Hallmark viewers were gifted some new movies as part of the “Summer Nights” theme during the month of August.  I had never heard of At Home in Mitford but I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed this one!  The story is based on the first book in a series by Jan Karon.  The movie stars Cedar Cove alumni Andie MacDowell and Hallmark regular Cameron Mathison.  From Hallmark:

“With a case of writer’s block, a children’s author escapes to small town Mitford for a change of scenery. She soon finds the heart and soul of the southern town in a priest as they work together to care for a young boy who’s lost his family. With heartbreak in their pasts, each must find the courage and faith to grab an unexpected chance at true love.”

I know I tend to watch movies and television differently than most, typically with a remote control in one hand, a pen in the other, and a notebook close by.  As soon as the bookstore appeared on screen, I was drawn to its simplicity.  The warm colors and cozy decor invited me right in, and I kept repeating to myself, “I hope this is a real bookstore because I really want to go see it!”  At first, I wasn’t totally convinced it was.  I thought maybe it was a rented space that set dressers created for filming.  Then, I saw some clues and am thrilled to report that this is, indeed, a real bookstore or Bookery, as it states on the front window.

Book n Bean is a used bookstore and coffee house.  Proprietor Alana just celebrated her 1st anniversary and already has two – yes, two – Hallmark movies under her belt!  The first is At Home in Mitford and the second, Falling for Vermont, will premiere September 23 as part of the networks “Fall Harvest” line-up.  Alana tells me filming of Falling for Vermont was much shorter than Mitford was.  Either way, I look forward to seeing her shop on screen again.

Book n Bean is so inviting, from the casual music and large, plush, overstuffed chairs to the cozy fireplace and coffee bar, complete with mouthwatering baked goods.  The décor is lovely and so tasteful that set-dressers didn’t really change anything when they came to film.  Right down to the plant-filled, oversized coffee mugs adorning tabletops and the galvanized letters “B-N-B”, the place looks just as it appeared it Mitford.  When I visit a location, I am always looking for signs that filming took place.  When I walked into Book n Bean, I didn’t even have to look as it was all there, right in front of me.

Alana is easy going, and I had no trouble connecting with her during our visit.  The Hallmark Channel isn’t available in Canada, (I know, ironic, right?).  Alana didn’t know At Home in Mitford had premiered yet, so of course she hadn’t seen it.  She was as giddy to hear the movie was what had brought me into her shop as I was to be there, and we hit it off immediately!  She had no trouble at all sharing her filming experience with me with the kind of excitement one would expect if their business had been graced with the likes of Andie MacDowell and the Hallmark brand.  She was quick to show me a set photo of her and Andie – yeah, they are on a first name basis now – and had no problem answering my questions about filming.  One of the highlights from our visit was showing Alana a trailer for the movie, which showcased the Bookery.  I loved watching her reaction as she saw her shop on screen for the first time, even if it was just on an iPhone screen.  Her excitement and emotions were very real, and it reminded me of myself when I visit these familiar locations.

Alana acted as Film Liaison and says she stayed around for a lot of the filming.  She tells me everyone on set was professional, respectful, and friendly – actors included.  She shared with me a funny story.  For one of the scenes, the director set up Video Village (the area where the crew watch monitors of what the camera is capturing to ensure everything looks the way they want it to)  behind the coffee counter, the same counter we see in the movie.  Rather than look at the actors performing their scene, the director and crew watched from a large screen.  Other crew who were scattered around the shop all looked away once the cameras started rolling.  Alana was fascinated with the fact that Andie was literally just feet away from her in her bookshop and was watching Andie intently as the scene played out.  A crew member leaned over to whisper something to Alana and she nodded back to him, although she didn’t hear what he said.  When the cameras stopped rolling, the crew member leaned over again and told her to watch the screen, not the actors.  He said the actors get nervous if everyone is watching them, so everyone on set turns away once the cameras roll.  Alana and I got a good chuckle out of that.  I laughed with her because I know myself; I would have done the exact same thing!!!  She tells me from then on, she watched from the screen with everyone else.  She said it was just like watching it on TV.  Great little behind-the-scene story!

Check out the red chairs in the screenshot above and my photo below; how cool that the set decorators chose to use so much of Alana’s own décor!

I’d like to say a big thank you to Alana for her candidness, enthusiasm, and for allowing me to share about her store.  Book n Bean is located at 27103 Fraser Hwy in Aldergrove, BC.  It is open 7 days a week.  And don’t forget to watch for Book n Bean to make another appearance on screen this Saturday night, in the premiere of Falling for Vermont, on the Hallmark Channel.

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What did you think of the movie At Home In Mitford?  Would you like to see a sequel?  Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.

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