<P> Avnet first read the novel in 1987 . He was introduced to it by producer Lisa Lindstrom, with whom he worked on television films Heat Wave and Breaking Point . Although he wanted her to give him a synopsis of the story, she insisted he read the book and like her, he loved it . He decided to turn the story into a film and pitched the idea to Norman Lear's company, Act III Communications, who were interested and gave him a small budget for a screenwriter . He hired Carol Sobieski who had written the screenplay for 1982's Annie . She wrote a draft for it as a musical, which he was unhappy with . Sobieski left the project and he hired Flagg, who had been surprised that anyone would want to turn the novel into a film, to develop the script . Although she had some screenwriting experience, she found the process of turning her own novel into a script a strange one . The job was made somewhat easier by the work done by Sobieski and Avnet in choosing which characters from the book were going to be featured, but she found it difficult and also left the project, after writing 70 pages of the screenplay . With no money left to hire another writer, Avnet took the script over himself and spent the next 2--3 years developing it . Flagg gave her blessing to the final draft . </P> <P> Avnet wrote the film with Jessica Tandy in mind; she expressed excitement about making the film . He had worked with Kathy Bates and Chris O'Donnell on the 1990 film Men Don't Leave before offering them the roles of Evelyn Couch and Buddy Threadgoode respectively . When Bates read the script she loved the characters and was particularly keen to work with Tandy . Mary - Louise Parker was casting director David Rubin's first choice for the role of Ruth Jamison . She read for the part several times, initially unhappy with her own tests . When she read along with Mary Stuart Masterson, they--and the producers--agreed that they had good chemistry . </P> <P> Avnet hired Barbara Ling as production designer . Scouting for a location, she found Juliette, Georgia, a town that was, according to Avnet, nearly deserted . The building chosen to be the Whistle Stop Café was formerly an antique and hardware store . It was redesigned as a cafe, with a horseshoe shaped counter to allow for optimal camera angles . </P> <P> After the release of the film, Juliette saw an influx of tourists and, with Jon Avnet's encouragement, locals opened the Whistle Stop Café, recreated to mirror the film set . Although "Whistle Stop Café" is now a registered trademark, other establishments have appeared using that name . While writing the novel, Flagg based Whistle Stop on Irondale, Alabama, and the café on a real - life restaurant, the Irondale Café . She was a frequent visitor there which was formerly owned by her great - aunt . </P>

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