Nicholas Sparks has given us great stories that have turned to big film sensations. Unforgettable romantic flicks, A Walk to Remember and The Notebook are but his work that has captured the hearts of many through the big screens. Coming this April 2, 2010 is another heartwarming story about second chances. Here’s a background check on the project that is said to be the break-out for the pop-star teen and the next film that is sure to leave us feeling warmer than warm.
Living up in going for the teen drama genres, Nicolas Sparks gives us the story of Ronnie in the novel turned film “The Last Song”. At seventeen, Ronnie is a rebellious and distant ever since her parents’ ugly divorce. She was a classical piano prodigy under the tutelage of her father, which she gave up since then and has even refused her acceptance in Julliard. Now she, her brother Jonah, and her father Steve are given a chance to reconnect after her mother Kim sends the siblings to spend summer with her father in Tybee Island. At first Ronnie seems miserable and defensive towards all those around her including Will Blakelee, a popular in Tybee, but as she gets involved in protecting a Loggerhead Sea turtle nest with him, the two fell in love as she also manages with her father through the common interest they have—music.
The upcoming coming-of-age drama stars Disney’s, homegrown talent, Miley Cyrus, whose secret pop-star life character Hannah Montana, earned her fame among teens worldwide. Background check company reveals that the said movie is actually Disney’s way in creating a vehicle to help Miley break-out from the pop persona which became a huge franchise. She, herself, wished to have a project similar to that of A Walk to Remember. Disney then contacted Nicolas Sparks who at that time was thinking of a plot for his next novel. He was also to write the screenplay for the said movie. It was completed in January 2009 prior to the novel. The 100 pages long screenplay was his first to be optioned for film.
Records search show The Last Song is also a directorial debut for Julie Anne Robinson who is known to direct Grey’s Anatomy and Weeds. She began filming the film the same time the novel was finished, June 2009. The Last Song was published on September 8, 2009 by Grand Central Publishing.
Most of Nicolas Sparks’ characters are based on real life persons. For the character of Ronnie in the Last Song, she was based on the personas of different ladies since Spark admits to have some difficulty since he has not gone through a troubled teenage girl’s life. And although Disney didn’t give him limitations in making the story—like tackling the issues of teen drinking, rebellious behavior and early pregnancies—Sparks still gave them one that showcases teens who are “behaved”. Cyrus even influenced the character she played fairly little although music was evident as a common scope for her and Ronnie (Ronnie, however focused on playing the piano rather than singing along). Furthermore it was Miley who gave the name “Ronnie” as honor to her grandfather Ron Cyrus who died in 2006. It was Sparks who altered the name thus making it Ronnie short for the name Veronica.
Starring with Miley is Greg Kinnear, as Steve, and Kelly Preston, as Kim: Ronnie’s parents. The Last Song premieres April 2, 2010. It is the first film to shoot on Tybee Island, Georgia, which lasted from June 15 to August 18, 2009. It has been rated PG by the US film rating system. This is another Nicolas Sparks’ masterpiece that’s sure to touch hearts.
