Behind the scenes of Hallmark's 'A Biltmore Christmas,' filmed in Asheville

ASHEVILLE - The world premiere of a new, original Hallmark Christmas movie, “A Biltmore Christmas,” is slated for Thanksgiving weekend.

Asheville area viewers may spot some familiar faces and places as the time travel holiday love story was filmed at the historic Biltmore Estate with many local cast and crew members hired for the production.

In 1895, famed entrepreneur George Vanderbilt first celebrated Christmas at the 250-room Biltmore House ― dubbed “America’s Largest Home” ― at the 8,000-acre estate, and the holiday season continues to be a major attraction for tourists and residents.

“I was so happy about it because I live here, I know what a big deal it is,” said Christi Whiteley, set decorator and Asheville resident. “Christmas is huge for the Biltmore House and Asheville, so for me to be the one to walk in and do it was just amazing.”

“A Biltmore Christmas,” starring Hallmark movie favorites Bethany Joy Lenz and Kristoffer Polaha, will debut on the network at 8 p.m. Nov. 26, as a part of its 2023 Countdown to Christmas programming.

The movie begins in the present day with Lucy Hardgrove (Lenz) searching for inspiration to write an adaption of the classic holiday favorite, “His Merry Wife!” filmed at Biltmore House in 1947.

During a Biltmore House tour, Lucy accidentally knocks over an hourglass that sends her back to the Golden Age of Hollywood and on the set of the original film where she meets the leading man, Jack Huston (Polaha). Lucy’s presence causes events that jeopardize the film and may alter the future. Lucy attempts to set things right and figure out how to return to her own time. However, that would require leaving Jack, who may be her soulmate.

“A Biltmore Christmas” was directed by John Putch with executive producer Dustin Rikert and produced by Synthetic Cinema International.

Screenwriter Marcy Holland visited Biltmore House and stayed at the estate for inspiration for writing the original Hallmark screenplay.

“It’s one of the best scripts that I’ve read. It sets a different tone for some of the things Hallmark is trying to do,” said Daisy Talley, prop master and Brevard resident.

“One of the things I love is that year they chose to go back to, which is 1947, is the heyday of the iconic Christmas movies that you think of – ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘The Bishop’s Wife,’” Whiteley said.

Recreating the 1940s at Biltmore House

From Nov. 3-Jan. 7, the Christmas at Biltmore series upholds the Vanderbilt tradition with special, holiday-themed programming, including tours of Biltmore House.

In January 2023, decorations were kept in place longer for the filming of “A Biltmore Christmas.”

“The Christmas that was here, I didn’t have to touch because it was amazing. There’s nothing I can do that can be better,” Whiteley said.

However, work was required to transform filming locations at the estate to reflect the 1940s era – while paying respect to the priceless architecture and furnishings.

Whiteley, an antique collector, owns Fleetwood’s a rock-and-roll wedding chapel, vintage shop and bar in West Asheville. Her knack for acquiring vintage wares and knowledge of the local vintage scene aided in her quest for finding the right elements for “A Biltmore Christmas.”

“Because I’m from here, I had access to so many things much more easily than I normally do when on location,” Whiteley said. “Being an antique dealer, I pulled from all of my resources.”

More than 65 Christmas trees are in Biltmore House, but only one is real ― the 35-foot-tall Fraser fir in the Banquet Hall. Faux trees are a choice to protect historic rooms and floors.

During filming, Whiteley requested permission to swap out the faux Christmas tree in the Library with an 11-foot-tall live tree, and Biltmore agreed.

“I felt like it had to be a real tree because it had to be unsheared which was period. Now, they’re very conical but back then they were more wispy,” Whiteley said. “Then, the tinsel is a huge thing in this movie because that was very popular in the '40s. So, this huge tinsel tree that’s unsheared and drapey and gorgeous in the room.”

Hourglasses and other props

Talley said it was “quite the adventure” sourcing props from the 1940s from antique stores, like magazines, makeup and luggage, all while staying within budget.

“Another challenge with is when you run across things you’re looking for from the '40s, you can find tons of it but it has to look brand new for the '40s, so that’s a bit tricky,” Talley said.

Several classic cars were provided by a group of collectors in Marshall.

Movie equipment from the 1940s era, including cameras, lighting and sound equipment, was transported from a prop house in Los Angeles which Talley said was used for the 2022 movie, “Babylon,” starring Brad Pitt and Margot Robbie.

“The biggest challenge for me after reading the script is we have an hourglass here. This hourglass is our vessel for time travel and a big focal point of the plotline,” Talley said.

More than six hourglasses were designed and created by using 3D printing by a company in Atlanta and made in various stages ― whole, cracked and shattered ― to fit the different scenes.

“The technicalities of those props were exciting to me,” Talley said. “I don’t often get to kind of work with something that’s in these different stages of how they’re used.”

Whiteley said the hourglass was inspired by one owned by George Vanderbilt, but the original design was too intricate to replicate. Vanderbilt’s hourglass is on display in his bedroom in Biltmore House. Hallmark’s hourglass is exhibited in the Library.

Costume and props exhibition

Nearly 300 Asheville area actors were cast for “A Biltmore Christmas,” including Robin Turner, a television producer, actor and Asheville native who spent two days at the estate as a primary extra for scenes set in 1947.

“There is something for everyone in this film. There’s the absolute decadence of Biltmore House and its elegant rooms and this magical fantasy of a ‘castle,’” Turner said. “If you love history and being transported back in time, I think people will absolutely love this film. Those who love the surprise and romance will certainly enjoy it, and there’s comic moments in the film.”

Turner’s daughter, Riley Oswald, was cast as an extra in the present-day scenes.

In addition to set design and props, costumes ― curated by costume designer Keith Nielsen ― were integral in creating the illusion of traveling back in time, too.

In one scene, Turner wore a two-piece tweed, plaid suit and in another an “absolutely stunning” floor-length black lace gown and a ballroom scene.

“It was really special to have that dress and have my hair and makeup done in a completely back-in-time, untraditional way than you might see me walking around town here in 2023,” Turner said.

Costumes worn by Lenz and Polaha, and props seen in the movie are on display at Biltmore Estate through the holiday season at The Inn on Biltmore Estate; Village Hotel on Biltmore Estate near the hotel’s second-floor restaurant, Village Social; the Welcome Center – The Reception & Ticketing Sales Center; and Traditions Gift Shop in Antler Hill Village.

“Anyone who watches this movie can actually come to Biltmore. They can come to the place it was filmed and have an amazing experience,” Turner said.

Other Asheville residents in the art department were Shane Meador, production designer; Scott Kinnebrew, leadman; and Joshua Sullivan and Justin Harbin (set dressers).

More ‘A Biltmore Christmas’ filming locations

“A Biltmore Christmas” was filmed in areas across the estate and Western North Carolina.

The Inn at Biltmore’s lobby was recreated to look like a 1940s hotel, in which a reception desk was constructed to fit the architectural style of the time.

Another area of The Inn’s lobby was set up as a restaurant dining room.

“That was a really fun set here in the '40s,” Whiteley said.

The Conservatory near Biltmore House is seen in the background of one of a preview trailer for the film. And the Italian Gardens and Deerpark were other set areas.

Filming locations outside of the estate included Chemist Spirits’ Antidote cocktail bar in downtown Asheville, which has a design themed after an early-1900s chemists’ shop, as well as an office space above Jerusalem Garden Café.

Also, a train station in Hendersonville attracted locals who watched at a distance.

“It was a whole crowd of people watching us work, and it was great,” Talley said.

Filming in January with a naturally wintery backdrop had its downfalls as the cast and crew had to contend with the cold temperatures. And one day, snow fell at Biltmore Estate during filming.

Real snow doesn’t always work on camera as it’s uncontrollable for filmmakers who seek consistency from shot to shot, Whiteley said, but sometimes it’s ideal for setting the scene.

“That’s why they do fake snow,” Whitely said. “But that day, there was a scene walking outside and it was perfect. It totally worked out.”

Movies filmed at Biltmore

For decades, Biltmore Estate has been a part of many filming projects and Hollywood classics and blockbusters, including “Forest Gump,” “Hannibal" and “The Last of the Mohicans.” The estate has been used as the set for car commercials, fashion shoots and other commercial projects.

“We are a unique location in America and there are other large homes with beautiful furnishings but that fact that we have the views, the furnishings, the vistas, the house, the setting, the environment — it’s like we’re the total package,” said Travis Tatham, director of destination entertainment and events at Biltmore, who acts as the liaison between the estate and filmmakers, including the Hallmark production team.

In “Richie Rich,” the 250-room Biltmore House first lived in by the famed entrepreneur in 1895, was portrayed as Richie Rich’s mansion. However, this is the first time for Biltmore House to be featured in a movie as Biltmore House.

“It was very important to us to showcase Biltmore House and for everyone to enjoy Biltmore House ― what we get to do every day,” Tatham said.

“We want the Hallmark customers and fan base to really be able to see what Biltmore is, and our request to Hallmark was that you treat it like it’s a character in the movie. So, we feel like they did an excellent job at doing that ― at showcasing the house and the staff made it look great and everyone did what we had to do to make it one of the main characters in the movie," Tatham said.

A ‘magical’ experience

For 13 years, Turner worked in Biltmore’s marketing department as the programming and production manager responsible for audio and video components on the estate.

“A Biltmore Christmas” brought a new experience and perspective and set of memories ― and new friendships ― gained in her two days on the set.

“Biltmore is a magical place, and there’s nothing like being in Biltmore House when there’s not tourists and guests,” Turner said. “It’s so special because you’re able to experience Biltmore House ― even though you’re on a film set ― like the Vanderbilts and the guests of the Vanderbilts did.”

Whiteley and Talley are colleagues and friends who’ve worked on many productions together over the years, largely through Synthetic Cinema International, a production company that has produced nearly 20 films for Hallmark.

Whiteley’s resume includes Hallmark’s “One Royal Holiday,” “Sugar Plum Twist,” “Sand Dollar Cove,” “Taking the Reins,” and the Netflix documentary, “Anna Nicole Smith: You Don’t Know Me.”

Talley said she’s worked on nearly 17 Hallmark movies, including the aforementioned and “Mystic Christmas,” “Next Stop, Christmas” and “A Holiday Spectacular.”

Recent non-Hallmark productions include “Black Flies” (2023) starring Tye Sheridan, Sean Penn and Mike Tyson.

However, nothing compares to their experience filming at the famed home in their “backyard,” they said.

“It’s magical and a part of that lends itself to the setting. It’s a gorgeous house,” Talley said. “This place at Christmas encompasses Christmas feelings and our crew did a great job in helping capture that essence of Christmas and the magic.”

'A Biltmore Christmas'

Premieres: 8 p.m. Nov. 26 on Hallmark Channel and available for replay on the Hallmark Movies Now app.

Info: For more about "A Biltmore Christmas", visit hallmarkchannel.com. For more about Biltmore, visit biltmore.com.

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• On the set of Hallmark's 'A Biltmore Christmas,' filming at Biltmore Estate

• Christmas at Biltmore kicks off with 35-foot-tall tree raising, holiday lights, decor

• 4 ways to create a Hallmark 'A Biltmore Christmas' experience, movie premieres in November

Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Hallmark's 'A Biltmore Christmas': Behind the scenes with cast, crew