Martin Wood directing a conversation about Elizabeth’s curriculum between Fiona (Kayla Wallace), Elizabeth (Erin Krakow), and Rosemary (Pascale Hutton).
WHEN CALLS THE HEART, DIRECTING, HALLMARK
For fans of When Calls the Heart, few names behind the camera are as beloved as director Martin Wood. Having directed 15 episodes over multiple seasons, Martin returned in Season 12 after last working on the show in Season 7. In our conversation, he shared insights into his directing process, working with the cast, and the special moments that made filming episodes 5 and 6 so memorable.
Coming Back to When Calls the Heart
After several years away due to scheduling conflicts, Martin was thrilled to return to Hope Valley. “I’ve been trying to get back,” he shared, explaining how his commitments to Virgin River previously kept him from working on When Calls the Heart. “It worked out perfectly this year.”
Coming back felt like slipping on an old glove. Martin has known much of the cast for years, even before When Calls the Heart. “I’ve done movies and series work with Pascale (Hutton) and Kavan (Smith) and others, and Erin (Krakow) and Ben (Rosenbaum) and I talk all the time. It was a homecoming for me,” he said, emphasizing how easily they picked up where they left off.
The Cast’s Growth and Chemistry
Working with familiar actors allows for a natural rhythm on set. “Everybody grows, everybody changes, but when you’ve done a series together, you really get to know them,” Martin said. Having worked with Pascale on multiple projects, including Sanctuary and Arctic Air, their dynamic made filming effortless. “I’ve done three series and a big thriller with Pascale, and every time we work together, I just laugh.” While it’s fun to hang out with the cast, Martin emphasized that they’re all such talented actors that he was eager to get back to directing the two episodes with them.
A Shift in Tone: More Comedy in Season 12?
Many fans have noticed a rise in humor in recent episodes, and Martin agrees. “Erin is very, very funny, in ways the audience may not always see. She makes me laugh a lot,” he noted. “It behooves the writers to find the humor in a town where people are always together… When you live and work in the same place, you have to find humor in it.” This approach creates richer character interactions and a more engaging world for viewers.
One of the standout comedic moments was the interrogation scene featuring Bill and Rosemary. “Jack and Pascale have such great chemistry, and they really bring out the best in each other,” Martin said. “That scene was so fun to shoot because their dynamic is just naturally hilarious.” You can just see Bill thinking, “Wow, that is a lot of energy to have around me right now. That is not what I usually do.”
This dynamic carried through into the Danny DiMarco scene. “I had that one fairly blocked out. I really wanted it to work with the mirror in a very specific way. My whole thing with actors is that I think in terms of what the character needs to do at that moment. All I said to Kevin and Jack was that you need a place to hide from this whirlwind, and both of you just back up against the desk.”
“It’s so fun to watch when Pascale does the biggest Rosemary when she gets that kind of energy. I have two cameras rolling, and I’m standing in between them, and I hear both camera operators laughing.”
The Dream Sequences: Crafting Something New
The dream sequences really stood out to Martin. He started conversations with Erin immediately. “As soon as I read it, I texted her, and she said that she had some thoughts about it.
Originally, there were only two dream sequences, but a third was added to provide balance. “Each dream had to start as if it were real before the audience caught on that it wasn’t real. And then, you would have the big wakeup. The first one had to be the biggest surprise. This was nothing When Calls the Heart had ever done before.”
The scenes were shot with intentional visual cues to signal their surreal nature. The Wisteria in the barn, the slow camera pullback—it all made the audience question what was real. “When you saw what Erin was looking at, you would know it couldn’t be real.” And then, of course, the moment Nathan appeared in the final dream was a total surprise because there was no hint that he was in that state. Martin admitted that he knew that as soon as Nathan looked out the window and wondered why all of the sheets were outside of Nathan’s window, they would know what was up with Nathan.
Kevin McGarry, who plays Nathan, later called his dream sequence “one of the most beautiful and poetic moments” on When Calls the Heart. Martin credits Erin for inspiring the dream’s visuals. “She gave me the inspiration for it. And I started chasing that, to make it that big and beautiful.” It was actually a much longer sequence originally and ended differently than what aired. It ended with Erin licking Kevin’s face a lot, and then Martin cut to Scout licking Kevin’s face. Martin and Erin had a feeling it wouldn’t make the final cut.
One interesting choice was that none of the dream sequences included a kiss. Martin shared that the second dream in the barn did have a kiss in the original cut, but it was removed. The first one never had one. The third one had to be more about longing than fulfillment.
This decision added to the intrigue, making fans wonder about the deeper meaning behind the scenes. “Those dream sequences were very fun,” Martin stated. “That’s one of the things I will always remember about When Calls the Heart.”
Bringing in New and Returning Faces to Hope Valley
Martin had the opportunity to introduce Melissa Gilbert’s character, Georgie. “I really enjoyed the moments with Melissa, and honestly, Kevin was so fabulous in that too. I put him in between the two of them (Melissa and Jack Wagner), obviously. If he was only facing one way, you’d never get the sense of, ‘Wait, what’s going on here?’ You have to have them in between to ping pong back and forth. So it played out really nicely.
The scene in the train car was fun just because it’s always fun to play with Jack like that. Jack has such a dry sense of humor, especially with me. I asked him to do something and he goes, ‘No, I want to do it this way.’ And I went, ‘That’s what we just talked about.’ And he goes, ‘Yeah, but if I say it, it’s my idea.’ I’m like, ‘Okay, great. Fantastic. I really do enjoy working with him.’” Speaking of the train, due to logistical challenges, they built the train car inside the saloon set. “It had to be filmed quickly before we had to dismantle it for other scenes. It was a unique challenge, but worth it to bring Melissa into Hope Valley.” Martin shared that Gilbert was a joy to work with.
Another fun moment for Martin was introducing Ava to Hope Valley, not only because she was a new character, but because Fiona was returning to Hope Valley and the one to bring Ava into town. “Fans went wild seeing Fiona back,” along with bringing in this mysterious new character.
If he had continued directing beyond episodes 5 and 6, Martin said he would have loved to follow the mysterious Ava storyline more closely. “We had to craft backstory details to make the performance believable, and it would’ve been fun to see that through.”
Filming Emotional Moments
Martin also reflected on working with Jaeda Lily Miller, who plays Allie, and how she has grown since he first directed her. “She was very quiet when I first started on When Calls the Heart. Watching her confidence grow has been incredible.”
One of the most powerful scenes in these episodes was Allie opening up about her father. Martin paid special attention to making the moment feel authentic. Having recently talked to Elizabeth, Allie’s heart was now in the right place, not a wounded place like when she went to visit her biological father. “It was an earned moment. I have kids, and I know they don’t always look you in the eye when they’re sharing something personal. I wanted Allie to turn away from Oliver as she spoke, which made the moment more real.”
He also worked to ensure that Oliver and Allie’s relationship felt genuine. “It had to be friends. It’s not a boyfriend-girlfriend situation yet. It’s probably a ways away from that. Keep the dialogue away from anything flirty. It’s kind of fun being together.”
He also mentioned how much he enjoyed shooting Fiona’s scenes, particularly one moment in the salon where Joseph senses she needs someone to talk to. “I wanted it to feel like an everyday thing he was doing, like he happened to pass by and sensed something was wrong.” He suggested that perhaps Joseph even sensed the turmoil earlier in the bar with the guys. Knowing she was now alone in the salon, he could now talk to her.
A Return to the Iconic Pond
Martin also reflected on directing the Season 7 episode that featured Nathan and Elizabeth at the pond, a scene that remains one of the most rewatched moments of Nathan and Elizabeth. “At that point, nobody knew the final romantic direction of the story. Kevin and Erin were playing it very honestly from the heart because nobody knew where it was going to go.” Fans have long hoped Nathan and Elizabeth would return to that location. “I will keep that in mind,” Martin hinted.
Top Moments for Martin
- Watching Elizabeth be so vulnerable in a way that she hasn’t experienced before.
- The fever dreams.
- The scene where Georgie is introduced and Nathan is stuck between Bill and Georgie.
- The scene in the train car. It’s always fun to play with Jack.
Looking Ahead
With When Calls the Heart Season 12 captivating audiences, fans are already hoping for a Season 13. As for Martin, he’s hoping to return as well.
His return in Season 12 brought fresh energy to the show, blending heartfelt drama with moments of humor and nostalgia. Whether it was the dream sequences, the emotional moments between characters, or the beautiful cinematography, Martin’s episodes have been a highlight of the season. As Hope Valley continues to evolve, one thing remains certain: Martin Wood’s contributions to When Calls the Heart have left a lasting impact, and fans can’t wait to see what’s next.
What was your favorite takeaway from my conversation with Martin? Did anything surprise you? Let’s keep the conversation going—share your thoughts in the comments below and on Instagram @stephanie_heartnmotion! And, be sure to watch the FULL INTERVIEW on YouTube.
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