Alexa PenaVega – Enchanted Christmas

By: Lisa Steinberg

Q) Please tell us the premise for Enchanted Christmas.

A) Enchanted Christmas is about two people who are old flames who left their hometown and are suddenly ten years later brought back. They are kind of thrown together again. They are still fighting, but it also might reignite an old flame.

Q) How did the movie come to involve both you and your husband, Carlos PenaVega?

A) We were presented it together. It’s so fun! I’ve worked with them for three years and they have been so good to us. We’ve always expressed how much we love working together and how we were looking for a project that we could both shoot together. When they presented this idea, we really, really liked it and I love dance. So, it kind of worked out perfectly!

Q) What were some of the challenges you faced filming together?

A) To be honest with you, we’re really strange. We actually try to spend every moment together. I know a lot of couples want their space and want to do their own thing. For us, we really try not to be separate at all – to the point that if he is working on a project then I won’t take a project. Or if I’m working on a project he won’t take work. That way we aren’t splitting our family up. That’s something that is really easy to do in this industry and I think it just makes it so hard to have a strong and solid relationship when you have to be away from each other for six or three months. So, we really try to make it to where we are working together as much as possible.

Q) Was there any advice that the director gave you while filming that you carried with you while filming?

A) Our director, Terry Cunningham, was just great. He gave us a lot of freedom to play, which I loved. When you’re married in real life there are so many funny little quirks that you have as a couple that just brings a spark. And you can’t really write that. It just has to happen. So, he gave us the freedom to play around, ad lib and add little quirks that are very much us, but also work for the film. I think it really brought it to life.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from filming the movie?

A) There is actually a really funny moment. We had to learn eight dances in a week and it’s in the middle of filming and we’re tired and exhausted. Then, we had to shoot the grand finale with ten minutes to shoot it because it’s the end of the day and we’re about to lose everybody. So, I was like freaking out! I was like, “We have to get his! We have to make this work!” So, we’re in the middle of this dance and I’m getting a little flustered. Carlos said, “Babe, you have to stop messing up! We got to get this!” I was like, “I’m sorry! It’s okay! We’ll just do it again! Don’t make it a big deal.” We actually started to get into an argument during the filming of the finale dance. It wasn’t a big argument, but it literally just looks very passionate during the dance. Carlos does not like being upset and holding onto it. He has to have the conversation right then and there and finish it. That way, nobody walks away angry and no one walks away upset. Everything gets handled. Obviously, we had to shoot this big dance so while we’re dancing and rolling, through our smiles we are talking to each other and pinching one another. It was really funny!

Q) What do you think it is about the movie Enchanted Christmas that will make it a fast fan favorite Hallmark film?

A) I think that there is something special about having a real married couple work together because there are those quirks that I was talking about. Because there is that chemistry you get to watch two people who are really in love together experience love together on screen and have funny fights that you’ve also experienced with your spouse. It just makes it special and exciting. I think Carlos specifically is just so much fun. I’m really proud of him. He did great work in this movie and I really think people are going to like it.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you will be receiving to the movie?

A) Oh my gosh, yes! Carlos and I started vlogging. We started doing that about a year ago and it’s a really great way we’re able to communicate with our fans. They just kind of give us a bunch of feedback. We’ve been nothing but supported by them and I’m so eager to hear what their fav parts were, things they enjoyed and things that they felt didn’t work so that maybe we can fix it if we do another one. So, that feedback is so important not just for us, but for Hallmark as well.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure we share with our readers?

A) It airs this Sunday, November 12th and please, please watch it!