Interview: Michelle DeFraites – Strawberry Summer

Tommy2: What’s up – it’s Tommy2 and checking in with us today we have Michelle DeFraites to talk about her appearance in Hallmark Movie Channels original – Strawberry Summer, premiering this Saturday at 8/7 central. Michelle, how are you doing?

Michelle DeFraites: I’m great, how are you?

Tommy2: I’m definitely staying busy – you know it’s definitely that time of the year when it’s like a concert literally every single week.

Michelle DeFraites: Oh, I bet.

Tommy2: Definitely busy. Now, you know it’s been over a year and a half since we talked last about your last big project, Pregnancy Pact?

Michelle DeFraites: It’s been so long!

Tommy2: And now it seems like every now and then when it re-airs on Lifetime I see tweets about it, and sometimes it manages to become a trending topic. Is that pretty wild to see the impact that Pregnancy Pact has made and continues to make?

Michelle DeFraites: Oh, it was a complete shock how big it actually became the very first time it aired. And like we were number two and three trending on Twitter which I still remember because I was like, getting mind blown, it was crazy! But the fact that that still happens every time it airs, is honestly just a blessing that people love it so much and really learn from it. Because that’s what the movie is about, is to show, you know, the real life of this is what happens. And the fact that people watch it and appreciate it for that. It’s amazing.

Tommy2: Yeah, I definitely thought for a touchy topic it covered it really well and it presented it to a young audience very well.

Michelle DeFraites: Yeah, and that’s what we were aiming for so I’m glad it came across that way.

Tommy2: Now this Saturday night I’ll definitely be tuning in to watch Strawberry Summer on Hallmark, so what’s the movie about?

Michelle DeFraites: So this movie… it’s different from Pregnancy Pact, this one’s more fun and upbeat and just, it has a really happy… just tone about it. It’s about a Glee Club teacher who falls in love with this kind of rock star who comes in to town, and I’m one of the members of the Glee Club. And so we get to watch her kind of fall in and out of love with this big rock star and he helps us in the glee club… it’s just a really, really fun, cute, family friendly movie.

Tommy2: Did you get involved singing any musical numbers?

Michelle DeFraites: Yes, we did! We got to sing one… actually a couple numbers. Acouple in Glee room classroom and then at the very end if we win the competition, we get to sing with the big rock star, and so… little spoiler, we win and we get to sing and there’s a cute number at the end.

Tommy2: And will you be doing some dancing as well?

Michelle DeFraites: Not too much dancing, maybe some arm movements here and there, but that’s about it. We didn’t wind up dancing.

Tommy2: Subtle dancing.

Michelle DeFraites: Yeah, there we go.

Tommy2: I was surprised to see that the cast includes classic TV faces, Cindy Williams from Laverne and Shirley and Shelly Long from Cheers. Did you enjoy working with those two?

Michelle DeFraites: Oh my gosh, it was amazing. And, little secret I got my call sheet and I was reading the names to my parents and I didn’t recognize there names. So I was just like, yeah “okay I’m going to work with Shelly Long” and my parents were like, “oh my gosh! You’re going to get to work with them?” They’re like, “do you understand who these people are?” And I was just like based off of their names, I was like “no, not really.” And then, they pulled up IMDB and it was like, “oh my goodness this is an honor.” Like, this is amazing because they are such iconic women in these iconic shows and just the fact that I get to work with them and learn from them which is truly and amazing experience.

Tommy2: Yeah, I think I might’ve showed my age by noticing there names. They’re definitely people that when you see there faces you go “oh, that person” right?

Michelle DeFraites: Right, yeah… the second they showed me the pictures I was like, “okay, I know who you are talking about.”

Tommy2: And what about the rest of the cast, who were your favorites?

Michelle DeFraites: You know, Trevor… Trevor Donovan from 90210. He was actually very fun to work with cause I’d seen him on 90210 and you know, his character seems super nice and so you wonder what they’re like in person. And he was so down to earth and he’s really like open and talking about everything, and he actually sings in the movie and he’s actually a great singer. I never knew that he could sing before, he’s got a great country deep voice and I was really impressed to see that. And then Julie, how plays are Glee Teacher – she’s the cutest thing ever. They had to work hard to make her look older than me, she’s looks so young and she’s adorable and super sweet.

Tommy2: So it sounds like for people that like music and movies this is definitely going to be one to watch.

Michelle DeFraites: Yes, definitely… especially if you like country.