Actress Jaycie Dotin chatted about “Ivy and Bean,” being a part of the Hallmark world, and the digital age.
What was it like to be a part of “Ivy and Bean”?
I’m not sure I could ever find the words to truly describe the experience. I think “magical” might be the closest I can get but unless you were there you’ll never really understand how special it was. It’s not very often a project comes along where all the pieces fit together so perfectly the way they did with “Ivy and Bean.”
I couldn’t have hand-picked a better cast and crew if I tried. Each day on set was joyful and collaborative and I wish we could do a thousand more of these films. I kept having to pinch myself because I couldn’t believe I was lucky enough to be working alongside names like Elissa Down (director), Jane Lynch (Mrs. Nobel), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Monsieur Joy), and Nia Vardalos (Mrs. Trantz).
Our entire cast was cream of the crop and I learned so much, not only from the adults, but from the kiddos as well. They were so creatively open and their freedom of expression cultivated an environment where you could just “play” and produce very real and deeply connected performances.
I have never been more proud of a project and I am so unbelievably thankful for the experience and the lifelong friendships I made in the process.
In the Hallmark world, what was it like to do “Marry Go Round” and “Dying for Chocolate”?
“Curious Caterer: Dying for Chocolate” was a turning point for me as a Hallmark actor. Not only was it my first supporting lead with the network, but my character “Marla McGuire” is a refreshing departure from the typical side kick you see in this genre. She was written in a way that allowed me to really lean into my natural goofball side and our director Tony Metchie let me run wild with all my improvisational instincts.
It was really satisfying to have the freedom to be creative and add my own little moments to the story. Also, being the sidekick to a main character who is a chef (“Goldie Barry” played by Nikki Deloach) meant that I got to eat really good food in a lot of the scenes (which I was not mad about) I am grateful for the opportunity to work with Nikki and Andrew Walker, both of whom are seasoned Hallmark veterans.
Our entire cast, crew, and creative team worked seamlessly together and I think I can speak for everyone when I say it was a wonderful film to be a part of.
“Marry Go Round” was another great example of a film where I was given the
latitude to ground my character in reality and lean into the authentic aspects of being human rather than trying to fit her into a “perfect box”. I played “Robin” who is a single mom, a successful business owner, and “emotional support human” to her brother, Luke (played by Brennan Elliot).
This gave me a lot of rich background to draw from while developing this character and I was really excited to see that the ending of this film had a little feminist twist that you wouldn’t historically expect from a Hallmark love story. (I’m not going to ruin it, you’ll just have to watch it)
What motivates you each day as an actress?
A huge motivation for me as an actor is the pure joy, energy, and excitement I
feel every time I step onto a film/tv set. It’s like a drug. I am addicted to the
rush I get when the director calls “action!” and I step into this alternate reality
where I can explore the things that make us human.
I also thrive on the fact that our work as actors can affect other people on a deep emotional level. As artists it’s our job to make audiences feel things, whether it’s sadness, elation, introspectiveness, or just a simple escape from a long day at work, people rely on artists and entertainment to enrich their lives in so many ways.
I cherish the fact that I’m lucky enough to call it my job.
How does it feel to be an actress in the digital age?
I have two schools of thought about this. I started out as a stage actor so the transition to film/tv was a bit jarring for me let alone the speed at which projects come and go on streaming services these days.
In the past I was used to rehearsing a show for months, playing out the full story in real-time, with the live energy of the audience and their reactions to inform what works and what doesn’t. Once I started film/tv it was like learning to walk again.
Literally, everything about the process is different. Soon after getting a handle on this new medium, I started to realize how quickly certain projects were being finished and sent out into the world… and just as quickly forgotten about.
We live in a consumerist society that demands more and more content every day and I feel that sometimes results in a “quantity over quality” dilemma. It can also make the projects you do seem like a blip in time.
In the theatre world you get to relive the story and the character’s experience over and over again for months, sometimes years, at a time. With streaming services it can feel as though it’s here one minute and gone from people’s minds the next. Keeping that in mind, it’s become important to me that I choose my projects thoughtfully so I can be proud of the work I’m doing, no matter how fast they may come and go.
On the flip side of the coin, I think it’s fantastic that we have so many platforms making opportunities for artists (writers, producers, and actors) who otherwise may not have had the chance to tell their stories. Before a world with Netflix, Apple TV, and Disney+ there was a limit on the number of shows/films that were being produced each year because there were only so many Networks available to broadcast them. This created a firewall for certain storytellers.
If you didn’t already have an “in” it was unlikely that you would be considered for development let alone production. Now that there are so many streaming services competing for eyeballs on their contact, there is an almost insatiable need for new and interesting work which is opening the floodgates for so many creatives. It’s also giving the world a broader view of what “entertainment” is.
What’s the saying? “The good comes with the bad”? Even with the bad, I have to say that I am all for streaming and digital content and hope that it continues to grow and open the doors for anyone who has a story to tell.
What do your plans for the future include?
Professionally, I plan to continue working full-time as an actor and would really love to focus more on comedic stories in the near future. I would also like to work on developing some projects of my own. My writing partner and I have a script we are polishing up and getting ready to pitch so it will be really exciting to see where that goes.
What’s it like working with actor Brad Harder?
Brad is an absolute gem to work with. Such a focused professional and one of the kindest people I know. He has had some incredible career opportunities this year and I’m really happy to see someone as wonderful as him experiencing so much success. I hope to share the screen with him again soon.
Which actors would you like to someday work with as your dream acting partners?
Jane Fonda, Toni Collette, Regina King, Marisa Tomei, Thandiwe Newton, Rachel Bay Jones, Jodie Comer, Tracee Ellis Ross, Judy Greer, Elizabeth Banks, Niecy Nash, Catherine O’Hara, Margot Robbie, Christina Applegate, Kieran Culkin, Gaten Matarazzo, and Dan Levy.
What does the word success mean to you?
Ultimately, I think the way to equate success is happiness. Are you truly happy? Then you are successful. Are you proud of the work you are doing? Then you are successful. Don’t get me wrong, I’m also human! In no way am I saying I don’t look at my bank account or my credits on IMDb to quantify if I’m “doing ok” but I think deep down, what would really mater if all of that other stuff was to go away would be happiness.
To learn more about Jaycie Dotin, follow her on Instagram and her Linktree page.
