Locals watch premiere of star-studded HBO series shot on Monterey Peninsula

The red carpet was rolled out at the Carmel Mission Inn for the local celebrities of the HBO series ‘Big Little Lies.’

“I was very fortunate to be filmed in the airport scene with Nicole Kidman and Alexandar Skarsgard,” said Virginia Peterson who was an extra for the production.

“It was a wonderful experience and everybody was so kind and it was so fun,” said Jacqueline Ariel, who was also an extra for Big Little Lies.

More than 350 people watched the premiere of the limited series starring famous faces like Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman. The Monterey Peninsula served as the backdrop for the dark “dramedy” about three mothers whose perfect lives unravel.

“I’m excited, I’m going to watch it here and then I’m getting free HBO at my house,” said Peterson. “So when I go home, I’m going to watch it again, and I’m going to look at see if I’m in there.”

With fancy hors d’oeuvres, a bar and plenty of photo ops, the debut celebration also highlighted the $2.5 million economic impact the HBO production brought to the Central Coast from hotel stays, local wages, rentals and other purchases.

“Finally the state of California offered a tax incentive and it’s attracted more studios, more directors, photographers, producers to stay in our state and certainly to come back to the Monterey peninsula,” said Doug lumsden, Owner of Monterey Movie Tours.

Big Little Lies is also expected to bring in more tourism.

“People will see it all around the world, all throughout the county and they’re going to wonder where’s that beautiful place and that’s Monterey County,” said Alan Vasquez, President of the Monterey County Film Commission. “There’s tourism that comes from that as well. So people will want to relive the stories. They’ll want to see where there favorite stars shot the scene so they’ll come out here.”

Vasquez also said they may have another event when the series gets closer to the season finale.