Interview: Chad Michael Murray talks Hallmark Channel’s Sand Dollar Cove

Chad Michael Murray has starred in some of the most iconic television series of the past two decades. He’s appeared in numerous feature films and he’s even published two novels. He’s a husband and a father and somehow he manages to find time to film movies for the Hallmark Channel, too. His new film, Sand Dollar Cove, debuts June 26 as part of Hallmark’s Summer Nights programming.

We had a chance to talk with Murray about Sand Dollar Cove, working with Hallmark and his impressive career.

Interview with Hallmark Channel star Chad Michael Murray

(Sarabeth Pollock) I’ve been talking with some of the other Hallmark Channel Summer Nights actors over the past few weeks and the timing on these movies just couldn’t be better. Even though it’s an annual event, having these Summer Nights movies airing right now as the world is opening back up is really great timing. 

(Chad Michael Murray) Oh my gosh, well, I hope [the movie] hits home the way it seems it might. That would really be fantastic. 

I watched Sand Dollar Cove ahead of our interview and it’s such a feel-good movie, but it’s got a really good message in it, too. It’s got these really great themes about the past, and how to respect the past while embracing the present and the future. What drew you to the script?

Over the years I’ve developed a fantastic relationship with Hallmark. I just feel like the world needs more and more good-hearted family content, right? I really, truly believe that. I think [this movie] has a good heart, good soul, too. And so when these stories come across my table, I just try to find something where I know that I can identify with the character so I can bring his best foot forward. And that’s really what speaks to me. 

Everybody loves a good summer film, everyone has their fantastic summer memory that takes them back. So I hope this can bring forth some nostalgia for people who have had those memories. That’s what this is about. 

When did you film the movie? Was it this year? Was it recent?

Boy, I wish it was last summer! We filmed in early March in Connecticut and it was freezing. Oh, it was freezing. It was not necessarily the best scenario for a summer film. I cannot fib. I cannot tell a lie. It snowed three times while we were shooting. 

Oh wow!

Hats off to the cast involved. And Mark [Familgiletti] and Aly [Michalka], and oh my gosh our little glammed up girl [Lily Jane Chachula]. She was there in all the little sun dresses, just shivering. We were trying to keep each other warm. It was a good bonding moment for our cast. 

I watched an early version of the film so there were a couple of things that hadn’t been finished yet. I noticed you were wearing a wetsuit under your clothes in the dunk tank. How many times did you have to go into that dunk tank?

It was for the wind, and the cold. We were shooting on a lake, and we’re shooting in the water. And the wind is whipping at 20 to 30 miles per hour. It’s whipping in and you’re wet, and that wind was just cutting through you. 

Originally that scene was planned for outdoors, but it was raining and between 38 and 45 degrees. Not necessarily a scenario to be shooting a dunk tank scene. So we put our heads together because at the end of the day we’re making movies. No one wanted to sacrifice the time or the crew. Each and every one of us had heat packs stuck to our core or our legs or our backs. Every time you see Aly in a dress, she has about six or seven heat packs stuck to her, just to stop the chattering. 

You all made it look so easy. It’s funny to think that summer movies are filmed when it’s so cold and Christmas movies are filmed when it’s so warm. It’s a testament to the job you do as actors.

I give it to the production. They threw that together quite quickly. It was maybe a day. That whole scenario was supposed to be played outside, right on the water. But weather being what it was…shooting in New England in March is probably not the most ideal place. 

I know some of my fellow actors are in Hawaii, so that must be a different scenario. But yeah, shooting these in [a warmer climate] would maybe feel a little bit better. But at the end of the day, like I said, I think we all really bonded together through it as a cast. We just really created some great relationships that I think will turn into lifelong friendships. And then throwing caution to the wind and running to get warmth for a few seconds before you go back out…it’s stories to tell. 

It must be fun because you’ve done a mix of holiday movies and summer movies, so you’ve got them both going. It must be fun to do a mixture because not many Hallmark actors do both. 

To be completely honest, I wasn’t even aware of that. I hadn’t given it much thought. I love the relationship with Hallmark. I love everybody over there. And for me, it’s really just about putting in the wholesome content and creating for the world. I get a nice mix because on the side I can run out and do a dark little indie film, or some crazy drama somewhere. And then come back and dial it in for some good wholesome content with Hallmark and tell their story. 

I’ve had several opportunities to act and tell stories, and to finish them and go on to the next one. My biggest hope and prayer for Sand Dollar Cove is that it brings a lot of joy to people who need it. It’s been a tough year and a half since the pandemic started. And I think it’s at least a chance to get some good, fantastic summer feelings while the world’s starting to open up and you’re potentially going to get to go to a fair or carnival. Summer’s coming and everyone’s going to get ready to go out and enjoy it.

That’s one of the things that’s so powerful about Sand Dollar Cove that I really appreciated, that there are so many things people can relate to. Like when your character, Brody, has a booth at the fair to help connect people who need help to people who can help them. And then there’s the big storm that hit the community at the beginning of the film. These are things people can relate to, instead of being fanciful or purely escapist. It’s powerful because it has a real connection. 

Yeah. I believe people of all walks of life can identify with the stories being told and I hope your thoughts ring true. I hope the movie brings a truth to people and that it pulls at the heartstrings a little bit. 

You mentioned that some of your colleagues have done movies in warmer climates. Is there a place you would go if Hallmark called and gave you free reign to film wherever you want?

I mean, Hawaii is very high on the list. I’ve always wanted to do it, I just have to find a way to execute it. But a story set in Hawaii where they have a white Christmas after a fantastical storm that ends up, and Hawaii gets snow for the first time. 

I love it! Now, in Sand Dollar Cove you get to do some fishing and you explain to Aly how to bait the hook and the importance of the right tackle. You also get to build some sand castles. Are these things you’ve done in the past? I love hearing how actors learn new things while filming. 

Yeah, I wouldn’t amass any awards for my sand castles, but my wife is educating me on drip castles so I’m going to learn how to make a drip castle. And I do have two children, so Sarah and I and our kids are at the beach quite often. So we’ve become quite accustomed to building sand castles. Fishing is something I do with the kids. I will tell you, I’ve never been to a clambake. I learned a lot about it. 

When you were on the dock teaching Aly to cast a line, was she familiar with fishing? Because she really pulled it off nicely. 

Or so you think…magic of filming! The rod was broken and it wasn’t her fault, so it by no means had anything to do with her expertise. The rod somehow got the line snagged on take one, and it was knotted up inside the wheel. So every time we go to cast, literally it wouldn’t go past the wheel. Sometimes it wouldn’t even hit the water!

It has been so great talking to you, and my last question goes back to all of the iconic shows you’ve been part of over the last two decades. Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, Dawson’s Creek and recently Riverdale. And now you’re doing a lot of Hallmark movies in addition to the other projects you’re working on. Could you talk a little bit about the evolution of moving through these projects and how you bring your experience with you from role to role?

I mean, that’s a fascinating question and there are a billion answers to that question. What I will say is there are tricks to the trade that I take with me and carry on to the next set. Just years of experience. It will be 22 years in September for me, since I started doing television. And it’s been the most gratifying experience. 

And I would say very much that I got into this business because I wanted to bring joy to people and help them forget about the mundane things that may be going on in their own lives and give them an escape. And I’ve been able to do that for a long time. So it’s a true blessing being able to go from one set to another.

I’ve been blessed to be part of so many great projects over 22 years. I’m a married man, two kids, and I just like putting good content out there in the world. It’s fortuitous. Your heart and soul know that [your work] is going to bring joy to people’s faces, and that makes me happy. 

It’s been an absolute pleasure chatting with you and I’m so excited for people to see this movie. Not only is it a special way to wrap up Summer Nights, but it’s also the gateway to Hallmark’s Christmas in July!

There you go!

Be sure to catch Chad Michael Murray in Hallmark Channel’s all-new Sand Dollar Cove, premiering Saturday, June 26.