CULTURE | 10.16.2015 | GREENVILLE JOURNAL | 45
Nicholas Sparks returns to Greenville Author says city was instrumental to launching his career CINDY LANDRUM | STAFF
clandrum@communityjournals.com Having the majority of his best-selling novels made into feature films has changed the way author Nicholas Sparks works – to a point. Sparks says he now purposefully looks for stories that are original to print and the big screen. “It makes it much more difficult to conceive a story that works in both mediums equally well,” he said in a phone interview. “There are many stories I reject if I think it won’t do well adapted.” But once he has an original story that
will work in both mediums, he focuses exclusively on the novel. “There’s no guarantee it will become a movie,” he said. Sparks was living in the Upstate when his first published novel, “The Notebook,” was released and while he wrote “Message in a Bottle.” Both were made into blockbuster feature films starring some of Hollywood’s biggest names: Kevin Costner, Paul Newman, Ryan Gosling and James Garner. Sparks returns to Greenville on Sunday to sign copies of his latest novel, “See Me,” at Fiction Addiction in Greenville. “See Me” was released on Tuesday.
The novel, which is set in Wilmington, N.C., is Sparks’ classic boy-meetsgirl story that evolves into a suspense thriller. Protagonist Colin Hancock is giving his second chance his best shot, getting his teaching degree while avoiding the places and people that proved so destructive in his earlier life. The last thing he’s looking for is a serious relationship. Then he meets Maria, a hardworking lawyer and daughter of Mexican immigrants. Before they have a chance to see what a life together may look like, menacing reminders of events in her past begin to surface. “In my previous two mystery thrillers,
So you know BOOK SIGNING BY “SEE ME” AUTHOR NICHOLAS SPARKS WHEN: Oct. 18, 3 p.m. WHERE: Fiction Addiction, 1175 Woods Crossing Road, Greenville COST: $27 RULES: Sparks will sign one copy of “See Me” purchased at Fiction Addiction per person at the event. He will not sign backlist books. Signing line will form outside. A photographer will be onsite to take photos, which will be available free online. INFORMATION: 675-0540 or fiction-addiction.com
‘The Guard’ and ‘Safe Haven,’ the reader knew who the bad guy was,” Sparks said. “In this one, the reader is unaware of who the bad guy or bad girl is, and the tension comes from unraveling the mystery.”
International production ‘Chronology’ being filmed in Greenville BENJAMIN JEFFERS | STAFF
bjeffers@communityjournals.com Hollywood has come to Greenville. This month local film company Dark Corner Films is helping film scenes around the area for the supernatural thriller “Chronology.” On set last week in a building on the West End, crews set up cameras and lights, makeup and hair stylists got actors ready and phrases like “What do we gotta do to get a muscle car?” could be heard above the commotion. “Chronology” is a story about two men who go to New Year’s Eve parties six years apart and end up switching bodies. One man goes back in time six years and the other goes forward six years. The film stars Danny Trejo, who has acted in about 200 films, and Billy Baldwin, known for roles in “Backdraft,” “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” and “Dirty Sexy Money.” On set last week, Baldwin said the movie is a change of pace for him. “It’s nice when you close the script and you realize you’re doing something a little bit different and unlike anything I’ve ever been involved with before,” Baldwin said. Local theater actress and Hillcrest Middle School student Camila Escobar was tapped for one of the roles.
Left to right: Local actress Camila Escobar; members of the crew with actor Billy Baldwin; actor Billy Badwin
Filming for the movie began earlier this month in Poland and is set to conclude in Greenville on Oct. 24. The film’s director of photography and executive producer Mike Sterzynski said the landscapes of Poland and South Carolina are similar. The crew is shooting in 27 locations around the area, and Sterzynski said the city’s small size allows them to easily move equipment between locations. He said sometimes the crew would shoot at
several locations a day. Kipp Tribble, author of the script and also co-director, producer and actor, shot his first film in Greenville in 1996. “It was really kind of nostalgic shooting at Reedy River the other night,” he said. Tribble said he liked that Greenville offered a different setting than some better-known places like Los Angeles and New York City. Tribble said he considered Vermont
DANIELLE CAR/STAFF
for filming before ultimately deciding on Greenville. “A lot of the backdrops we’ve seen regularly in film, so to have an interesting look with a new canvas to present I think that’s kind of exciting where it kind of helps immerse the viewer into the story,” said Derek Wingo, co-director, producer and actor. The film release date is set for early next year.