One of our favorite things about Hallmark is that they have their own seasons. It’s time for Spring Into Love and for us, that’s one of our favorite seasons. We love, well… love (even if we’re a cynic).
This year, we’re even more excited because the first movie of the season marks the first movie under, Hallmark Media’s Make Her Mark Women’s Directing Program. It’s an important program that was conceived and founded by Ashley Williams, in collaboration with Hallmark Media executives.
Prepare yourself for Shifting Gears with everything we know about it below –
WHAT IT’S ABOUT
Motor City mechanic Jess Barro (Barrell) and her father Ray (James Burke) run their family-owned automotive garage but money’s getting tight thanks to competition from a big auto repair shop chain in town. Her passion is auto restoration and when Jess gets the chance to compete in an auto restoration show, she reluctantly agrees as the prize money would go a long way toward keeping their shop afloat. She’s shocked to discover one of the competitors is Luke (Hynes), her ex-boyfriend and the son of her dad’s former business partner who cut him out, leading Jess to break things off with Luke.
The show’s participants face off in a series of increasingly difficult challenges to showcase their personal style leading to the final round of repainting a classic car. As the competition revs up, Jess and Luke’s personal rivalry becomes a big hit with the audience and producers alike. After a few misfires, they work through their former relationship and start to bond again over their shared love of classic cars. As they speed toward the finish line, Luke has a disastrous painting mishap that threatens to ruin Jess’ chances of winning. When she learns his dad plans to buy her family’s garage, she suspects the painting disaster was sabotage rather than an accident. Will their relationship break down again and be beyond repair, or will they be able to restore it and jump-start their romance once again?
ABOUT THE Make Her Mark Women’s Directing Program
Hallmark Media’s Make Her Mark Women’s Directing Program is an on-the-job mentorship initiative designed to advance Hallmark’s commitment to inclusive storytelling by supporting and increasing the representation of women behind the camera. The program was conceived and founded by long-time Hallmark Media on- and off-air talent and creative partner, Ashley Williams (Notes of Autumn, Sister Swap: A Hometown Holiday), in collaboration with Hallmark Media executives.
PHOTOS
BEHIND THE SCENES PHOTOS
CAST
- Tyler Hynes (Luke Childs)
- Katherine Barrell (Jess Barro)
- Kristin Booth (Teri)
- Andrew Jackson (Steven Childs)
- Ray Galletti (Wayne Laroche)
- Carlisle Williams (Ike)
- Steven Vlahos (Kevin)
- Adam Fawns (Clark)
- Colton Royce (Pete)
- Ava Ro (Eden)
- James Burke (Ray)
- Jean-Paul Najm (Grant)
- Kieron River (Motorist)
- Joseph Claude DuBois (Car Collector)
PREVIEWS
Shifting Gears premieres Saturday, March 23 (8 p.m. ET/PT), on The Hallmark Channel.