Kath and Dave Keown moved into a shearers' hut on their beef and sheep farm yesterday so they could rent their home to film crew working on Walt Disney Studios' Pete's Dragon , which is being filmed 20 minutes' drive away in Tapanui.
The film is a remake of the 1977 original and stars Robert Redford.
Mrs Keown, who works at KidzWay Early Learning Centre, said moving out of her home for three weeks was a way of being part of a Hollywood production which had got the area buzzing.
''Most people we know are involved in some way, whether it's playing a part in the film itself or renting out their farm cottages.''
People living in the area were also keen on doing a bit of celebrity spotting and excited about being able to see their area in a Disney film ''when it's finally all finished''.
Living in the shearing hut and going without television, internet, washing machine or a dishwasher would also be a bit of an ''adventure''.
Plus, the hut had fond memories for the couple.
''Dave was actually living in the shearers' quarters when I first met him, so that's where we did all our courting.''
Their two daughters, who would be returning home from Dunedin and Auckland to spend a week of their holidays in the shearers' hut, were initially not as keen.
''It took them a while to get used to the idea, but I think they are looking forward to having a bit of a holiday, camping style, for a little while.''
Tapanui will fill up this week with more than 200 people, along with film equipment, as the cast and crew set up in town.
Publicist Andy Lipschultz last week said the production unit would arrive during the week, take a three-day holiday over Easter, then get down to work.
The West Otago township will undergo a makeover to look like an American mill town.
The film unit would be in the township of 750 for the month of April, with the most public filming taking place in the main street about April 17-19.
