If you’ve ever curled up on the couch to watch Heartland, you probably already know how easy it is to fall in love with the scenery, the horses, and the Heartland ranch. The show has been running since way back in 2007, and Amber Marshall has been right there from day one playing our favorite horse whisperer, Amy Fleming.
Recently, Austrian star photographer Manfred Baumann and his wife Nelly got a rare chance to step behind the camera and see what actually goes on when the cameras stop rolling.
From Vienna Ballgowns to Canadian Cowboy Boots
You might remember when Amber made headlines in May by showing up at the famous “Dancer against Cancer” ball in Vienna. She joked at the time that she usually lives in jeans and cowboy boots, so wearing a gorgeous gown at the Hofburg Palace made her feel just like Cinderella.
Well, that friendship led to a sweet return invitation. Amber invited Manfred and Nelly straight to the set in Canada, where season 19 is currently filming.
Manfred didn’t shoot any official photos this time around—he was just there to soak it all in—but he’s already dreaming big. With season 20 just around the corner, he’s hoping to team up with Amber next year to shoot an exclusive photo book on set.
The Hard Work Behind Those 30-Second Scenes
From the outside, watching Heartland feels like a peaceful escape. But as the Baumanns quickly found out, making that magic happen is no walk in the park.
“For a scene that might only last 20 or 30 seconds in the series, you need two or three hours for set construction and everything,” Manfred shared with the KURIER.
With a crew of 40 to 50 people working late into the night, it’s a massive operation. Amber herself pulled a grueling 12-hour shift on the day they visited. It just goes to show how much sweat and sleepless nights go into keeping our favorite ranch family on our screens.
An Epic Canadian Road Trip
After wrapping up their time on set, Manfred and Nelly aren’t heading home just yet. They’ve packed their bags for a massive four-week Canadian road trip.
Their plan? Drive all the way up to Alaska, cruise back down to Calgary to catch up with Amber one more time, and then head over to Vancouver Island. Manfred even has a video shoot lined up over there for a photo software company—which happens to be just 20 minutes away from Pamela Anderson’s place, as he grinningly pointed out.
It sounds like quite an adventure. And for Heartland fans everywhere, we’ll just have to keep our fingers crossed that Manfred gets his wish for that photo book next season!
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