Richard Gabai is an actor and director whose recent Christmas film releases on the Hallmark Channel. We had a chance to ask him about the film and his work in the industry. Here’s what he had to say.
Hello, Richard. Before we get started, it would be great if you could tell our readers a little bit about yourself and how you got into the business.
Sure. At first my focuses were acting and music. I did a bunch of musical theater as a kid and started a rock band called “The Checks” back in high school but my first professional gig was as an actor in a film called, The Whitmore’s are Having Company, later released in the foreign markets as Night Visitors. We shot on location in Sharon Pennsylvania. What an eye-opening and inspiring experience that was, kind of gave me the bug to work behind the camera as well. As soon as I got back to LA I started playing rock clubs on the Sunset Strip with “The Checks”, and booked other movies and national commercials for companies like Budweiser, Xerox, and Hallmark.
You’ve been acting and directing in movies and television since the 1980s, behind and in front of the camera in all kinds of genres. I guess my first question has to be, is there one you prefer over the other, and if so, why?
The good news is I sincerely love it all. I see entertainment as a business of opportunity. The opportunity that I have at the moment is pretty much what decides what I’ll do next. Of course I have passed on some projects but I know how lucky I am to have been able to continue to make a nice living in the arts for all of these years. I am very grateful. For me, it’s all about getting better and learning something on every job – and one feeds the other. My acting career has certainly enhanced my directing, and when I have an acting job, I know exactly what the director is going through. The music is a constant. I’m very excited about the album I released last year called “Double Life.” It’s available on all of the music services – so check it out!
Sticking to directing for a moment, tell me how you approach a project. Does it depend on the genre and what else, if any, might influence how you tell the story?
Every project is different. Of course the genre will influence how the creative team and I tell the story – which is an important point. I always say directors get too much credit when a movie works, and too much blame when things don’t work out that well. Movie making is one of, if not the most creative of the arts. It is a real collaboration. I kind of equate it to a Steve Jobs quote about, “Conducting the orchestra.” I try and do that – even though I am no Steve Jobs. Creating an environment where everyone can do their best work is my goal. Factors that have the biggest impact are often beyond our control. For example, budget and number of shooting days dictate a bunch. No matter what I always have a great time on set. Lucky me.
Your latest film is for the Hallmark Channel, a Christmas movie called A Gingerbread Romance, releasing December 16th. Could you tell our readers about the story?
I’m so excited about this movie. It tells the story a young architect named Taylor played by the stunningly beautiful and talented Tia Mowry. With Christmas just weeks away, the architecture firm Taylor works for enters her in a contest in which teams will design and build life sized gingerbread houses. The thing is she’ll need the help of a baker, and that’s where Duane Henry comes in.
Tell me more about Tia Mowry-Hardrict and Duane Henry.
I have to say that Tia is one of the most professional and polished performers I have ever worked with. She was focused and on point in every take – and what makes this feat even more incredible is that she had delivered her adorable baby daughter Cairo, just five months before we shot the movie. We were so lucky to get Duane Henry on board to play Adam fresh off of his two year run on NCIS. He is as charming and handsome in real life as he is on screen. Most importantly he and Tia have amazing chemistry. It is so fun to watch their relationship develop. Also a big shout out to Melissa Peterman – she is hilarious as Taylor’s boss Linda!
How much freedom do you give actors in your movies? Do you give them breathing room to develop bits of the characters on their own?
Absolutely. The collaboration is a blast. The most fun is when things just sort of happen organically – then we look at each other and have a huge “Aha” moment. The right on-set vibe helps create those magic moments.
Honestly, how much gingerbread did you and the cast eat on set?
Well my doctor told me that I was very low on carbs (LOL) so I made sure to stock up. There were tons of Christmas treats around us all of the time. Very hard to resist, and most of the time we felt no need to.
I believe this is your first Christmas movie. How did you get involved in the film?
I’ve been hoping to work for Hallmark for a while – so I’m thrilled to have finally gotten the chance. Samantha DiPippo, a Hallmark executive that I’d known and worked with at another network recommended me for the gig; hoping it’s the first of many.
Switching briefly to acting, you can currently be seen in a comedy film called Dick Dickster. I love the name of your character, Baxter Stabberman. Tell me more about your role in the film.
My friend Chris Olen Ray directed that. Baxter is a cut-throat Hollywood exec who despises the lead character, Dick Dickster, played by Robert Ray Shaffer. I had a blast playing that role.
Our website dedicates a lot of content to celebrating great moments in movies. Have there been any movie moments (or movies in general) that have had influence on you?
Well sure. My Dad was the one who introduced me to movies. From Christmas Classics like Holiday Inn and Miracle on 34th Street, to Hitchcock thrillers and classic Universal Horror films like The Mummy and Frankenstein. We lost my Dad just a few months ago. No accident in my view that he loved Christmas movies and music and just a month or so after he passed I was offered the opportunity to direct A Gingerbread Romance, and be a part of Hallmark’s amazing slate of Holiday movies.
That’s a touching connection. Thanks so much for taking the time to talk with me. Good luck with A Gingerbread Romance. It’s been a pleasure.
Thank you so much as well – I hope you all tune in on December 16th at 8pm.
You can stay in touch with Richard Gabai his homepage and follow him on Instagram: richard_gabai and on Twitter: @richardgabai