Q&A with star Ginna Claire Mason

Behind the Screens with Joshua Maloni

X: @joshuamaloni

IG: @imjoshuamaloni

While “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story” has rightfully been the lead in most stories about movies shot in Buffalo/Niagara this year, it was actually another Hallmark Channel feature, “A Newport Christmas,” that convinced filmmakers to put a spotlight on Western New York.

“It was our first foray into filmmaking here in the Buffalo area,” said Dustin Rikert, who directed both movies. “The state had passed a lot of incredible tax incentives, and we heard about Buffalo, and the film commission kind of lured us here to check things out. We fell in love with it.

“I've been doing this 24 years, and I can honestly say that, within an hour radius of the Buffalo area, you have almost every look you could possibly want for a film – especially a lot of these Hallmark movies. You've got very Mayberry-esque towns. You've got a lot of different looks and backdrops. The city itself doubles for a lot of locations, especially New York City, Pittsburgh, Chicago, things like that. So, pretty amazing place to make a movie, to be honest.”

“A Newport Christmas” was filmed earlier this year in, among other places, Youngstown. Several scenes were shot on Main Street and highlight the Youngstown Village Diner, Petey’s Treats, Everything Youngstown and, especially, The Ontario House (aka The Stone Jug).

In a social media post, that establishment shared, “We will be playing the role of a bar, the harbormaster's office and coffee shop called ‘Brewed Awakenings’ – all located in Newport. … It was a cool experience being along for the ride of a movie production. We even made the trailer!”

••••••••

“A Newport Christmas” centers on Ella, a socialite living in 1905 who longs to give back to her community. When Ella is told her father, instead, intends to match her with an unknown suitor, she escapes to her schooner in need of some fresh air. Seeing a comet, Ella wishes for a better situation – and is transported to 2025. Immediately, she encounters Newport historian Nick – who now lays claim to the very vessel she set sail in.

As the two come to grips with Ella’s unbelievable time-traveling experience, she discovers a better life is possible – and learns of the good she will do/did do – while Nick is given an opportunity to capture his own happy ending.

Rikert and producer Andrew Gernhard (who also EP’d “Holiday Touchdown”) found the perfect person to play Ella when they cast the gifted Ginna Claire Mason (“A Holiday Spectacular,” “A Heidelberg Holiday,” Glinda in Broadway’s “Wicked”). The Nashville native is now a New York City resident, and has made many trips to Western New York. In fact, she fondly recalled Artpark and Wegmans.

“My first time in Buffalo actually was with ‘Wicked’ in 2017; and I love Buffalo, and I love Shea’s, and it was so fun to be there to perform with ‘Wicked,’ and then to get to come back and film this movie,” Mason said in a phone interview. “It felt like a sort of homecoming. It was so sweet to be like, ‘Oh, I know this street; and I remember my little Airbnb was just over here; and I remember this restaurant.’

“Wes (Brown, who plays Nick), and a couple other cast members, Talia (Robinson) and Evan (Alexander Smith), we actually went to go see a show at Shea's when we were in town recording. ‘Shucked’ came through, and I had some friends in it, so we got tickets to go see that show. And it just feels incredibly full-circle.”

She added, “My husband and I, when we first got married, we actually lived in Binghamton for a while. We summer up near Lake Placid, and so I love Rochester, Syracuse, Buffalo. I love all that up there.”

“A Newport Christmas” premieres at 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 2, on the Hallmark Channel – part of the annual “Countdown to Christmas.” It will replay throughout the holiday season, and will be available to stream anytime on Hallmark+.

Mason shared more in this edited Q&A.

Ella (Ginna Claire Mason) is shocked to find her seemingly innocent boat ride has somehow transported her 120 years into the future. There to help her make sense of 2025 is Newport historian Nick (Wes Brown). (Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/photographer: Robert Clark)

••••••••

BTS: When I talk to people who are not familiar with Western New York, I basically have to say I'm from Buffalo or from Niagara Falls. But you actually filmed part of this movie in the Village of Youngstown. What was it like being in that picturesque community? What did you like, and what made that experience special for you?

Ginna Claire Mason: Oh, my goodness, we filmed a couple of really magical moments right there in that town – that's right by where the mansion is that was my home in the movie – the Grafton Estate. And also, I got to actually sail a sailboat right there, which was incredibly magical. It was on a day that was not quite as windy as we hoped, for the sake of the sails, but we still – with a little movie magic – figured out a way to make it work.

It was so fun being up there.

••••••••

BTS: This film is going to be part of “Countdown to Christmas,” and that has become the gold standard for holiday programming. In addition to that, and the cool things we talked about in Western New York, what was it about the script, what was it about the character, that was appealing to you?

Ginna Claire Mason: Oh, my goodness, I love so much about Ella. I’d say, for starters, I'm sort of a history buff. My favorite class in high school was definitely European history. And then I studied musical theater in college. I did an American history class, though, too, which I loved. I loved music theater history, and sort of the evolution of storytelling throughout the centuries, and I've even taught a music theater history class.

So, for starters, I love history – and sometimes I feel like I was born in the wrong era (laughs). I love history; I love fantasy; I love sci-fi; I love time travel. So, when I saw this script, my mind was sort of blown that it was combining so many things that I adore.

I think Ella is such a fun and challenging character. I love getting to step back 120 years and imagine what it would look like. What would her manners be like? What would her rhythm of her speech be like? How would she move? How would she speak in society?

And she's an incredibly ambitious gal. She understands how fortunate she is, and really wants to help society – which, I mean, right off the bat in the film, you're transported to the Gilded Age. This time of invention. And we saw people like Carnegie, really, branching out and deciding to give back with their wealth to sort of better the community. You see a similar aspiration in Ella – and this is obviously before women's suffrage. And so, she doesn't have, necessarily, the same opportunities in 1905, but you see her really chasing after what's important to her. I love that.

I love getting to wear her costumes: the corsets, the hats, the gloves, the petticoats. Our costume designer, Keith Nielsen, was just incredible with his designs, and that was so helpful for me as an actress. If you've seen the film, you know that I travel forward 120 years, to 2025. When I was in my more-modern clothes, I actually asked to keep the corset on because, first of all, I think that's what Ella would have done; and then, because that's what she's comfortable with – that's what she's used to – not that it's comfortable. But I also felt like that would (shape her alignment) and continue the way that she moved regardless of the year.

I love this character.

Then you see her go forward in time. You know, a comet symbolically represents a new beginning, and we see her stepping into this new chapter in her life into the future. And we find these two people, Nick and Ella, that sort of are searching for meaning and belonging, and that's a sort of desire that is true in humanity, regardless of the year. I love how they come together.

I also feel like you get to see and learn about values that are sort of timeless, whether that's slowing down, or family tradition, or kindness, or generosity. Those were all values in 1905, but those ring true today, too.

And then, as an actress, it was just an absolute ball to sit back and ask the question, you know, what would it look like if someone from 120 years ago was experiencing the medical and technological advancements of today, with technology; and what would it be like for her to see a woman in pants, or a paper cup, or oat milk – or “milked oats,” as she says?

I feel like just sort of that naivety and wonder and delight at the simplest of things was such a fun story to tell; and the premise is just so smart; and the text was so good that all you had to really do was believe it and tell the truth. And I feel like a lot of the lines really worked and landed in a way that was comedic.

And I have the best costar, best straight man there, to sort of react to her franticness or amusement at so many things. And that was obviously Mr. Brown – Wes Brown. He's a Hallmark staple. Getting to play opposite of him was a dream come true, and I feel like he made so much of the magic feel real.

Ella then. … and Ella now. (Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/photographer: David Scott Holloway)

••••••••

BTS: You spoke about taking it from the script to the screen, and the process not being overly complicated. But I don't want to undervalue or minimize your performance, because I did watch the movie, and it was really good – and I feel like I have seen similar premises in other movies where they try to tie some of these things in, and it's just kind of hokey or it's not believable.

I really like the chemistry between you and Wes. I like the way you brought the material to life. It was funny, and I just found myself really getting caught up in this story. A lot of that, obviously, has to do with the writing, the directing – but you're the one who has to bring this complicated character to life.

Tell me about your approach to this role. Like I said, I think when you're talking about sci-fi, and Christmas, and some of these other things, you're kind of walking a fine line where it could get off the rails and become hokey.

Ginna Claire Mason: We did 30-something interviews yesterday, and I have to say, you could tell, of the interviewers who had actually sat down and watched the film, people – like you were saying – I feel like really resonated with it; were really responding to it; just loved it. The word “favorite” was thrown out a lot, which was really kind.

I've never worked on something quite like this before. It was so special. The first movie I ever did was with this director, Dustin, and he has such a remarkable eye. He directs from such a technical perspective, because he also owns a production/special effects company, so he was always thinking about the edit. Every shot was so specific.

And I have to say, with this film, more than any other, I was given a lot of opportunity to play. So, we would get two or three shots exactly as scripted, or exactly like he wanted for technical purposes, and then he would really give us a chance to play. And it was really fun for me to see how often he liked the things we were coming up with on the fly – and then, ultimately, how many of those things made it into the edit.

I will say Wes has been a friend for years, so a lot of that chemistry was really natural. And as a real-life friend, to step on stage with someone that you trust and love and know already, is such a gift – and he's such a warm and generous scene partner. And I think his character had an incredibly tricky arc, you know, walking that fine line of thinking this person is a lunatic, and then also seeing sort of magic happen in front of his own eyes, and asking these questions. “Is it possible?” You know, coming to terms, as a historian, with his disbeliefs, and trying to question if it could really be real, and then all the while, sort of falling for this girl, too.

I think he had a lot to juggle, and he's just so natural and grounded, and again, I think made a lot of the magic work, and helped a lot of my antics really land; so, I'm grateful for him.

We definitely combed through the script before we ever even got on set, and had some ideas. But, you know, you can read it to yourself or read it out loud and have ideas of how it’s going to go, but then you step on set, to an actual sailboat, or to a multimillion-dollar, looks like turn-of-the-century mansion, and you're sort of transported yourself. That all sort of helps, when you step into the corset and have the turn-of-the-century hairstyles.

I will say, jumping back and forth between centuries was also a challenge, but I loved that. And going back and forth between hairstyles and outfits and sets – everybody was at the top of their game. I just feel like everybody did such an incredible job on this film.

WATCH:

BTS: We have gotten to know Dustin, as well, because, after he did “A Newport Christmas,” he directed “Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story.”

Ginna Claire Mason: It’s so sweet because I did a movie a few years ago with the Radio City Rockettes (“A Holiday Spectacular”), and he was the producer on that. And like I said, it was my first film – and I was actually playing Glinda in “Wicked” on Broadway at the same time – which was really kooky, because Radio City and the Gershwin Theatre are just two avenues apart.

I came to him in the beginning, and I said, “Please, I want to be a sponge.” Like, “Take me under your wing; teach me everything you can.” And he really did, and continues to do. I've learned so much from him.

I think, film as a storytelling mechanism, is so fascinating and intriguing. And I love seeing how he makes certain things work, and why. And the special effects in this movie are, I think, truly remarkable, and I think really elevate the whole film to another level. And then Newport itself is like another character in the movie, with the light on the water, and the architecture, and all the decorations. It feels like stepping into a Christmas card. It's totally magical.

I think people who tune in will really, really love it. And I think, just from the title, I don't think people really know what to expect; but I think it will surprise and delight you. And I don't know about you, but when I was reading the script for the first time, I was like, “How is this going to end?” I think it's really risky, high-stakes storytelling, and with a little bit of gut-wrenching moments in there. And I think it makes for a true romance.

BTS: It's got that twist, for sure.

Ginna Claire Mason: A romance for the ages!

Wes Brown and Ginna Claire Mason in the Hallmark Channel’s “Countdown to Christmas” feature “A Newport Christmas.” (Credit: ©2025 Hallmark Media/photographer: Robert Clark)

••••••••

See also >> Buffalo Bills use a little Hallmark magic to stun Baltimore Ravens

See also >> 'Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story': Hallmark looks to shine spotlight on Buffalo

See also >> Buffalo leaves indelible mark on 'Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story' stars, director

See also >> Hollywood comes to Buffalo, as Hallmark brings 'Countdown to Christmas' to town with 'Holiday Touchdown: A Bills Love Story'