Best of Me Movie Set Visit: Part 2

On Monday, I took you through a day on the set of The Best of Me movie, which opens theaters on October 17. Today I want to share some of the highlights of the five group interviews we conducted with author Nicholas Sparks and starring actors James Marsden, Liana Liberato, Michelle Monaghan, and Luke Bracey.

To help you better understand the interviews, I'll summarize the story for you, even though I provided the studio's synopsis on Monday.

Although Amanda and Dawson were only teenagers and were from different sides of the track, they fell in love with each other. Amanda lived a big house and had all the advantages; Dawson had no emotional or financial support and was trying to move past his family's violent and no-good reputation. When Dawson gets caught up in a situation that he can't get out of, the two part ways and lose contact with each other. Twenty years later, Dawson is single and working on an oil rig off the Louisiana coast, and Amanda is a mother and wife, still living in the Carolina Lowcountry. When they are finally reunited to fulfill a deathbed request of a mutual friend, will love reignite?

Our first interview of the day was with author Nicholas Sparks, and most of our questions concerned the process of turning the novel The Best of Me into a movie. Sparks is comfortable with inevitable changes, noting that "some things work better on film than they do in books." He went on to say,

For instance, a car chase always works better on film [and] scenes that have some real emotional intensity, like anger scenes, fight scenes. Yes, I can do it in a book . . . but really, it's seeing [the actors'] faces that really helps to bring [these scenes] to life.

Although Sparks has written about violence before (as in Safe Haven), The Best of Me amps up the level. We wanted to know how much of that meanness would be translated to the screen. Sparks responded by complimenting the supporting cast, especially the men who play Dawson's relatives, who are "scary people." He added that, although "Dawson's family situation is a major element of the person that he is and that he eventually becomes," the movie will not be "rated R for violence."

The Best of Me, like other Sparks stories, has a supernatural element to it. When asked about the origin of these aspects to his novels, Sparks told us that he and his wife once stayed in a house that seemed to be haunted by a Native American. Although he never saw a manifestation of the ghost, Sparks and his wife did have firsthand experiences with unexplained events. Later, he added paranormal elements to several of his stories.

Sparks went on to talk about working with his editor, filming other movies, and the inspiration for some of his characters. He also told us how his life has changed since he became a novelist and mentioned that he runs "a foundation to help disadvantaged and at-risk" kids.

Throughout the course of the rest of day we were able to conduct separate group interviews with each of the major actors: James Marsden, Liana Liberato, Michelle Monaghan, and Luke Bracey.

One of the questions we asked all the actors had to do with why they said yes to The Best of Me and how they liked the script.

Michelle Monaghan noted that she is a fan of Sparks's and his previous movies, but The Best of Me "struck a chord . . . because it was really powerful. And it's all about love and loss and second chances."

Luke Bracey told us that while reading the script he became very involved in and attached to the characters and events. He wanted to be part of the movie, saying, "Something that challenged me was [that] Dawson's got such strength and such vulnerability at the same time."

For James Marsden, both the script and the cast appealed to him. He mentioned that he "always wanted to work with Michelle" and thought "Luke and Liana [were] very, very talented young actors."

In addition, Monaghan and Marsden mentioned what a pleasure it was working with director Michael Hoffmann. According to Marsden, Hoffmann provides "a nice safety net. . . . He's an actor's director," who makes the cast "feel comfortable trying things even if they don't work. And he creates that tone and that environment on the set."

Of course we wanted to know how the actors related to the characters and the story. They all agreed that the main characters were easy to connect with and that their situation would have wide appeal.

For example, Monaghan thought her reactions to Amanda and Dawson's relationship were pretty universal, noting that no matter how happy you are in your life, "You still can't help but think, 'What if?' " She felt that "people are really honestly going to relate to [The Best of Me] because" they'll be able to "see the choices and the history" of Amanda and Dawson in themselves.

Marsden and Bracey talked about the issues involved with sharing a role and creating continuity. Bracey said, "We worked on small, physical things, but we also agreed that [Dawson] comes a long way from when I play him to when James [does]. . . . So we just wanted the subtleties to be there, which tied [the performances] together."

Marsden agreed, telling us that "it's more about being on the same page as far as who this guy is and maybe having some mannerisms that are similar. . . . We would ask each other questions [such as], 'In this situation, what do you think [Dawson] would do, how do you think he would behave?' "

We also wanted to know how all four of them prepared for their roles. For example, Liana Liberato played the young Amanda in the early 1990s, in a time period before the actress was even born.

Liberato credited the help of director Hoffmann, saying that he "had us listen to [90s] music, and he would send us articles on stuff that was happening in this area at the time." She also noted that her hairstyle and costume helped immerse her in the time period. But in the end, Liberato found that relating to the past was not that difficult "because my character's just like a normal teenage girl. Instead of listening to her . . . iPod, she's listening to her Walkman."

Bracey embraced his character's hobbies and interests. Commenting on the fact that young Dawson was learning car mechanics, he said, "I think one of the really exciting parts about my job is that I get to learn about a lot of different things from experts in the field. . . . I really tried to delve into [Dawson's] passions. As I said, I tried to learn about cars and . . . to do some work on physics and science and all those things."

Finally, I'll never again watch actors eating in a movie without thinking about what Marsden told us. Here's how he described filming the scene shown in the photograph at the right:

We were eating some crawfish, which is not really my favorite thing. . . . When you're eating in a scene, you eat that [food] all day, because it's take after take after take over here. (Don't ever smoke a cigarette in a scene. You'll smoke, like, two packs just doing the scene.) But that [scene] was fun. I've never had crawfish before. I actually like it now.

I want to end this post by saying how incredibly gracious, friendly, funny, and down to earth all four actors are. They immediately put us at ease, asked us questions about ourselves, and kindly posed for individual photographs with each blogger. Thanks so much for making our job easier and for making us feel welcome on the set. And a huge thanks to Relativity Media for inviting me to the movie set and for this incredible opportunity.

Finally, I'm excited to share this special The Best of Me movie feature, introduced by the group Lady Antebellum and featuring their song "I Did with You," from the movie soundtrack.

Don't forget that you can follow all The Best of Me movie news by searching for hashtag #TheBestOfMe on Twitter or by liking and/or following the movie on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

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The Best of Me Movie Set Visit: Part 1

As many of you know, I was lucky enough to be invited to watch the filming of The Best of Me, a movie based on a Nicholas Sparks novel that will be in theaters on October 17. Thanks to Relativity Media, I flew down to New Orleans, met up with other bloggers, and was treated to a day of making silver screen magic.

I have a lot share about what I learned while on the set of The Best of Me. I loved the setting and learning about how movies are created, and I was fortunate enough to be part of a group interview for all four stars plus author Nicholas Sparks.

What's The Best of Me all about and who are those mysterious four stars? Here's a synopsis from the studio:

Based on the bestselling novel by acclaimed author Nicholas Sparks, The Best of Me tells the story of Dawson (Luke Bracey / James Marsden) and Amanda (Liana Liberato / Michelle Monaghan), two former high school sweethearts who find themselves reunited after 20 years apart, when they return to their small town for the funeral of a beloved friend. Their bittersweet reunion reignites the love they've never forgotten, but soon they discover the forces that drove them apart 20 years ago live on, posing even more serious threats today. Spanning decades, this epic love story captures the enduring power of our first true love and the wrenching choices we face when confronted with elusive second chances. [Directed by Michael Hoffman]

Today I'm going to talk about the movie production and the location. On Friday I will share the best moments of the interviews, including photos of the stars and stills from the movie itself. Let's get started with a look at the NOLA skyline from my hotel room and photo of the bloggers after a long morning on the set. (To see the photos full size, click on the image. Use the back button in your browser to return to the post)

The day started early when we all piled into two vans to drive west out of New Orleans to meet up with the cast and crew. Our first stop was to Base Camp, which was made up of trailers, each of which had a different function, including temporary refuge for the actors and others. After a quick look around, we got back into the vans and finally arrived at the beautiful The Best of Me set.

The majestic and historic Magnolia Plantation was used for Amanda's childhood home. You may recognize the house because it has appeared in several films, including 12 Years a Slave and Crazy in Alabama. The house was built in the early 1800s, was a working sugar plantation, was used as a hospital for Union soldiers during the Civil War, and has been in the hands of the same family since 1870s.

Because the crew was filming interior shots, we weren't allowed inside the house, but we'll all get to see it in October when the movie comes out. One of the family members told us the windows, shutters, trimwork, and floors are original and that upgrades have respected the historic nature of the plantation.

As I mentioned, the director was shooting indoors that day, but he also was working on a couple of exterior scenes. To keep us and everyone else out of the line of the cameras, we watched the filming on monitors.

Despite the number of people wandering around, the sound level was kept low. Just before turning on the cameras, the director would shout "Rolling, rolling, rolling! Very quiet please." And we would have to move carefully, not saying a word or only whispering, until we heard someone shout "Cut!" At one point, a visitor to the set  (fortunately it was not one of the bloggers) accidentally appeared on film; let me just say that the director was not a happy camper. I'm so glad I didn't make that mistake because the entire scene had to be refilmed.

I was fascinated to learn that scenes are shot multiple times even when the first take looks great. For each retake, a change would be made. I noticed differences in lighting, in subtle hand gestures, and in props. There were even slight costume and hair changes. Later, the director and editor would have choices for both continuity and visual interest.

Although it was important to maintain quiet, I was surprised by how much activity was going on around the house and property, even when the cameras were rolling. Some groups were setting up the next shot, the bloggers were conducting group interviews (at a distance), a company was there filming promos, people were checking equipment, and someone was taking official cast photos.

In addition, there were food carts and medical people. It was fun to watch the costumers, hairdressers, and makeup experts on The Best of Me team as they followed the actors around, making adjustments as necessary. We visitors may have spent a lot a time sitting still and observing, but the cast and crew seemed to be in constant motion.

The grounds of Magnolia Plantation are absolutely beautiful; it was almost like being in a dream--at least for this Yankee. During the afternoon, we even had a visit from a wild alligator! I didn't get close enough to get a photo and was thankful there were gator wranglers (not kidding) on the set.

At the very end of the day, we were able to witness one of the problems with filming on location. The crew was in a race with the sunset to film two scenes that presumably were taking place in two different time periods but needed to be shot at the exact same time of day in the exact same spot. Actors and crew had to work quickly and accurately before the sun got too low. I was so impressed with how calm everyone looked; I think I would have been frantic.

After an exhausting day, we looked forward to getting back in the vans to have a late dinner in the French Quarter. The day wasn't over for The Best of Me people, though. After a quick bite to eat, they were returning for a night shoot.

We had dinner at the Tableau Restaurant on St. Peter Street. I loved the wine selection and my dinner. I ate shrimp for four meals while I was in NOLA (I just couldn't help myself), and the BBQ shrimp and grits I had for this dinner was delicious. Here's the description from the menu:

Jumbo Gulf shrimp in a New Orleans style BBQ sauce spiked with local beer and served over stone ground chévre grits.

After dinner, it was time to return to the hotel, pack, and get a good night's sleep before heading back to the real world. Thanks so much to Relativity Media for this exciting opportunity. And thanks to Jawbone for the very cool wrist pedometer; what a great way to keep track of my fitness goals.

Don't forget to return on Friday, when I'll have photos of the stars, stills from The Best of Me movie, a special soundtrack movie trailer, and lots of fun things I learned from interviewing Nicholas Sparks, Luke Bracey, James Marsden, Liana Liberato, and Michelle Monaghan. I can't wait to see the movie on October 17.

In the meantime, you can follow all The Best of Me movie news by searching for hashtag #TheBestOfMe on Twitter or by liking and/or following the movie on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, and YouTube.

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Safe Haven Movie Set Visit: Part 2 and Giveaway

Last week, in Safe Haven Movie Set Visit: Part 1, I took you through a visual tour of my August 2012 visit to the North Carolina setting of the movie Safe Haven, which comes out on February 14 and stars Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, David Lyons, and Cobie Smulders

Today, I want to concentrate on author/producer Nicholas Sparks. During the course of the trip, we had four formal opportunities to talk with Mr. Sparks and rather than simply provide you with a disjointed transcript, I plan to focus on three principal topics: the film, the setting, and the writing.

First, I want to stress how much I enjoyed meeting Nicholas Sparks. He's an easygoing, down-to-earth guy with no pretensions. Almost from the first moment you meet him, Sparks makes you feel as if he were a good friend. If you look at the photos I posted last week, you can see how comfortable he is. The photos from the movie Safe Haven shown here are courtesy of the studio (click to enlarge).

Book to Film: As we all know, a movie made from a novel invariably deviates from the book's plot. And this is also the case with Safe Haven. Sparks gave us a few clues of some of those changes and explained why such differences must occur. He stressed repeatedly that print and film are two quite different media, and what he has 30 or 40 pages to explore in a book, the screenwriters have only a few minutes to demonstrate. Thus sometimes plot points have to be changed. As Sparks noted:

It is a different kind of thinking. You have to be able to capture things. It's the picture first. And if you have a scene of introspection that you can't capture in a quick picture, sometimes you have to invent things or put things in or take things out to make it work. That’s just the nature of it.

In addition to subtly changing some of the scenes, long narrative sections of Safe Haven (or any book to film) have to be projected to the audience by the emotions displayed by the actors. Sparks went on to say:

A novel is a story told in words. A film is a story told in pictures. You’re trying to get these pictures to fill in all that introspection that I could do and you don't have a lot of time. You really need . . . quality performances that make you say, "I know who that person is. I relate to them. And I'm going to root for them by the end of the film."

Sparks was more than satisfied that all three stars (Duhael, Hough, and Lyons) conveyed the emotional impact of Safe Haven, giving the audience characters to root for and to boo.

North Carolina: If you've read Nicholas Sparks's novels, then you already know that they all take place in eastern North Carolina. Sparks is partial to the area not only because that's where he lives but because he loves the small towns, where everyone looks out for one another and where kids can grow up safe. He said:

The reason I write about this place is that not too many people write about eastern North Carolina and eastern North Carolina is very different because it's all small towns. It is a different way of life here than it is in other places, all small towns.

He went on to talk about the strong sense of community, the beauty of the water, the friendliness, the history, and even the abundance of live oaks. He noted that although his books take place in the state, they have not all been filmed there. Regardless, he had been wanting to shoot a film in Southport, North Carolina, for years, and Safe Haven was the lucky movie that won the location. Here's what he told us:

I mean, I think this is one of the most beautiful towns. Ten years ago, I was here for the filming of A Walk to Remember. I remember walking down here and I said, "I have to find a book for this place one day."

Thus Safe Haven fulfilled one of Sparks's dreams.

Sparks as an Author: Nicholas Sparks has a unique way of starting all his novels. He knows from the beginning that the story will involve "love and something." So the first two decisions he makes are the age of his main characters and the extra:

We all know that [one of my books will be] love and something. . . . You can have love and mystery, love and forgiveness, love and loss, first love, right? You can have all these things. [Safe Haven] was love and danger. I chose love and danger because it'd been a long time since I'd [written about that].

The next thing Sparks works out is how make his story fresh and stay believable. Some of those decisions are based on the age of this characters and the "something" that adds to the story. In addition, he likes to write to a wide audience, so some readers might be drawn to the central issue of the book, whereas others will be attracted to the love story or to the friendships. But he is always looking for a different approach. Sparks gave us several examples, including this:

What you're looking for is three things. You're looking for things to be interesting, original, and universal. That goes to the theme of the story, the journeys of the character, but also the specific elements in the book. For example, one of the questions I always have to answer is, "What's an interesting, original, universal way for the characters to meet and come together?"

As for the central issue of Safe Haven--and for all his novels, for that matter--Sparks was quick to point out that he doesn't have a particular agenda. Instead he wants to explore personal growth and how one moves beyond adversity or learns to accept and cope when life gives us sorrow:

What I'm trying to do more is to say that, if there's any message at all (and I don't write any messages), . . . [is] that [a single issue] doesn't define you entirely. It's one part of your life. But most importantly, parts you can change. I'm an author. But, I'm also a father, right? I also work out a lot, I also have brothers, I have friends. So, which one am I? You know, you're not just one thing.

The two central people in Safe Haven are also multidimensional individuals who have several roles, and author Nicholas Sparks couldn't be happier with the way actors Duhamel and Hough have made it easy for audiences to connect with them and to hope that their characters can learn to grow, change, and trust.

Of course Sparks talked about many other things, such as his experiences as an audiobook narrator, his answer to his most-asked question (Are you the most romantic guy on the planet?), his writing process, and his favorite scenes in the movie. Those stories will have to wait for another day.

The Giveaway. Now at last the long-awaiting giveaway. Thanks to Big Honcho Media (and I have lots to thank them for), I am able to offer one of my readers who lives in the United States a chance to win tickets to the film Safe Haven and a copy of the movie tie-in edition of the novel. One winner will receive $25 in Fandango Bucks (like a gift card you can redeem online at Fandango.com to buy your tickets) and one copy of the book. All you have to do to enter for a chance to win is to fill out the form. I'll pick a winner, using a random-number generator on February 14, the day the movie Safe Haven opens in theaters.



Good luck! And look for Safe Haven to open in theaters next week. If you want to stay current on the movie's doings, you have plenty of opportunity. Check out the Safe Haven Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest.

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Safe Haven Movie Set Visit: Part 1

You might recall that last summer I had the unbelievable opportunity to visit the movie set of the upcoming film Safe Haven, based on the novel by Nicholas Sparks. A huge thanks goes out to Big Honcho Media for inviting me to participate.

I can't wait to see the movie, which comes out on February 14 and stars Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, David Lyons, and Cobie Smulders. And, if I'm very lucky, I might be seen on screen too (don't blink or you'll miss me).

The movie was filmed in Southport, North Carolina, and used existing houses, some sets, and some repurposed buildings. It was a rainy day for our visit but we had a great time, watching a scene being filmed, talking with Nicholas Sparks, exploring the town, taking photographs and meeting the actors.

First, here's the studio's summary of the movie plot:

An affirming and suspenseful story about a young woman’s struggle to love again, Safe Haven is based on the novel from Nicholas Sparks, the best-selling author behind the hit films The Notebook and Dear John. When a mysterious young woman arrives in a small North Carolina town, her reluctance to join the tight knit community raises questions about her past. Slowly, she begins putting down roots, and gains the courage to start a relationship with Alex, a widowed store owner with two young children. But dark secrets intrude on her new life with such terror that she is forced to rediscover the meaning of sacrifice and rely on the power of love in this deeply moving romantic thriller.

Sounds exciting, doesn't it? I've read the book, and I've gotten the inside scoop on some of the movie plot, and  I can tell you that there is danger, excitement, new friendships, and--of course--love.

Come along with me while I visit the movie set! (Click on the images to see them full size)

You'll see from the photos that our day on the Safe Haven set was a little damp, but that didn't seem to stop the filming. When the rain came down, the movie crew covered the equipment and we all took a break.

Here we are on the set waiting to film. You can see the crew hard at work, the very cool director chairs with the actors' names, and even me!

Finally the day cleared up enough to film. If you've read the book Safe Haven, then you are very familiar with the carnival scene. For the movie, that part of the book was transformed into a Fourth of July celebration. Southport put on their red, white, and blue and reenacted their traditional and quirky annual parade. We got our first star sighting! And if I'm in the film, I'm in this scene.

After a hard morning being movie stars, it was time for lunch and a look at the town. Isn't that Safe Haven sign the best? We had lunch in the colorful restaurant shown here. It has a great waterfront name: Fishy Fishy Cafe. If you click on the link, you'll go to their website and see photos of the interior and get a peek at the menu. I had the coastal crab cake sandwich, and let me tell you -- OMG good.

After lunch we met up with author Nicholas Sparks who took us on a walking tour of the sites and buildings used for filming the movie. Here are exterior and interior shots of the house that Alex and his kids live in. You might recall that in the book Alex lives over his store, but that was changed for the movie. When Katie comes to town, she gets a job a Ivan's Fish Shack. Carpenters were working on that set, so we didn't have an opportunity to photograph the interior.

After that, we had a chance to talk with Mr. Sparks about the movie, the book, and his work. Thanks to the Frying Pan Restaurant for hosting the interviews, providing yummy hush puppies, and letting us stay to party. Next week's post will be all about talking to Mr. Sparks, so let's move right along to the party!

After our interviews, Mr. Sparks graciously signed a copy of the book Safe Haven for each of us and then posed for a photograph with every one of the bloggers. (You'll see my individual photo next week.) Here's a photo of all the invited guests and another of our fantastic and generous hosts from Big Honcho Media.

The party was super fun because it was hosted by Yellow Tail Wines. We had several wines to choose from, both sweet and dry. I picked the Merlot, which was delicious. Thanks to Yellow Tail for thinking of us and for making the afternoon so relaxing.

While we sipped our wine, we got to try on a special present we got from Sole Society. A week before we headed to North Carolina, Sole Society sent us a mini catalog and we were asked to pick out our favorite shoe. I had such a hard time deciding because I really liked so many of them. One other woman picked the exact same ones I did, and you see our pretty flats in the photo.

Even though we had a reception, our day wasn't over. The film crew was on a break from that day's shooting, and so we went back to the parade set to meet the actors and have a chance to take some photos. Before we were introduced to Josh Duhamel, Julianne Hough, David Lyons, and others we were lucky enough to witness a special ceremony. The Safe Haven production company made a generous donation to the Southport Boys and Girls Club. Afterward we met the stars and got our pictures taken. The photo on the stairs and the earlier group photo were taken by Big Honcho Media.

Unfortunately the rain put the day's shooting behind schedule and we didn't have time to conduct interviews, but we were able to have a chance to chat with the stars. They were all very down to earth, kind, and accessible.

We topped off our visit by having a fantastic and leisurely dinner at Mr. P's Bistro in Southport. The wine, the appetizers, the entrees--all were fabulous. If you click on the link, you can see photos and their menu. I ordered an outstanding tuna dish, which was one of the chef's specials for the day. After dinner, we walked down the street for some ice cream, and then headed back to the hotel to get some much needed rest before leaving the glamor of Hollywood behind us.

Stop back next Thursday for more about Nicholas Sparks, the movie Safe Haven, and a chance to win a book and tickets to the movie. Watch your local listings, the movie opens on February 14.

If you want to stay current on the movie's doings, you have plenty of opportunity. Check out the Safe Haven Facebook Page or follow them on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. Finally(!) check out the official trailer: (for some reason the trailer has disappeared. I hope it's temporary)

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