After “Groundswell” was released in 2022, the film quickly became a favorite for many. Hallmark stars Lacey Chabert and Ektor Rivera, who played the adorable couple Emma and Ben, also gushed about each other.
Hallmark“Had such a great time working with @ektorrivera on #Groundswell last month!” Chabert captioned an Instagram photo of the pair.
Rivera reciprocated the love, confirming that the actress was “incredible.”
“Lacey was so humble and she treated the project with passion and openness,” Rivera told the Digital Journal. “She was fantastic to work with and the chemistry was instantaneous. We had a lot of emotional moments in the movie. To be able to work with Lacey was one of the best experiences.”
“The Chicken Sisters” star reminisced about the film on September 2, while also revealing another reason “Groundswell” remains one of his favorites.
Rivera Discovered the Waves Filming ‘Groundwell’
Despite being born and raised in Puerto Rico, an island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, Rivera never learned to surf. While filming “Groundwell,” in which his character played a surfer, he finally learned how.
Hallmark“Summer’s over… and we closed it with a throwback to one of my favorite filming experiences: Groundswell,” Rivera captioned his Instagram video. “Filmed in Hawaii, directed by @leemfriedlander and with the amazing @thereallacey I played Ben, a Puerto Rican surf instructor living on the island.”
“Fun fact: Even though I’m a Boricua, I learned to surf for the very first time right there in Waikiki,” he continued.
“Much respect to everyone who practices this sport, it connects you with nature in such a spiritual way,” he added.
“I lived in Puerto Rico in front of the beach when I was young but I never tried to surf,” the “Sugar Plum Twist” star previously confessed to the Digital Journal. “I would only swim, so it was nice to experience a different sport.”
Fans Loved Chabert and Rivera’s Chemistry
Rivera’s comments were filled with fans of the film, with many expressing their love for the sweet romantic movie.
Hallmark“There’s not too many Hallmark movies I can watch more than once, this one I’ve seen this one at least 8 times,” wrote one superfan.
Lee Friedlander, who directed “Groundswell,” also chimed in.
“DITO miss working with you!” She commented. “Was the best!”
While “Groundswell” remains the only film that Chabert and Rivera have made together, something tells us that Hallmark fans wouldn’t be disappointed if the two were paired up again.
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