- In pictures: Oamaru transformed
The seven-episode Netflix adaptation of the 1952 John Steinbeck novel East of Eden boasts a cast including Hollywood actors Florence Pugh, Martha Plimpton, Christopher Abbott and Irish actor Ciaran Hinds.
Set mainly in the Salinas Valley, California, the novel follows the Trasks and the Hamiltons - intertwined families destined to re-enact the fateful biblical story of Cain and Abel.
Pre-production has been under way in Oamaru since late November and filming is expected to begin this weekend.
Film Otago Southland chairman Kyle Murdoch said the production was "really significant" for the region.
"It is a really big deal because film is very competitive all around the world...I know with others in the past, we’re competing with a lot of different countries around the world to try and attract a big series like this to film within our region."
Otago had really diverse locations along with buildings of a certain age and architecture that were really unique - especially in Dunedin and Oamaru, whose heritage were "a real advantage" in the film industry, but the region was being slightly held back by lack of a fulltime studio facility, Mr Murdoch said.
"That’s the one thing that I wish that we did have, because that might mean that we could have even more work here in the region."
While there were some smaller studios, the region did not have a facility of the scale needed to attract more productions of this level, which required a big setup.
The economic impact would be "huge", he said.
It was a "good confidence builder" and showed the region was capable of hosting a production of this calibre.
"But if we could have a fulltime studio here in the city, then that would help bring in more work here, for sure."
Dunedin Mayor Jules Radich said the production was "wonderful for the whole region".
As a Unesco City of Literature, Dunedin had an "intrinsic connection to the world of literature" and the production would help promote writers from Dunedin by establishing the connection with John Steinbeck and his legacy.
It was wonderful that the production team was coming to the city to film, he said.
"There’s people flying in and out of Dunedin, there’s people coming here and using Dunedin facilities as part of the [production]."
Waitaki District Mayor Gary Kircher said the economic benefit of East of Eden was "definitely a very positive one".
The production crew had been trying to get "as much accommodation as they could" within half an hour of Oamaru, some staying as far away as Dunedin.
The production had also created extra income for some locals.
"The number of locals I’ve been talking to who have said that they are in the [production] as extras has been just amazing."
The crew had been "just blown away with what we’ve got in Waitaki".
"We’ve got the range of scenery right through to the heritage buildings, and it’s obviously the heritage buildings which are important to these guys.
"They would normally have to spend millions of dollars building a set to try and replicate what we’ve got."
The last "big budget" production filmed in the region had been The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, in the early 2000s, Mr Kircher said.
"The scale of this one is right up there• as well. Knowing how they do their period dramas, period series and so on and the quality of them, I think it says a lot for the fact they have come to Otago to do this one."
Oamaru Whitestone Civic Trust property manager Jacob Barwick said East of Eden was the biggest production filmed in the town.
"This outstrips every other production that has come to Oamaru.
"It is so big that if we can pull it off this time and get through it and everybody’s happy, then we can encourage them to come back to do another production of this size," Mr Barwick said.
About 500 people had descended on Oamaru and were interacting with the town’s facilities, hospitality, accommodation, shops and cafes.
Iconic buildings were playing "a starring role", helping to fund the trust’s heritage work.
"It’s extra money to help preserve some of the most important buildings in the country."
• Naseby Lodge manager Tash Crutchley said about 400 production crew were "scattered through" Naseby and Ranfurly, with another lot on the way for a two-week stay later in the month.
A set was being built in Hills Creek, near Falls Dam, she said.
