When Hollywood came knocking, Brodie and Maria Townley were ready for their close-up.

In June, crews filming the 20th Century Studios/Disney romantic comedy “Beach Read” spent nearly a month in Niagara-on-the-Lake working on scenes for the film in several spots around town.

The project, which includes mega-star Kevin Bacon, features Phoebe Dynevor, who portrays a romance novelist, and Patrick Schwarzenegger, a college rival and literary fiction author she reconnects with following her father’s death.

It also highlights the Townleys’ heritage home at 123 Johnson St. and the house next door at 127, which is owned by Gary Weingandt and Dana Anderson.

But you might not recognize the Townleys’ 1840s-era house when the movie hits the big screen next May.

Not only did the movie folks change the house from a soft yellow colour to a medium green tone, “but they added a veranda that wrapped around the house, plus they added an entire piece of a bump-out that went on the side of the house facing Gary’s house,” Brodie Townley said in an interview.

Those additions were “entirely fake,” temporary renovations to fit the script. In fact, the Townley home got a big-screen touch-up more than once.

“They’d actually painted about three-quarters of the house a darkish green and the director (Yulin Kuang) came by and said, ‘Nope, too dark. Repaint it,’ ” Townley recalled. So they did.

They also did tweaked the interior décor.

“An entire painting team comes in to paint the inside of the house and the outside of the house. So, we got to know all those people pretty well because we were going in and out of the house getting stuff.”

When shooting is complete, you have the option to keep the paint and décor changes. Or they’ll restore it to your original look. The Townleys chose the latter.

And in a small bit of movie magic, they got to know one of the film’s producers, Whitney Brown.

“She’s from NOTL and, funnily enough, her mother used to own our house. (Whitney) actually grew up in our house.”

The whole Hollywood takeover began several months back when location scouts knocked on their door, Townley said.

“They wanted two houses beside each other that looked like they’re cottages because the movie’s actually set on Lake Michigan.”

“Our house and Gary’s house next door fit the bill. I know they spoke to at least two other people who just decided they didn’t want to do it for whatever reason.”

Once that was done, they negotiated a rental fee and waited for the crew to descend in June. When they had to move out, the Townleys house-sat in Garrison for friends who were away.

The entire experience was smooth and seamless, he said.

“The movie people were fabulous, very, very nice, polite, always willing to help you out and happy to have you come in the house and see what was going on,” he said.

On one of the shooting days, he even got to sit in the director’s chair and watch the crew at work.

When the stars show up to shoot, they get right to work. No time is wasted.

So, while Townley caught a brief glimpse of Bacon on-set, there was no fraternizing with the talent.

“They’re there to work.”

While the movie, which also is being filmed in Toronto and other locations, was using the working title “Happily Ever After,” Townley said he was told it will be called “Beach Read,” after the novel it is based on.

The whole process of seeing the creative process up close was a bit of an eye-opener for the retired banker.

“Now every time that I look at a look at a close-up scene between people, I’ll know there’s like eight people standing within two feet of them” as the camera rolls.

Townley said he and Maria would be happy to do it again if Hollywood comes calling.

As for whether he plans to go see they rom-com when it comes out next spring, he is unequivocal.

“Absolutely, I look forward to it.”