<Li> Matt Lutz as Clay Gephardt </Li> <P> The inspiration for A Walk to Remember was Nicholas Sparks' sister, Danielle Sparks Lewis, who died of cancer in 2000 . In a speech he gave after her death in Berlin, the author admits that "In many ways, Jamie Sullivan was my younger sister". The plot was inspired by her life; Danielle met a man who wanted to marry her, "even when he knew she was sick, even when he knew that she might not make it". Both the book and film are dedicated to Danielle Sparks Lewis . </P> <P> It was filmed in Wilmington, North Carolina, at the same time that Divine Secrets of the Ya - Ya Sisterhood (2002) and the TV show Dawson's Creek were being filmed there . Many of the sets were from Dawson's Creek (1998)--particularly the school, hospital and Landon's home . The total shooting time was only 39 days, despite Moore being able to only work 10 hours a day because she was a minor . Daryl Hannah, who wore a brown wig as her character, had received a collagen injection in her lips, which went awry and caused noticeable swelling . By the end of filming, however, the symptoms were less obvious . </P> <P> Director Shankman wanted the lead characters to be portrayed by young actors: "I wanted young actors with whom teenagers could connect", he said . Shankman arranged a meeting with Shane West after he saw him in a magazine . He was looking for someone who could transition from being very dark to very light . He described his choice as "an instinct" he had about West, who would appear in almost every scene and had "to be either incredibly angry and self - hating or madly in love and heroic ." West said: "I don't generally read love stories, but after reading the screenplay, I knew I couldn't wait to read the book so I could truly understand Nicholas Sparks' story and how he envisioned the character of Landon . It's a beautiful story and the characters are very believable, which is what attracted me to the project . </P>

Where was the movie a walk to remember filmed