Rushi Kota and Eva Bourne star in “Make Me a Match,” a new, original movie premiering Saturday June 24 (8 p.m. ET/PT), on Hallmark Channel. We at Survived The Shows had the great pleasure of chatting with Alex Pychtin, discuss his role in the movie and what can fans expect from it. Check out the full interview below!
How did you prepare for your role as Paul in Hallmark’s Make me a Match?
ALEX PYCHTIN: For me, finding Paul was in my posture and articulation. In the script, there was information about the way he was raised and certain behavioural customs, so I leant into the idea that he prides himself on being a gentleman with refined taste. Then since it’s a rom-com, made sure I was just loose and having fun with it.
What drew you to this role?
I’ve always been interested in joining the Hallmark family and felt like I’d be a great fit. Playing Paul was an excellent opportunity to come on board as he’s a character that’s definitely within wheelhouse and hope the audience enjoys what I did with it.
Without giving away any spoilers, how does Paul fit into the story of Make me a Match?
Paul is presented as one of the suitors for Vivi and seems to be a great fit. A romance may or may not blossom, you’ll just have to tune in to find out where it goes. 😉
What was your favorite scene to film as Paul, and why?
The date scenes with Eva were a blast. She has an effortless charisma that you’ll see on-screen, which makes it so easy to connect with her. Our director, Heather, was a joy to work with too as she would throw out improvised lines for us to use on the fly, keeping the takes fresh and fun.
What do you think sets this movie apart from other romantic mystery comedy movies, and how does Paul contribute to that?
The fusion between modern day western dating culture of swiping on apps and traditional Indian matchmaking is a refreshing concept that I haven’t seen explored before. I’m excited to see how the audience receives it and hopefully can see themselves in Vivi and her journey. Paul represents the person who, on paper, completely fits the bill – he’s sophisticated, immaculately dressed and says all the right things. So, we’ll see if Vivi uncovers any flaws or if he truly is as good as he appears to be.
What do you think sets Paul apart from other characters you’ve portrayed in the past?
As I said before, Paul prides himself on being a gentleman and abides by standards he was raised with. Characters I’ve played in the past haven’t had such strict philosophies and tended to “go with the flow”, but I love being able to explore my range as an actor with roles that have conflicting outlooks.
If you could switch roles with any character in “Make me a Match” who would it be and why?
The actors who played Vivi’s mother and father were hilarious and can’t wait for the audience to see their performances. I don’t want to give too much away but let’s just say they were swinging for the fences on each take and it was a pleasure to watch!
What’s the funniest thing that happened on set while filming “Make me a Match”?
During one of our date scenes, Eva and I were tasked with frosting a cake. Initially, we were doing side each with the camera in front of it. After take one and seeing my incredible artistry, Heather (our director) shouted out “Uh… Alex, you frost the back. Eva, you do the front.” Ha ha, obviously I need some practice if I want to become a pâtissier.
What have been some of the most memorable projects you have worked on throughout your career, and why?
Having an appearance on the latest season of Yellowjackets was a blast! Although my most memorable projects have been in mainland China. Notably “The Captain (中国机长)”, where I spent a full winter in the city of Wuxi as the only fluent English speaker. I was able to practice my Mandarin every day, experience a Chinese film set and learn about Chinese culture from actors of all different provinces.
What can you share about your next projects?
I’ll be appearing in upcoming Blumhouse horror-comedy film “Totally Killer” directed by Nahnatchka Khan, starring Kiernan Shipka and Julie Bowen, and a fun role in a Canadian independent film, “Wild Goat Surf” directed by Caitlyn Sponheimer. And hopefully, many more Hallmark films to come!
Make Me A Match, starring Rushi Kota and Eva Bourne, with Alex Pychtin, premieres June 24 on Hallmark Channel. Get a preview below!
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Chiara
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