Central Otago's autumn leaves have a yellow Mini to match as the Blondini Gang is chased through its streets.
The Goodbye Pork Pie remake crew filmed in Naseby yesterday and will head to Roxburgh this weekend.
Parts of the town's main street, and some adjoining it, were closed for most of the day as they were packed with the 70-strong film crew, a yellow Mini and 540 sheep.
Producer Tom Hern said Naseby and Roxburgh were chosen because of their "personality'' during a location-spotting trip last year.
"Naseby is such a distinctive little town.
"This is the thing about the original film. All New Zealanders felt like they owned a piece of the film.''
Locals played extras in most towns they visited, he said.
Being an "accidental outlaw on the run'' in 2016 was a different prospect from when the original was filmed in 1979, he said.
"With the advent of social media it's very hard to hide. So we've tried to be free in our reimagining.''
It was a "buddy'' movie, he said.
"A lot of the film hinges on that dynamic between the actors because we spend so much time in the car with them.
"We're making this for a new generation.''
Naseby farmer Basil Smith diverted 540 of his 7000 sheep from their usual route on to the set for the shoot.
"I always walk them around here, but they're not used to going in the town.''
It was able to work with the help of well-trained sheep dogs, he said.
Central Otago District Council economic development manager Warwick Hawker said while he could not put a dollar amount on it, films like this visiting the district were important to the local economy.
"Initially, you get the film crew using local resources, staying and eating, but perhaps more importantly, it gives exposure to the district.''
Film Otago Southland executive manager Kevin Jennings said Central Otago had a "good, established'' film industry, mostly through commercials.
"I think the core of what attracts filming here is the diversity of the landscapes in such short proximity.''
After Roxburgh the crew will travel through Kelso, Wyndham and Gore before a longer stint in Invercargill.
The film is expected to be released in the summer.
Its writer and director is Matt Murphy, son of the original film's director, Geoff Murphy.
Its lead actors are James Rolleston, Dean O'Gorman and Australian Ashleigh Cummings.
