Santa gave him soccer goals. He ran outside and discovered his soccer goals. And it's warm, so we played soccer, kicked the ball around.

We didn't do this last year, but you can go to the beach and take a Christmas swim. In Australia, we've gone to the beach for Christmas – and maybe do a lot of the things that people do with snowballs or snow. You can build a sandcastle. Snow sandmen aren't as easily constructed as snowmen.

But it can be sort of a similar thing, just with less disrobing once you step inside. Fewer layers.

BTS: That sounds pretty good, actually.

Amanda Schull: Have I ever had? I've had snowy Thanksgivings. I don't think I've ever had a snowy Christmas, because I've been in Northern California for Christmas. I've never been anywhere snowy for Christmas, and that does seem pretty magical.

BTS: It's not bad. I mean, it might not be the beach, but it's pretty good.

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