Two Ohioans Appear on the Hallmark Channel’s ‘Finding Mr. Christmas‘

When it comes to Christmas, there are certain things the season wouldn’t be complete without. For some, it’s picking the perfect Christmas tree. For others, it’s baking cookies or going ice skating. Then there’s making sure you catch the season’s latest Hallmark films. If you’ve ever wondered how the charming cowboys, small-town gents or down-to-earth shop owners in these films are selected, wonder no more. Hallmark Media has released its second season of “Finding Mr. Christmas,” a reality show that features contestants competing for a leading role in a Hallmark movie

The show features several competitions in which contestants ranging from athletes to actors can showcase their talents. Two contestants this season are Ohio natives and are eager for the chance to compete for the title of Mr. Christmas. Marcus Brodie was raised in Hamilton, before making the move to Los Angeles, while Logan Shepard is representing his hometown of Dayton. We talked with both of these Buckeye State natives to talk about the holidays, their background and of course, what it’s like to be a contestant on “Finding Mr. Christmas.”

Marcus Brodie

Q: Growing up in Hamilton, what was it like getting into such a competitive industry and being from the Midwest?
A: I wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into when I started. I did some modeling for Abercrombie & Fitch back in high school, but I didn't know what I was doing. So, I kind of was bouncing around colleges and degrees and trying to figure out what I wanted to do, but nothing was really sitting well with me. I met my girlfriend, and ... she surprised me with an acting class, and then that ended up going well. I ended up loving it, and that turned into me getting agents. Then I started booking a decent amount … I knew that I just wanted to keep growing as much as I could, and I knew the only way I could do that was by getting to a bigger market. So, that's why I ended up making the move to Los Angeles.

Q: Hallmark movies are a staple of the season. What do you think makes a perfect holiday movie role?
A: I would say something where you can see the real human, the real fault in a person, within the characters, and you can really resonate with the characters. If you can watch it, and be like, “Oh, I've felt that” or “I've been in that situation” and you can see that person overcome those things and really get into the holiday spirit. [It makes] you feel good once they overcome those obstacles.

Q: What were the holidays like growing up for you and your family?
A: It [was] really just me and my mom. She [did] all the decorations, making all the different holiday foods and everything. [There were] always a ton of presents underneath the Christmas tree. She always made sure that that the holidays were a big thing for me.

Q: What's the most rewarding role that you have ever gotten to play?
A: Being on this show was the most rewarding thing that I've done in my acting career so far, just because I was able to see how much I've grown over time. … When I first moved to LA, acting-wise, I wasn't comfortable at all … Being on the show, knowing that I've grown as much as I have, it's been an amazing journey so far.

Logan Shepard

Q: You grew up in Dayton before moving for acting. How did your Ohio upbringing influence your love for performing?
A: I just grew up watching movies. I loved being able to watch movies, and it was just a spark of inspiration at a young age. My dad was huge into watching movies, so it was just always something that kept us close together. It was a just way of life for me [and] was an everyday thing.

Q: Do you have a most memorable holiday moment, and has that affected how you’ve approached the competition?A: It was not necessarily a particular moment, but every year, it was always such a great tradition for family to get together. It was different than most holidays because my dad's birthday was on Christmas, and that was something that was right there in the back of my mind that I kept thinking about and wanting to use because those are the first memories you have as a kid.

Q: You’re a former bodybuilder, a fantasy author and someone who bakes and crochets. How do those hobbies or skills show up in your personality on the show?
A: From a bodybuilding standpoint, you have to somewhat have a good look or be athletically fit, and so many people on Hallmark are. It's just a good way to stay up to par with all the guys that are doing so well. As far as crocheting and baking and everything, I think that just adds a little bit of the charm and personality that may differ from so many of the other guys competing, and I like baking for the holidays. [Being a fantasy author] is the kind of fun enjoyment of it to be creative and be different and stand out, aka, you know, wizard Santa.

Q: Now that you’ve added “Finding Mr. Christmas” to your resume, what do you hope this opportunity leads to next?
A: I hope that it opens so many doors, acting-wise or even [on the] production side. Everything about what Hallmark had to offer was such a well rounded, great experience that it would just be, no matter what, no matter where you go, it's going to be something that you can use.

For more information about “Finding Mr. Christmas,” visit hallmarkchannel.com.

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