Also critical to the film’s humor and emotion is the work of production designer Stephen Lineweaver, whose credits include “Jerry Maguire.” While Matthew’s home town is never identified – “I wanted it to be ‘Anywhere, USA’,” says Greenfield – the director acknowledges that his hometown of Westport, Connecticut inspired much of the film’s look. THE GIRL NEXT DOOR was filmed entirely in Southern California, yet we feel we’re in the heart of East Coast suburbia. “You can’t find that kind of suburban feel and community in Los Angeles County, yet somehow Stephen found it,” says Greenfield. “He really captured the essence of Westport.”
When Matthew hooks up with Danielle, the adult film world invades his safe, upper-middle-class existence. Later, he, Klitz and Eli visit the Adult Film Convention in Las Vegas. Here, too, Lineweaver pulled off a design miracle, creating the convention entirely on a Los Angeles soundstage. “That set was probably Stephen’s biggest task,” say Greenfield. The director also credits director of photography Jamie Anderson, ASC, for making invaluable contributions to the film’s look.
After Lineweaver, Anderson and the rest of the crew and cast wrapped principal photography, work began on post-production, including the Herculean task of lining up the 37 songs for the soundtrack. As the film began taking shape, the “test screening” process revealed that the filmmakers’ goal of making a smart, edgy film was being realized. “We knew THE GIRL NEXT DOOR would appeal to men,” says Charles Gordon. “After all, it’s kind of a men’s fantasy. But we were thrilled that the film also plays to teenage and adult women.”
Adds Luke Greenfield: “THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is a love story about how far this character is willing to go for the first love of his life. What woman – or man – couldn’t relate to that?”
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