The National Tree

*The National Tree*
The National Tree
	DVD release poster
Written by	J.B. White
Directed by	Graeme Campbell
Starring	Evan Williams; Andrew McCarthy; Kari Matchett; Paula Brancati
Country of origin	United States, Canada
Original language	English
Production
Producer	David Till
Cinematography	François Dagenais
Editor	Ralph Brunjes
Running time	88 minutes
Production companies	QVF Productions; Cypress Point Productions
Original release
Network	Hallmark Channel
Release	November 28, 2009

The National Tree is a 2009 American-Canadian made-for-television drama film by Graeme Campbell.^[1] It features Andrew McCarthy and Evan Williams as father and son on a road-trip from Oregon to Washington, D.C. transporting their own Sitka Spruce tree on a truck to be planted across from the White House on Thanksgiving. The film was produced and aired by Hallmark Channel.

Plot

Seventeen-year-old Rock Burdock (Evan Williams) wins a nationwide contest for his tree to be planted across the White House. Faith Russel (Kari Matchett), marketing representative of the company Box of Toys who is in charge of the project, visits Rock and his father Corey (Andrew McCarthy). Corey planted the tree in their garden when Rock was born. He has reservations about the idea of transporting his tree cross country, but agrees under the condition that they deliver the tree themselves. While father and son drive the truck, Faith follows them most of the time in her car. Father and son are unable to strengthen their bonding and further dissensions arise along the way. However, Rock films the entire trip on camera and posts it on his vlog. This gathers more and more fans on the internet and on the road and even causes some media coverage. Rock's internet acquaintance and love interest Katie (Paula Brancati) joins Rock on the way. Together they reach Washington, D.C. on Thanksgiving. Meanwhile, Faith's boss (Ted Atherton) secretly changed the plan. He wants to repeat the contest every year and therefore decides to erect the tree rather than planting it. After Faith's attempts to persuade her boss fail, the team now cuffs Rock to the tree and protest against its destruction. Using their media attention soon more people support their protest. Finally the President of the United States calls the Park ranger on his cell phone and tells him to plant the tree. Later Rock, Corey, Faith and Katie are invited to attend the Christmas lighting of the tree by the President.

Cast

Andrew McCarthy as Corey Burdock
Evan Williams as Rock Burdock
Kari Matchett as Faith Russell
Paula Brancati as Katie
Jayne Eastwood as Lana
Ted Atherton as Aaron
Craig Eldridge as Jim
Trent McMullen as Hank
Vas Saranga as Ash
Amanda Joy Lim as Ming
Kristina Nicoll as Belinda
Jean Daigle as Eddie
B.J. McQueen as Trucker
Bubba as DC Police Officer
Joanne Reece as Secretary

Production

The film was produced on locations in the United States and Canada.

References

^ Lowry, Brian (27 November 2009). "The National Tree". Variety. Retrieved 20 June 2022.

External links

[1] Lowry, Brian (27 November 2009). "The National Tree". Variety. Retrieved 20 June 2022.

[1]