We had the wonderful opportunity to interview Brandhyze Stanley. Check out the interview below!
Hi, Brandhyze! Thank you for granting the interview. Congrats on your role as Terri on the Hallmark movie Love to the Rescue, which aired on March 23, 2019. What should the audience expect to see?
Thank YOU so much! LOVE TO THE RESCUE is a fun and heartwarming movie, that will give you all the “feels” and makes you just wanna go “awwww.” LOL. It’s all about love, taking chances, and new beginnings — just the perfect movie for spring.
Tell us about your character. Who is she? What is her personality like?
My character Terri runs this successful animation company, and we see through my interactions with Kate (played by the lovely Nikki DeLoach) that I’m a very encouraging and nurturing leader, but at the same time, I know how to be firm and help my employees realize their fullest potential. We know how to have a good time at the office, but are able to accomplish some pretty cool things on my watch.
What role does she play in the movie?
Against the backdrop of Kate’s fun but hectic personal life, my character is integral at work, where I help to re-focus her and nudge her to reimagine her possibilities on a project she’s tackling that’s key to the film’s storyline.
Was it a challenge to play her?
It was actually A LOT of fun to play Terri. While I am an actress by trade, I’m very entrepreneurial at heart (I have two small businesses: one where I design trendy coffee mugs and another where I hand stitch leather goods) and originally earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Major: Accounting; Minor: Spanish)…so, any opportunity I get to “play” and exercise the business side of my brain, is a welcomed one.
Hallmark is so iconic and much beloved. How has the experience been for you?
It’s always a delight working on a Hallmark film…they really seem to foster a sense of community and reuse actors we all grow to know and love — it’s been joy being a part of that! My first film with them was Christmas in Homestead, directed by the same awesome and talented director, Steven R. Monroe. I had a wonderful experience working on both of these films, and each time I have had the pleasure of meeting people who have become dear friends of mine on the other side of them. I’m looking forward to the next one.
The subject matter of the series is light-hearted. How does this movie’s production bring something new to similar romantic movies?
Once again Hallmark has masterfully integrated elements of love, hope, these adorable kids, and a cute rescue dog — what more could you want? While Eric and Kate opt to partake in an unconventional adoption for the sake of their kids, viewers just have to watch until the end to see how they work things out, and who winds up with this adorable four-legged friend (Zip, the dog).
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What is going to surprise people about your character?
The character of the boss was originally envisioned to be cast as a male, but I am so excited for viewers (of all ages) to get to see Kate and I navigate and excel in this often male-dominated industry of animation.
Without giving anything away, what’s your favorite line of dialogue and why?
One of my lines of dialogue from the film that really sticks out to me is when we are discussing a project Kate is working on, I tell her, “…show me what the Kate Healy version of love looks like.” That line gave me pause because it serves as a reminder that love is fluid and can come in (and be disseminated) in so many forms — for no two people is it alike. One of my favorite books is, “The Five Love Languages” and it outlines the premise that we all receive love in a different way (our language), we just have to discover what that looks like to the people we hold most dear. So I’m urging Kate to show love in her own unique way….and I think she’ll be unstoppable once she’s able to articulate that. We all are.
When looking back on the production, what resonated with you the most and why?
Working on this project, it really touched me how warm and kind everyone was — from the director and producers…to ALL of my fellow cast mates…and everyone in between. I think when you can get up every day and do something you love in a great environment, it makes creating art that much sweeter.
In your opinion, what scene in the movie is going to make people laugh and why?
Kate and Eric (played by the funny and talented, Michael Rady) meet at an Adoption Fair and ultimately opt to share a rescue dog that both of their kids fall in love with. From what I hear (because I, unfortunately, didn’t have any scenes with him) Zip is full of personality and quite the scene stealer. So, I think as these two parents navigate this dual adoption, any scenes with Zip will steal everyone’s heart and make them laugh.
What did you enjoy most about your character and role?
I loved that my character was written as a strong and knowledgeable young woman who leads her team with grace, and knows her stuff. I also enjoyed being in this role because some of the dialogue was written so that Kate and I sort of “step on” each other in the execution, so it was awesome getting to banter and “play” with Kate (both on and off camera). It’s an experience I’ll carry with me.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about the movie?
I hope this movie serves as inspiration for viewers to go out and make the choice to pursue pet adoption — something they are big on over at Hallmark. There are so many adorable furry friends out there who have a lot of love to give, in exchange for a stable and good home. So, it would be awesome if this film could at least open up a dialogue about it, and get the ball rolling in homes across America.
Do you have anything else you would like to share about your career?
Yes! I give details as they come up on Instagram (@Brandhyze), but I have some cool projects on the horizon. They’ll have to keep an eye out for some voice work I did for an upcoming television series and some motion capture work that I’m super proud of. I’ve also “stepped into the driver’s seat” and have already shot the pilot episode of a children’s series, and am currently writing a comedic web series — so, I’m excited about it all.
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