Tatyana Ali on Christmas Movies, Working Moms and a "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" Reunion

amp8220I also get to work with people I admire like Jackamp233e Harry and in this one Sheryl Lee Ralph and Telma Hopkins who plays her motheramp8221 she continued amp160amp8220They all helped pave the way along with the producers Iamp8217ve worked with again and again that I adore and with the network itself amp160Itamp8217s just a fun intense ride and it gets me ready for the holidays amp160I hear so much that people love these movies and I know why they watch them all day long at this time of yearamp160 We all do amp160Theyamp8217re fun and itamp8217s nice to see something about loveamp8221Christmas Hotel amp160tells the story of Erin Roberts Ali a corporate mover and shaker at the highend Wyndsor Hotel chain in New York amp160With her sights set on a coveted position managing their upcoming Rome destination Erinamp8217s plans take a detour after sheamp8217s invited to open Wyndsoramp8217s newest hotel in Garland Grove a small mountain town renowned for celebrating the holidays yearround that also happens to be Erinamp8217s hometown amp160With the locals already furious and afraid that a hotel chain will erode local business Erin finds convincing them otherwise is problematic amp160And with Conner Sean Patrick Thomas pictured below with Ali the brother of her childhood best friend emerging as a major voice in the charge against the hotelamp8217s opening she finds itamp8217s going to take every ounce of her ingenuity to change the minds of the townspeopleamp160 Then she hits upon an ideaamp160 Maybe turning the hotel into one that celebrates Christmas yearround could appease everyoneamp8220I loved the idea the movie has of community along with the idea of creating a Christmas hotelamp8221 Ali explained amp160amp8220It showed the difference between the commercial version of Christmas and the holidays which is something we all get wrapped up in and stressed out by then it highlights the values of the season amp160Itamp8217s really one of the only times of the year where you can say amp8216Iamp8217m here with my family or with friendsamp8217 and thatamp8217s okay amp160Weamp8217re all used to the hustle and bustle so to just able to spend time together is why the season is so joyousamp160 I loved that this movie highlighted thatamp8221The film one that marked the directorial debut of another Lifetime alum Marla Sokoloff proved to be special for Ali on many levels amp160The actor had just given birth to her son Edward before production began amp160amp8220He was two months old when we started thisamp8221 she recalled amp160amp8220It was truly a wonderful experience thanks to the producers the network the crew and Marla whom I love amp160The whole thing was the way it should be for working moms amp160I was very supported and because we filmed in the hotel we were staying at in between takes or lunch I could go up to my room and see the baby amp160My mom was there with me and my husband would fly in and outamp160 It all made the whole thing really specialamp8220Marla was amazingamp8221 she continued amp160amp8220Sheamp8217s a wonderful director and an incredible person amp160She made the whole thing so much fun amp160Being an actor herself we had this shorthand amp160All she had to do was say a few words and I knew exactly what she was talking about amp160Sheamp8217s also a singer so we had a lot in common amp160Iamp8217m always incredibly impressed by women who go after what they want careerwise but are also mavericks in a way and constantly evolving amp160Those that are not afraid to jump into those spacesamp160 There are spaces Iamp8217d like to jump into but directing isnamp8217t one amp160With Marla it was amazing to watch her do that while raising a beautiful familyamp160 Balancing all of that was very impressive to meamp8221Ali tells me her own holiday season will be one of rest with her family amp160Having two little ones now means amp8220Lots of gifts under the tree Christmas carols and our threeyearold helping to trim the treeamp8221On another note sheamp8217s not ruling out the possibility of ever reuniting with her former Fresh Prince of BelAir castmates amp160amp8220So many shows are back and Iamp8217d love if we came backamp8221 she saidamp160 amp8220We lost James Avery so weamp8217d have to figure that part out but just to work with everybody again amp160Iamp8217m starting to feel like I should come up with an idea and pitch itamp8221amp160Christmas Hotel premieres Saturday December 21 at 8 pm on Lifetime concluding the networkamp8217s Itamp8217s A Wonderful Lifetime programming eventClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this content are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated writersamp160amp160

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Tatyana Ali on Christmas Movies, Working Moms and a "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" Reunion

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Tatyana Ali on Christmas Movies, Working Moms and a "Fresh Prince of Bel Air" Reunion

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