Even though Hallmark's Christmas movies are known for their snow-covered gazebos and fuzzy mittens, most of these picturesque holiday scenes are, believe it or not, shot in the summertime, according to Vox. Given this, actors experience the side effects of wearing winter clothes in July and August. "I've gotten used to being really hot and sweating in my boots," frequent Hallmark star Lacy Chabert told Insider.
According to Michelle Vicary, an executive at Crown Media, Hallmark's official parent network, "We have continued every year to make an even deeper, concerted effort to make sure that everything looks Christmas" (via Vox). Producers ensure that "everything looks snowy and beautiful," even during the dog days of summer. That means covering green grass with lots and lots of fake snow and dressing up background actors in puffy coats. As actress Kellie Martin explained, "You wear hats and scarves, and you're sweating all the time."
To make convincing snow, prop masters have been known to use everything from fire-retardant foam to crushed limestone (via Insider). Hallmark visual effects supervisor Luc Benning explained that faux snow for one film could cost up to $50,000 — a not-so-insignificant portion of each production's capped $2 million budget. Though fake blizzards might sometimes get a bit soapy — not a very festive prospect — the only thing viewers see is a picturesque, small town in December.
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