Nicholas Sparks on the North Carolina setting of 'The Choice' - Los Angeles Times
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Movie Sneaks: Nicholas Sparks on his connection with North Carolina’s setting for ‘The Choice’

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Note: The latest film adaptation of a Nicholas Sparks novel, “The Choice,” opens Feb. 5 The Lionsgate film is a romantic drama about a medical student and a womanizer who fall in love, with complicated consequences.

FULL COVERAGE: 2016 movies guide

We asked Sparks to pick out some photos from the film’s North Carolina location and explain his deep connection with the state.

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When I first moved to North Carolina in 1992, I was immediately struck by how varied and vast the landscape was. North Carolina is a rare state that has gentle mountains, expansive farmland, slow-moving rivers and an incredible coastline.

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Practically every city has its own identity, idiosyncrasies and charms, but the beauty of the state as a whole is unparalleled, and I knew when I started writing “The Notebook” that North Carolina (where I then lived) would be the setting. Since then, every book I’ve written has been set in North Carolina.

Setting is a major aspect of my work, both in terms of natural and cultural environments and atmosphere. I love the community, the pace of life, the languid summers and the beautiful small towns that offer memorable backdrops to my stories.

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One of the people who understands this more than anyone is [production designer] Mark Garner. Mark first worked on [the movie version of] “The Notebook” years ago and has worked on many of my films since then, so when I produced “The Choice,” I knew that he would be my first call.

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For the Record, 2:10 p.m. Friday: In an earlier version of this post, Nicholas Sparks misidentified production designer Mark Garner as a set designer.

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He understands what it takes to bring my vision of North Carolina to life, and he did so perfectly in “The Choice.”

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Photos: 2016 Movie Sneaks Guide

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