A star in the making: Beaman native Kruse appears in Lifetime Christmas movie

Michael Blake Kruse doesn’t consider himself a connoisseur of Christmas cinema by any means, but there’s one exception that holds a special place in his heart.             “I’m a big fan of ‘A Christmas Story,’” the 2008 BCLUW High School graduate said of the 1983 ode to Ralphie Parker and his Red Ryder BB gun. “It’s a classic that I appreciate more and more every year.”             While it’s unlikely that “The Ugly Christmas Sweater,” a short film that Lifetime originally aired on December 2, will achieve the mythical status of such holiday favorites as the aforementioned production, “Christmas Vacation,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas,” or “Elf,” Kruse has submitted his own entry into the canon playing the role of Aiden in the new movie. And to be returning home a professional, working actor, it all still feels a bit surreal to a small town kid who holds his roots so nearly and dearly.             “I think it's true when people say, ‘It's a marathon, not a sprint.’ I've learned to embrace the process and find joy every step of the way,” Kruse said.  “There are actors still dreaming of moving out to LA, and I have to constantly remind myself of that.”             “The Ugly Christmas Sweater,” which clocks in at around 11 minutes, centers around the employees of a social media company who are desperate to come up with a successful holiday hashtag, only to find it in the form of a shiny and musical garment the protagonist Megan (Kayla Fields) received from her grandmother.             Kruse plays Megan’s romantic interest (her friend affectionately deems him “that cute guy”) and does plenty of smiling throughout the film: by the time it’s all said and done, she goes viral for a coffee shop outburst, and Aiden dons his own ugly Christmas sweater before asking her out for drinks. Because it’s 2017, naturally, the credits roll while they pose for a selfie together.             “I worked with a talented team of actors and filmmakers who were all passionate about bringing this story to life,” Kruse said.

“It was one of those gigs where everyone was down-to-earth and easy to get along with—basically, the type of people I expected with a Lifetime project.”    Read the full story in this week's Grundy Register. Subscribe by calling (319) 824-6958 or clicking here.