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Christmas Love Letter cast members Jackie Prucha, Izzy Herbert, Pierce Lackey, and producer and director Damian Romay attended the premiere that was held at the Holiday Inn Express and Suites in Helen on Sunday, Dec. 15. (Photo/Stephanie Hill) -
Helen Mayor Cinnamon Spurlock welcomed everyone to the special premiere. (Photo/Stephanie Hill) -
Director and producer Damian Romay, actress Izzy Herbert, and producer Jacobo Rispa, thanked everyone for coming out to the premiere. (Photo/Stephanie Hill) -
Izzy Herbert, Adam Herbert, Ben Herbert, Amy Herbert and Elliott Herbert came to the premiere to support Izzy, who plays Marty McCallister in the film. (Photo/Stephanie Hill) -
Jerry Brown, executive director of the Alpine Helen/White County Convention & Visitors Bureau, welcomed everyone to the special premiere. (Photo/Stephanie Hill)
Helen rolled out the red carpet this past weekend.
At least it did for one night, Sunday, Dec. 15, for the premiere of the movie Christmas Love Letter, which was filmed in Helen earlier this year and will debut to a wider audience on Lifetime this Saturday, Dec. 21.
The event brought out locals who were extras in the movie, a few stars from the film, the producers, director, and local government officials. Alpine Helen/White County Convention & Visitors Bureau Executive Director Jerry Brown thanked everyone for coming and thanked those who helped with the evening.
“We also want to thank the city [of Helen] for the hard work and turning this town in the spring, eight months ago, into a Christmas village,” he said. “Without your assistance and the guys in public works, we would not have been able to make it happen.”
The movie is about Amalie Hess, a columnist, who receives an unsigned love letter in a Christmas card. She comes back to Helen, her hometown, to find out who sent the card. In her time in Helen during the holidays, she meets with old loves to crack the mystery. While in town, she catches up with old friends and discovers something new about herself.
Carol Powell, general manager of the Holiday Inn Express & Suites in Helen that hosted the event, also spoke to the crowd.
“I especially wanted to thank Jacobo (Rispa) and Sunshine Films. They’ve been a great partner, not only for our town, our village, and putting us on the map and we really, as a partner in tourism, Jerry (Brown) and I really do appreciate your investment here,” Powell said.
Helen Mayor Cinnamon Spurlock said she was happy to have everyone at the premiere.
“I just want to thank each and everyone of you for participating in the movie,” Spurlock told the crowd. “I especially want to thank Damian [Romay] and Jacobo [Rispa] and coming and talking with us and having this vision and this dream.”
Rispa, a producer for the film, was at the premiere and told the White County News that Helen was an ideal location for the film.
“It’s the perfect setting for a holiday movie, such as the theme and unique flavor. It was perfect to tell the story,” he said.
During his time in Helen in the spring, Rispa and Romay said they felt welcomed.
“Everything was so easy. People were very collaborative and everyone was so welcoming and everything. The hospitality, the southern hospitality, helped us so much to make this movie. Everything was easy here,” Rispa said.
“It was great. Everybody was great,” Romay said. “Southern hospitality, this is what it means for me. Everybody was so nice, so helpful, everybody invited us to shoot in their houses. Everybody brought food to the set, baked pies for the crew. Everybody was just so kind.”
Rispa and Romay were glad to share the premiere with the people of Helen.
“This is so exciting,” Romay said. “It’s so nice. I think it’s great.”
Christmas Love Letter will debut on Lifetime at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21.