September 17: Easy A (2010)

Milestone Years

• 10th Anniversary: September 17, 2020
• 15th Anniversary: September 17, 2025
• 20th Anniversary: September 17, 2030
• 25th Anniversary: September 17, 2035
• 30th Anniversary: September 17, 2040

Inspiration Behind the Movie

Easy A was inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter, reframed through a modern high school lens. Writer Bert V. Royal reportedly wrote the script in just five days, cleverly updating 19th-century themes of shame, reputation, and identity for a social-media-savvy teen world.

You Might Not Know

• Olive’s family members are all named after foods: Rosemary, Dill, Chip, and Olive.
• The “Pocketful of Sunshine” gag was added after the director’s daughters loved the song.
• The script originally had 47 uses of the F-word before it was edited down for a PG-13 rating.
• Filming was done entirely on location in Ojai, California using real homes and a local high school.
• Many scenes pay tribute to John Hughes’ 1980s teen comedies with deliberate stylistic nods.

Food Ideas

• Red velvet cupcakes with scarlet “A” frosting
• Sunshine lemonade or mocktails (for “Pocketful of Sunshine”)
• Mini apple pies (symbolizing temptation and classic Americana)
• Snack mix with olives, chips, and rosemary (family name pun)
• Grilled cheese sandwiches named “Olive’s Special”

Ways to Celebrate

• Host a red-themed party with “A” decorations and costumes
• Read The Scarlet Letter and compare its themes to the film
• Create rumor-based improv scenes with friends for laughs
• Watch classic 80s teen movies that inspired Easy A
• Make a playlist of songs from the film and 80s teen hits

Filming Locations

• Ojai, California: Real homes and businesses were used, not sets
• Nordhoff High School served as Ojai North High in the film
• Many spots in downtown Ojai are recognizable and still visitable