<P> A bidding war for the film rights to the book by author Ben Sherwood broke out in April and May 2003, before the book was published . Three studios competed for the rights . Universal Studios and Marc Platt (Universal's president of production) won the right to make the book into a film, paying a reported $500,000 to $1 million for the rights (with that figure rising above $1 million if the film is made). Ben Sherwood was guaranteed an executive producer credit on the film, and Universal Studios executive producer Donna Langley was assigned to the picture . Joe Johnston was initially chosen to direct . </P> <P> Drafts for the script were written by James Schamus and Lewis Colick, but the final script was written by Craig Pearce . By March 2009, Johnston had been replaced as director by Burr Steers, and Platt had named himself as producer . Steers helped polish the script . The first lead performer cast in the film was Zac Efron, who turned down the lead role in Paramount Pictures' remake of Footloose to star in this film . Pre-production had commenced by March 2009, with filming set to begin in July 2009 . </P> <P> Training with Efron began in Vancouver, British Columbia, in July 2009, and started production in Upstate New York July 2009 to October 5 . Actress Amanda Crew joined the film as Tess Carroll in July 2009, and was shooting her scenes the following September . Quite a few scenes in the film were shot in Gibsons, British Columbia, including a scene in the famous' Beachcombers' restaurant . Some of the film was also filmed at a Deep Cove school, Seycove Secondary School, in North Vancouver, B.C. Actress Kim Basinger agreed to play Louise St. Cloud (later Claire) in mid-August 2009 . Teen actor Chris Massoglia was signed in October 2009 to play a teenaged Sam St. Cloud, but never made it into the final film . </P> <P> Efron wrapped his scenes in late October 2009 . </P>

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