Godzilla may not actually have been roaming through the desert landscape east of Cache Creek, but thanks to some filmmaking magic he will probably be appearing there in the upcoming Apple+ TV series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, which debuts on Nov. 17.

The 10-part series, which stars Kurt Russell, features the legendary Godzilla, who first appeared in a 1954 film that starred New Westminster害羞草研究所檚 own Raymond Burr. The new series reveals that Godzilla, along with other monsters, is linked to a mysterious organization known as Monarch, and follows one family害羞草研究所檚 search to uncover these hidden links.

Terri Hadwin, film commissioner for the Thompson-Nicola Film Commission, says that filming for the series took place near the McAbee Fossil Beds east of Cache Creek in August 2022.

害羞草研究所淭he crew was here for three weeks in total, including prep time, filming, and wrapping. We take up almost all of episode three, so that was a pretty big chunk of time spent on this TV series in our area.害羞草研究所�

The area is a popular one for filmmakers looking for an unspoiled desert landscape, and has previously featured in TV series and films including The X-Files, Penny Dreadful, and The Maze Runner.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not an incredibly developed area, plus it害羞草研究所檚 clearly a desert landscape,害羞草研究所� says Hadwin, explaining the site害羞草研究所檚 appeal. 害羞草研究所淵ou have a cliff face that offers depth and feel, plus plateaus that make it look like a vast, barren land, all within a 15-minute-drive radius on one property. It doesn害羞草研究所檛 look like one area, as it has two different looks, which means it can be used as two different spots.害羞草研究所�

She also notes that because the site is already an established filming location, it has word of mouth in the industry.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been utilized for film. Working with brand new locations can be challenging, so filmmakers like it when filming has happened in a spot and agreements are in place.

害羞草研究所淚n this situation the location manager had heard about this possible spot in B.C. that could be utilized. A lot of other material was being filmed in B.C., so staying all in one province is the best idea rather than driving to, say, Arizona.害羞草研究所�

Hadwin says that in a case like this the production company would approach the film commission and say they were interested in filming there.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檇 ask if we can do scouting. The film commission, being knowledgeable, can take people on a tour. The location manager uses photos and their opinion to say if [the location] can be used, then the director of photography looks it over, and we get filming location agreements in place.害羞草研究所�

While the site of the 害羞草研究所渃ircus害羞草研究所� (film camp) was clearly visible from Highway 1 during August 2022, and there were numerous reported sightings of Kurt Russell in and around Cache Creek, the film commission was unable to comment about the production until recently. Hadwin explains that they害羞草研究所檙e not supposed to talk about productions as they害羞草研究所檙e happening, for good reasons.

害羞草研究所淪ometimes people get excited, and want to pop by the set to see the stars, which interrupts workflow. You can get people driving there who shouldn害羞草研究所檛 be there, making noise while the cameras are rolling. You wouldn害羞草研究所檛 show up at a construction site unannounced. People are at work, so it害羞草研究所檚 important to keep things as secretive as we possibly can.

害羞草研究所淎s a film commission we害羞草研究所檙e meant to support film projects that come into the area as much as we can, so we害羞草研究所檙e brought into the loop early on, but we need to keep things on the down-low, as it害羞草研究所檚 not our job to promote the project until the filmmakers are good and ready. When they market it, then we get the message out that the project is ready to be consumed.害羞草研究所�

Hadwin adds that the economic impact a major production like Monarch has on the local economy is 害羞草研究所減retty substantial害羞草研究所�.

害羞草研究所淭he talent [actors] doesn害羞草研究所檛 necessarily stay in Cache Creek, but a lot of the crew would, because people working long days might end up staying in hotels in the area. When I visited the set I could see 40 or 50 boxes of pizza from Anie害羞草研究所檚 Pizza [in Cache Creek] that were purchased to feed the cast and crew, so it has an economic spin-off for sure. There are definitely dollars that are staying in the area.害羞草研究所�

The recent Hollywood writers害羞草研究所� and actors害羞草研究所� strikes have had an impact on the industry in B.C., but Hadwin is cautiously optimistic that with both strikes now resolved, things will hit the ground running.

害羞草研究所淎 new possible wrench in the works in Vancouver 害羞草研究所� but not necessarily in our region 害羞草研究所� is new legislation around short term rental housing, which is highly utilized in Vancouver by the film industry. With that now not as much of a viable option as it once was, there aren害羞草研究所檛 enough hotel rooms in Vancouver to support the film industry. We could see over-spill into the Interior, or we could see B.C. filming not as popular as it once was.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 hoping it害羞草研究所檚 the former, and that we害羞草研究所檒l see benefits from it and film production still coming into B.C., but only time will tell.害羞草研究所�