PARIS, Ky. — A Christmas movie is being filmed in Paris, Kentucky, bringing actors Danica McKellar and Mathew Marsden to the commonwealth as local organizers work to support the production.
Shooting recently began for “The Greatest Christmas Gift,” a Great American Family production set around the holidays. McKellar and Marsden star as Hannah and Caleb, an engaged couple planning to get married around Christmas.
“It’s a beautiful movie of sacrificial love and community, the strength of a community and faith,” McKellar said.
McKellar said the film is loosely based on “The Gift of the Magi,” with the couple giving each other a Christmas gift by sacrificing something they love. She said the movie has a much happier ending than the story that inspired it.
Both lead actors said they have enjoyed filming in Kentucky.
“The people in Kentucky have been wonderful,” Marsden said. “You can talk a lot about the area, but it’s really the people that make the place that you go to.”
Local organizers Betty Ann Allen of Paris-Bourbon County Tourism and Lisa Brin of FilmLEX said they are proud of how quickly Paris coordinated logistics for Great American Family. They said they also hope the production highlights the city’s hospitality.
“I hope they see our warmth and our charm and our friendliness,” Allen said.
“This isn’t just a one and done project,” Brin said. “Great American Family is really loving the Kentucky production experience. This is an example of the caliber of talent, both locally and from the industry, that we will hopefully be able to host.”
Allen and Brin said the crew has enjoyed visiting local shops and restaurants during filming.
“The Greatest Christmas Gift” is scheduled to premiere the Sunday after Thanksgiving on the Great American Family channel and its streaming app.