Kelce and Kansas City Chiefs players including Trey Smith and Mecole Hardman Jr. are among the rookies in Hallmark Channels hotly anticipated new Christmas movie
Hallmark Channels upcoming Christmas movie Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story features a whole sleigh full of seasoned actors, but it also has a team of rookies stepping onto the Hollywood field for the first time.
Thankfully, they have Tyler Hynes and Hunter King in starting positions to help newcomers like Donna Kelce and Kansas City Chiefs players Trey Smith and Mecole Hardman Jr. feel at ease.
Donna was a little overwhelmed, Hynes, 38, told PEOPLE between scenes during an exclusive set visit at Arrowhead Stadium in July. Its a lot. Theres a lot of people. Theres a lot of moving parts, a lot of people talking to you in between [takes].
Its like were making a movie in between the circus, so its hard for anybody coming into that because they can feel that energy even if they cant articulate it. You can just see people being a little overwhelmed, he says.
Related: See Donna Kelce Serve Up Philly Cheesesteaks in the New Hallmark Movie Christmas on Call! (Exclusive)
Hynes, who has starred in more than 20 movies for the network, had a trick up his sleeve to help Kelce and others tackle those nerves, though.
Theres a move I do sometimes. I shouldnt tell this secret, but when somebodys new on set, Ill come and Ill blow my line right away, just to sort of set the tone, put the bar down low, he confesses.
You show them its okay to mess up, King, 31, adds.
I always say to these people who are coming in like this that the only difference between them and me is I dont care when I mess up a line, Hynes says. I just ask for a line. Its that sort of stigma that I think we need to get past. Nobody cares. Were all here on your team.
Related: Hallmarks Tyler Hynes and Hunter King Left These Notes in Travis Kelces Locker at His Mom Donnas Urging (Exclusive)
PEOPLE was able to watch Hynes put this into action sort of while filming a party scene with Chiefs offensive lineman Smith in the Penthouse at Arrowhead Stadium.
During the scene, Hynes, who plays the Chiefs Director of Fan Engagement Derrick, rattles off a bunch of stats about the team to impress superfan Alana (King), and Smith briefly joins their conversation. Several times, Hynes, who is Canadian and only recently got into football after filming a series of playoff promos for the Chiefs last year, called for help with a line or asked to restart his series of impressive figures.
I was actually struggling with that line, he admits. All those statistics I didnt want to mess them up. If I get a comma wrong or dont pronounce the right part of that, its all jibber-jabber to me.
Related: Donna Kelce Appears in Behind-the-Scenes Video for Hallmarks Kansas City Chiefs Romantic Movie Holiday Touchdown
Ever the supportive costar, King chimes in, Also, because hes right there! Its even more pressure when hes in front of you.
Hynes explains further: Do you know how bummed you would be if he watched the movie and he was like, Thats not right. I would feel so bad!
Smith, 25, took the whole experience in stride. It wasnt as much pressure as I thought it would be, he tells PEOPLE. I thought I would have to memorize my lines or that it would be a little bit tougher, but Im thankful it wasnt. Everyones been so sweet.
It helped that Smith had a home-field advantage, though. Im definitely in my comfort zone, he says with a laugh. Im never in this area without being stressed because usually Im walking out of the tunnel for a game. So its definitely a lot more relaxing right now.
As for Smiths performance, He did amazing, Hynes says. Hes a natural.
Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLEs free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story premieres Saturday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m. ET/PT on Hallmark Channel.
Leave a Reply