A few months ago, I was lucky enough to travel to New Orleans to visit the set of The Best Of Me, the movie based on Nicholas Sparks’ bestselling novel.
In the story, Dawson and Amanda are former high school sweethearts who return to the small town in which they grew up for the funeral of a mutual friend. Their unexpected reunion shows them both that, although they haven’t seen each other for 20 years, their feelings are as strong as ever — and so are the forces that drove them apart. It’s a juicy, emotional love story that really makes you think about first love and second chances.
James Marsden and Michelle Monaghan star as Dawson and Amanda, with Luke Bracey and Liana Liberato portraying their younger selves. It was so much fun meeting all of them and they were so warm and down to earth, it was like hanging out with friends.
I had already met Nicholas Sparks a couple of years ago when I visited the set of Safe Haven, and I like to pretend James Marsden is pointing to me in this picture and asking Nick (you know we’re like BFFs now), “Hey, isn’t that the cute middle-aged chick you were raving about?” See how they’re both smiling?
Anyway, I’m heading to L.A. on Monday to actually see the final movie (yay!) and interview the cast again, but I thought I’d first share some of the photos from my day on the set. Today I’ll focus on the guys 🙂
Although I’ve interviewed Nicholas Sparks before — and the question I should have asked this time is how he’s managed to get younger looking — it was so interesting to hear him talk about The Best of Me.
“I was in my 40s when I wrote The Best of Me, and I think that’s a very interesting period of peoples’ lives. In your 20s, you believe your dreams can come true. You’ll meet the right guy, or you’ll be famous, or whatever your dreams are. As you go through your 30s, part of you just knows you’ve still got a shot. Well, in your 50s, 60s, and 70s, you kind of reach a point where you look back and say, ‘Well, I’m never going to be an astronaut. I think I’ve now passed the NASA retirement age.’
So, the 40s is this period when there tends to be a lot of self-reflection. ‘Who am I? How did I get here? And is this the life I want to lead for the next 40 years or so?’ You’ve reached the age where you’re also very conscious of the fact that life is about choices, and, you know, sometimes you reach that point of ‘now or never.'”
James Marsden is in his 40s now and the last time he worked with Nicholas Sparks was a decade ago on the classic romance, The Notebook. This time around, he plays the older guy and, when we asked him about his favorite scene, he was very quick with an answer.
“Michelle and I had about an 11 minute love scene take, which was very nice. I finally said, ‘All right, this is going to get into R territory from PG-13 pretty quick if you don’t cut.’ She is such a joy to work with. We’re both from the Midwest and it’s just good to work with somebody that you really do have intimate chemistry with. And she’s a sweetheart.
I knew that Michelle was a big country music fan like me, so I made some CDs of all these love songs from the early ’90s: love songs by Garth Brooks and George Straight– songs that Amanda and Dawson would have listened to.
And I put it on in the trailer and the first song was Cowboy, Take Me Away by the Dixie Chicks. She turned and I said, ‘Why are you looking at me like that?’ She said, ‘That’s the song that I danced to at my wedding.’ So, every song, she was like, ‘You know me so well.'”
Um, for the record, that’s one of my favorite songs, too, James. You know me so well, too!
And now we all know the adorable Luke Bracey, pictured with me, above. (As an aside, I posted that photo on Facebook while we there, and my husband gave us all a good laugh when he replied, “Whatever.”) Luke shared his feelings about love scenes — and we discovered the real way to his heart.
“Let me tell you, love scenes are not as romantic as they look. They are far from romantic. You’re in a small room with you, an actress, and seven sweaty men. And you’ve got to pretend like they’re not sitting there and that it’s all natural and beautiful, and you’ve got to do it a bunch of times. It might have been one of my least favorite scenes to film, actually, because it’s really strange to be sitting there in nude-colored underwear for a good couple of hours.
Being from Australia, what I really miss here are my meat pies. Meat pies. Hand-sized meat pie, tomato sauce, ketchup on the top. Always miss that. I go home every December and January for five weeks or so for Christmas and New Year, and there are moments in June and July where I’ll wake up in the morning, thinking, ‘I’m going to go get a meat oue. Oh, no, it’s going to be six months until I have a meat pie.’
That’s the one food I do miss. And, of course, my mother’s Spaghetti Bolognese.”
Start cooking, ladies! And come back tomorrow to read about Michelle Monaghan, Liana Liberato and the Magnolia House.
Meanwhile, enjoy this sneek peak at the movie, featuring a great new song by Lady Antebellum.
I can’t wait to see how this movie turns out!
I want to read some more of his books and catch this movie.
So many good looking men.. 🙂 Looking forward to watching the movie snuggled up against my boyfriend! Sounds like a good romantic flick.
LOL, my husband won’t watch this with me, so I will end up going with some friends.
I am so watching this movie – like I super like it. It’s all on the rave on FB too.
You are such a rock star that I am glad to know you, Lolo. You already knew James and Nicholas? Awesome. James is a cutie aside from a wonderful actor. I look forward to this movie.
You are amazing.
Ha ha! I met Nicholas Sparks on the set of Safe Haven but it was the first time I met James Marsden. Hopefully not the last! xo
I’m sure they were pointing you out! I’m so jealous of this glamorous life you lead!
Lois I love how you have uncovered the men behind the characters, it makes me feel as if I know them a little bit and that makes me want to like the movie. And for what it’s worth I am certain that Nick (see how you did that? Now he and I are on a first name basis too) would have definitely raved about you to James Marsden, you have a way of making everyone love you. Have fun in LA!
I could only wish to visit a movie set. James is quite handsome!
Some great insights there and I was glad to hear (for my grandson’s girlfriend’s sake – he is an actor and she doesn’t like it when he has to do love scenes), that they are not all they are cracked up to be. Beside that, I love reading about creative and successful people.
Looks like a great time. I love everything Nick Sparks writes!
Oh my I’m totally jelly! They look as handsome off-screen – hubba hubba 🙂
OK, whereas I’m not a “star struck” kind of person, I smiled all the way through this piece because of the very human faces you gave these stars. So relatable, and I love Michael’s comment on your FB page. LOL!!
Oh man! James Marsden has white hair and still looks this good!!! I want to know his secret! The movie looks really good too! Will be looking forward to watching it!
Aren’t you looking for an assistant? I mean I am so jealous you got to sit down with Nicholas Sparks, one of my favorite writers. Yep I’m jealous and I’m pouting. Okay this was an awesome visit you had and I personally can’t wait to see the movie cause the book was AMAZING!!
I will pass on your nice words to Nick (!) — maybe he needs an assistant!!
Wow, how lucky are you?! What a great gig – have fun on Monday at the premiere!
OMG I am so jealous, I love Nicholas Sparks. I am from NC and just recently took a tour and saw his beautiful house.
This movie is on my top watch list, I can’t wait to see it. Curious how they play this one out!
You had an amazing opportunity! And you have tempted me to watch this movie when it’s released! Thank you x
Wow you did a great job with this! Nicholas Sparks is one of my literary heroes! I would love to just sit and talk to him for a few minutes/weeks! This looks like it will be another great movie and I can’t wait to see it! I read part 2 first but had to come back and see this one since I missed it earlier!
This looks like it was an amazing experience.
What a cool experience! Lucky you. I’d love to check out a day of filming, pretty much any movie! – Katy
This is such a great post! Sounds like you had an AMAZING time. I will definitely be checking this one out 🙂
Oh my goodness. I love James, such a good looking man. Can’t wait to see this!
What a great day “at the office”. Lol. They really do seem so down to earth. Great interview!
This is going to be great. Nicholas Sparks movies are always so great, and James Marsden makes me absolutely SWOON.
This is just the coolest thing ever. I can’t imagine interviewing Nicholas Sparks… thanks for sharing
Wow, what an experience! I’m excited to see this movie!
I hadn’t heard of this movie until now but it sounds interesting! What a great experience to have interviewed Nicholas Sparks again!
So Cool…So Cool. An awesome experience.
You lucky lady! What a fun experience! I cannot wait to see this movie!
You are so lucky to have met Nicholas Sparks. My sister would be so jealous. He is one of her favorite authors.
I don’t know whether to be more jealous of the fact that you got to go to my favorite city or that you got to go to the set of the movie. Sounds like a great movie and looks like you had a ton of fun!
The way to a man’s heart… even when they’re famous. 😉 And LOL at your husband’s ‘whatever.’ That is funny. 🙂
How awesome that you get to do movie review while on the set of a movie.. I’m in awe of you at this moment in time.
I am not usually a emotional love story kind of girl, but this is one that I have wanted to see. For some reason it just reaches out to me.
Love love love N. Sparks and James Marsden is the best! What an awesome experience!
What a wonderful opportunity to get out and enjoy the company of two hunks. I like Nick and James and will look out for the movie.
How fun! I can’t wait to see that movie. I’m glad you enjoyed the trip.
Oh! This is cool! Can’t wait for this movie to come out now that you’ve written this.