Filming of Hallmark commercial in Louisville brings early Christmas spirit to Norton Commons

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- It's still summertime, but one area of east Louisville is already putting out Christmas lights and candy canes.

Norton Commons is the site for a Christmas commercial being filmed this week.

"This will be a short film commercial for Hallmark Greeting Cards that'll air on the Hallmark Channel throughout the holiday season," said Zach Meiners, a producer on the project.

Meiners is with Chronicle Cinema, the Louisville based production company Hallmark hired to produce the commercial.

"We do shoots all over, but it's nice to be working in our hometown," he said.

Meiners said several cities were options for the filming location, as well as other neighborhoods in Louisville. Ultimately, Norton Commons was chosen.

"It's going to be the main Hallmark commercial of the season," Meiners said.

The Christmas short is part of the Hallmark Channel's national Christmas commercial promoting Hallmark Greeting Cards.

Meiners said when it's all said and done, it will be about two minutes long and will be about a family and their Christmas traditions, but he wouldn't say too much else about the project.

"It's a very contained story. We don't want to give too much away," he said.

The filming begins Tuesday, Aug. 20 and will go through Thursday, Aug. 22. It's all set up by the South Village Lawn around the fountain on Meeting Street.

Several neighbors and Louisvillians who live nearby have been walking around the set, getting a glimpse of how the Christmas magic is created.

"We love coming to Norton Commons already, so it's kind of fun to have a little Christmas action in August," said Becca Harrison, who lives about five minutes away from the neighborhood.

Norton Commons residents are asked to avoid street parking on Meeting Street from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Aug. 20-21. Much of the filming will happen at night.

Meiners said the actors were flown in and there won't be any extras for this project, but there will be an area for the public to watch as filming takes place. He said specific houses were chosen for certain shots that are needed for the project.

"The neighborhood is really excited. Everybody is really curious and wants to kind of see what's going on," said Marilyn Patterson, marketing director for Norton Commons.

She said it's an honor to have Hallmark Channel choose this neighborhood for a project.

"... we've built it to really promote a sense of community and a sense of coming together," she added.

The commercial is expected to air this holiday season.

"I think it'll be really cool for people in Louisville to see their city and the neighborhood of Norton Commons featured so prominently throughout the commercial," said Meiners.

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