Fake Eating Can Be ‘Loud And Weird,’ But Alison Sweeney Has A ‘Firm’ Rule About Eating In Hallmark Movies

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For approximately ten years, Alison Sweeney has been captivating Hallmark viewers with her Hannah Swensen mysteries, which involves a substantial amount of cake, cookies, and various treats being devoured as the detective-baker unravels each case. Notably, in the upcoming “Reality Bites” mystery titled “Murder, She Baked” on the 2025 TV schedule, the actors actually consume the food, as Sweeney confirmed to TopMob that she strictly adheres to a policy of avoiding fake eating.

Among the upcoming Hallmark movies this month, fans of the network’s TV films were additionally given a treat with the premiere of “Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery“. I had the opportunity to interview Alison Sweeney before its release, discussing all things blueberry-related, and she shared that as a producer, she ensures the actors consume the food their characters eat. She stated:

“As a producer, I make certain that the cast actually eats the food their characters are consuming.

I’m quite traditional in my approach to production, with a firm stance on authenticity. I don’t tolerate faking scenes, such as pretending to eat. I tell people bluntly, “No, you can’t just nibble at a lettuce leaf. You must actually eat it, and we’ll work around it in post-production.” It’s better to shoot genuinely and correct mistakes later than to resort to cheap, unconvincing acting, especially since our show revolves around cookies and baking.

While “Reality Bites” shares many elements with the typical Hallmark Mystery series, such as detective work, a touch of romance between Hannah and Chad, and humor reminiscent of Monty Python, it also offers an abundance of desserts. She’s correct in pointing out that it can seem absurd when actors pretend to eat food, just like the controversy surrounding Kim Kardashian pretending to consume Beyond Meat products she was promoting.

In the movie that Alison Sweeney both starred in and wrote, a TV production team invaded The Cookie Jar set to shoot a show. Interestingly, even the guest stars were expected to abide by Sweeney’s guidelines. She discussed the meticulous planning involved in catering food according to the actors’ preferences while ensuring it didn’t draw attention on camera. She explained:

“Every detail, from the food choices to ensure they don’t detract from the performances on screen, is painstakingly planned.

The guest actors are all pre-informed about their roles. We accommodate gluten-free options if necessary or for those with allergies, but we emphasize that they will be eating in the scene and taking large bites in every take. We’re ready to assist them as much as possible, but it’s crucial that this happens. I then need to consult with the props department because they must provide suitable cookies that are safe to eat. We avoid using snappy, noisy, and unusual cookies to maintain a natural scene. Clearly, a lot of consideration is given in this process.

It’s clear that the actors must appreciate Alison Sweeney and her team’s dedication to their safety and comfort, considering not all sets are as considerate as this one, as evidenced by the This Is Us actor who had to consume nearly raw meat for a scene.

If you didn’t catch the premiere of “Reality Bites: A Hannah Swensen Mystery”, don’t fret! You’ll have another chance to enjoy the murder mystery and delicious treats at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, February 22, when it airs again on Hallmark Mystery.

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2025-02-17 03:07