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Over the past few weeks, many fans have sent in questions for Valerie Bertinelli. Here are the selected questions and answers. Thanks for your participation!
XS11E, Phoenix, AZ
Who was the young lady who played the photographer's daughter? I couldn't find her name on the screen credits but she has a promising voice! Has she appeared on TV before?
VALERIE RESPONDS: Jennifer Pisana, who played Socorro Greeley, started acting at the age of 4. Besides FINDING JOHN CHRISTMAS, she's appeared in "Homeless to Harvard," "More Than Meets the Eye," "Doc," "Blizzard," "Perfect Pie," "My Own Country," "Get a Clue," "The Gilda Radner Story," "Twice in a Lifetime," "Monk," "Mail to the Chief," "PSI Factor," "Real Kids, Real Adventures" and "Goosebumps" among others. Jennifer is currently shooting the pilot for a TV series about girls soccer. And yes, she has a magnificent voice. Jennifer studies singing at the Royal Conservatory of Music and has performed as starring soloist in the prestigious Music Festival of Sound in Ontario. An accomplished rider, she is also determined to gain a spot on the Canadian Equestrian Team in the 2008 Summer Olympics.
Marc, Virginia Beach, VA
Dear Valerie,
I am a survivor of a school fire that occurred forty-five years ago in Chicago. The school was Our Lady Of The Angels, and our loss was ninety-two children and three nuns. The fire scenes of the school burning with children screaming took me back to that horrific day of my life. I did see in one scene a nun kneeling, as Our Lady Of The Angels was a Catholic school. Was the school fire concept based on anything from the real fire of Our Lady Of The Angels? This movie was shown on November 30, 2003, the eve of the 45th anniversary of the Our Lady Of The Angels fire, which happened December 1, 1958.
I own a book titled To Sleep With The Angels by David Cowan. Oddly enough, the book was given to me by a firefighter. The book was written and dedicated to those who perished in the fire I was in. When the movie's school fire scene appeared with the fireman carrying the student out, it floored me. It resembled the real photograph published worldwide of Fireman Richard Schiedt carrying a dead student, John Jajkowski, out of the burning school fire in Chicago. Also there is a website that goes into the real scenes of the school fire. It is burnt into my mind.
Overall, it is nice to see a great television movie with a great cast and theme. television networks and Hollywood need to do more movies like this.
VALERIE REPSONDS: Wow, this is so eerie. Yes, that's exactly where the idea for the fire came from. When the screenwriter, Michael Murray, was growing up in Chicago, in Catholic school, of course, he heard about Our Lady of the Angels all the time. It was kind of like a Catholic School legend. His mom's family, the McMahons, have a bunch of firefighters in their ranks. The McMahon family grave plots are in a cemetery on the South Side of Chicago right next to a special burial area and tribute to the dozens of children who died. The church scene with Max and Hank was originally set in a cemetery, based on this shrine with all the kids' graves. It's a very haunting place. Even the specifics of the fire (in the script) match what happen with the varnish. Most of the kids died in their classroom because the walls and desks emitted toxic fumes (from decades of varnishing). Since the school was built pre-1900, there were no sprinklers. Anyone who grew up in Chicago during this era was haunted by the specter of the fire.
Gary, Glen Burnie, MD
I enjoyed watching the movie FINDING JOHN CHRISTMAS. I was especially interested in it when I saw the fire truck, since I am a volunteer fire fighter. Even at our company meeting on Monday night, the movie got mentioned. Do you know if it is going to come out on VHS or DVD in the future?
VALERIE RESPONDS: No plans for a VHS or DVD release right now. Maybe later. It may be packaged with "A Town Without Christmas," the first movie featuring Peter Falk as the angel "Max".
Charles, Newark, NJ
I thought I recognized the school and church in the movie. Was it a Catholic parish in Baltimore or New York?
VALERIE RESPONDS: No, the film was shot entirely in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
JM2base, Valley Stream, NY
How would I purchase this movie as a gift to my brother, who is currently a FDNY firefighter?
VALERIE RESPONDS: Unfortunately, it's not being released on DVD or video yet.
Clarinda, Green Forest, AR
Valerie, what a heart-warming story--it touched my heart! I would like to ask what was the name of the song that the little girl Socorro Greeley sang with Peter Falk with the words, "what I love best is doodle doo doo?" My lil' granddaughter is trying her best to sing it.
VALERIE RESPONDS: Once people hear "Doodle Doo Doo" they can't stop singing it! Its music and lyrics are by Art Kassel and Mel Stitzel. It was written in 1924 and was a big hit as the theme song for Art Kassel and his orchestra. Mandy Patinkin also recorded it on his "Dress Casual" album in 1990.
Jessica, Sugar City
Valerie, where can I find John Christmas?
VALERIE RESPONDS: Tune in Sunday, November 30, to find out!
Mary, Jacksonville, FL
What are you doing these days besides FINDING JOHN CHRISTMAS? You were a great addition to "Touched by an Angel." I'm sorry the series closed.
God bless you and yours.
VALERIE RESPONDS: Thank you. I'm reading scripts and looking for my next project. And, of course, I'm being a mom, which is a full-time job and the most important thing to me.
Thomas, Pearl River, NY
Hello Valerie! What was a typical day on the set like?
VALERIE RESPONDS: We would work 12-hour days. In between shots I'd get a chance to talk to the crew and other cast members. I'm not the kind of actor who goes back to my trailer when the crew is setting up. I like hanging around the set, and everyone was so nice on this picture. A few times I sent in a coffee cart so everyone could have cappuccinos and lattes while they worked. It was one of the best experiences of my career.
Greg, Birmingham, AL
Hi Valerie. I'm a long time fan and even got through to you many years ago when you were on the Larry King show (about 16 years ago I think). Anyway, are you aware of the Valerie Bertinelli Group on Yahoo? If so, we'd love for you to join in the conversations... Secondly, of all the movies/roles you've had, which one do you like the most and why? Your fans always wish you the best!
VALERIE RESPONDS: Thank you, guys! I really had a good time doing this one. Otherwise, "I'll Take Manhattan" was one of my most successful movies, and "In a Child's Name" was an important miniseries. Also, romantic comedies like "Personally Yours" are always fun to do.
Laura, Glendora
Hi Valerie! How long did it take to film this movie? Just reading the premise I've already started to get tears in my eyes. Is this a hankie and half movie?
VALERIE RESPONDS: Two and a half hankies. We were in production for about a month, and knew we were making a very emotional film the entire time.
Dori, Goshen
Did you have fun with the movie?
VALERIE RESPONDS: I had so much fun! I loved working with the producer (Dan Blatt) and director (Andy Wolk) and everyone in the cast and crew. At first I thought it would be hard to be so far away from home, but Halifax is such a lovely place, and the people are so nice. I really had a great time.
Alicia, Newark,OH
How did you get involved with this project, and what was it like working with Peter Falk?
VALERIE RESPONDS: I've always wanted to do a Christmas movie, but the others weren't right for me, or I wasn't available when they were shooting. When Dan Blatt sent this script to me, I had just wrapped "Touched by an Angel," so the timing was perfect. I jumped at the chance to do such a special holiday movie. Peter Falk had already been cast as "Max", so I knew I'd have a chance to work with that "funny little man." It was a thrill.
Kerri, Peterborough,Ont
This is a little off topic,but here goes. Val, I'd like to know how your dad Andy is doing these days? I don't know if you'd remember this far back, but I contacted your dad to get an autographed picture, and sent some Avon perfume for you. He mailed me a bunch of family pictures, along with an autographed picture from you. That was probably one of the nicest things anyone has ever done for me. Over the years I've kept up with your life. I have looked up to you for probably more than twenty years. Keep up the good work.
VALERIE RESPONDS: Thank you. That's the kind of guy my father is. He's doing very well. Thanks for asking.
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