Best-known for her role as DJ Tanner on the long-running family sitcom, Full House, Candace Cameron Bure is all grown up and back in the spotlight. Candace currently stars in the ABC Family series, “Make It Or Break It,” and stars in Truth Be Told aa family movie on FOX. In Truth Be Told she plays the role of Annie Morgan, an unmarried marriage counselor who makes a living telling others that honesty is the way to a successful marriage.
In an interview with Daedrian McNaughton, Candace discussed her book, working with Danny Gokey, Truth Be Told and more.
Annie Morgan (Candace Cameron Bure, “Full House”), Colorado’s leading marriage counselor, makes a living by preaching that honesty is the key to successful long-term relationships. Ironically, Annie has never been married and doesn’t always follow her own advice. Through a misunderstanding, Annie receives an invitation for her and her spouse to join media mogul Terrance Bishop (Ronny Cox, “Stargate SG-1”), at his New Mexico ranch to discuss her dream job: hosting a radio advice program. Fearful that being single will ruin her chance of a lifetime, Annie conspires with Mark Crane (David James Elliott, “JAG”), an old college friend, recent widower and father of two teenagers, to pose as her husband for the weekend. A series of comical misunderstandings color the trip, leaving Annie emotionally involved with Mark’s family and battling with her own conscience, in the all-new TRUTH BE TOLD airing Saturday, April 16 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (FM-1105) (TV-PG)
Cast: Candace Cameron Bure as Annie Morgan; David James Elliott as Mark Crane;Ronny Cox as Terrance Bishop; Belita Moreno as Sophia Bishop; Danny Gokey as Himself; Kurt Warner as Himself
FOX TV Movie, Truth Be Told on FOX.
Can you tell us a little bit about Truth Be Told?
Candace Cameron Bure: Well, it’s a fun little romantic comedy for the whole family. It is based on my character, Annie Morgan, who is offered her own radio show under the false pretenses that she’s married. So not wanting the lose the job offer, she talks to her old college friend, played by David, and convinces him to pretend to be her husband for the weekend and his kids to be their kids. So it’s about this one little lie that snowballs into a big, huge mess, and just has a really great point that honesty is always the best policy. It’s just one of those fun movies that you can sit down with the entire family and all your kids and watch something that’s entertaining, but kind of have a good life lesson to talk about.
What was your motivation for doing this?
Candace Cameron Bure: I’m a big supporter of family movie night, so I had seen some of them before and really had wanted to be a part of one. So when they asked me to take a look at the script, I was super excited knowing this was part of the Family Movie Night initiative. I thought the script was adorable, and as a mom that really supports quality family programming, I jumped onboard right away.
What were some of the lies that were told and how were you able to navigate yourself out of those lies?
Candace Cameron Bure: Well, the biggest lie is that we went into a weekend pretending that we were married, and we weren’t and those lies just got worse and worse because with every opportunity we would try to tell the truth, it didn’t happen. Once you tell one lie, you have to cover it up with another, but it all comes to a head at the end, which you’ll find out the results when you watch the movie.
How did you find a way to connect to each other to make the character relationship so warm and believable?
Candace Cameron Bure: It was really difficult. One look into those eyes and I just melted. We had a great time. You either have chemistry with people or you don’t and I had just an awesome time with David.
How do you think the audience will relate to your character and the themes of the film?
Candace Cameron Bure: I think that just in itself the characters are likable people, and I think that anyone can relate because how many times do we find ourselves in positions where we want something so badly and we’re willing to compromise just a little bit to get it. Yet we realize at the end of the day that it’s always going to catch up to us. Once you tell a lie, it’s always bound to be exposed. So, again, great theme to the story itself, great conversation piece to have with your kids.
What was it like to have Danny Gokey and Kurt Warner on set?
Candace Cameron Bure: Oh, Kurt Warner, Danny Gokey- I was there the day that Kurt Warner was on set, but I didn’t actually have a scene with him. But I met him and his wife and took a picture with them. I was excited. Then just love Danny Gokey so much. What a great heart he has, and I enjoyed talking to him, and yes, great voice. Loved the music, and I think that’s an awesome addition to the movie, are the songs that he sang in it.
Was David’s height a problem during taping?
Candace Cameron Bure: Yes, I stood on a box for most of the movie. For almost all of my close ups I was on an apple box. Yes, David is so much taller than me, and it’s always a challenge. For some reason, I seem to be paired with leading men that are quite taller than me, but I’ve gotten used to it, but we made it work.
Was it interesting for you to meet Jonathan Frakes? Were you a fan of the show?
Candace Cameron Bure: I wasn’t—I’m not a big Trekkie, but my dad loved the original Star Trek, and that’s where it came from. But, yes, I loved Jonathan so much, and was again excited to meet him and especially work with him. He made the whole film such a joy because he had such an upbeat, positive, happy attitude every single day, and just made it really fun.
What excites you about where the industry is today?
Candace Cameron Bure: Awesome that there’s a lot more choices with the amount of stations that we have, but because of the standards and practices being much more lenient on those cable networks—I’ve found over the years there’s such a division now of programming for adults. Then very specific programming for children, which can be good at times, but in that—and I really find in the last ten years, that that took away from family programming in general. So we have all those old shows like The Cosby Show and Family Ties or Who’s The Boss or Full House—those types of shows that really just disappeared. And Jag. They just kind of disappeared and that’s the part that, as a mom now and having young children, that I wish there were more television shows, that I could sit down with my kids that weren’t just specific to them or just specific to me. I’m happy now that because there are so many stations now every station is trying to find its own, and I’m happy that some of the major networks are now coming back and saying, “Hey, there are people that still want that, that quality family programming.” I’m happy to be a part of that. I’m an advocate for it, and I believe everyone can have their choices, but let’s not get lost, that this is definitely something in America that families want and desire.
What is it like to work with David?
Candace Cameron Bure: I just asked David what the difference was between his show and my show. I want to know how his show ran, how everyone got along, who he still talks to. I guess I’m probably asking him the same questions that the fans ask, and vice-versa, but it is kind of fun to compare, because it’s a very specific time period when you’re on those shows. So yes, I mean I guess it was just fun to bounce questions off of each other. Yet times have changed so much, and series are so different now, and movies, to me, so it’s fun to reflect.
Were there any standout moments on set, any memorable scenes from filming?
Candace Cameron Bure: I think for me it was more about all of us huddling in these tents in between all of the takes, because it was so, it was so cold. I can’t even tell you enough. We had these little pop up tents with heaters in them, because we were kind of in the middle of nowhere in Santa Fe on this ranch. Even the trailers, or the makeup and hair trailers, they were a drive away. So that’s kind of the one thing that I’m just going to take away from the movie—all the times we were just laughing, trying to unthaw our toes and fingers, huddling together in these tents and just standing there curled up in David’s jacket so he was keeping me warm, too, in between the takes.
Are there any other upcoming projects in the works?
Candace Cameron Bure: Make It Or Break It is on right now. It premiered two weeks ago, I mean, the back half of our second season. So that’s on. I had a book that was released in January called, Reshaping It All. I was super excited, it hit The New York Times bestseller list a few weeks ago. So I’m kind of just been out promoting the movie and the show and the book. I have some stuff just in the works, but nothing to tell you about yet, beyond that.