Behind the Scenes on Elin Hilderbrand's The Five Star Weekend

Written by Madeline Bilis

Hilderbrand is an executive producer on The Five-Star Weekend, where she views her main responsibility as ensuring Nantucket is portrayed correctly. She says the cast—including Jennifer Garner, Regina Hall, Chloë Sevigny, Timothy Olyphant and D’Arcy Carden—who worked on the island from September 20 to October 10, “fully engaged in the Nantucket way of life.”

“Jen [Garner] went and filmed herself weaving a blanket at Nantucket Looms and posted it on Instagram. That just made me grin ear to ear, because it’s so good for the authenticity of downtown Nantucket to be embraced by the cast and by the crew,” Hilderbrand said. “They’ve been going to the brewery and The Chicken Box, and they’ve really been immersing themselves in the ways of Nantucket people. Jennifer Garner loves it. She’s like, ‘Elin, I am in heaven.’ And that makes me feel great.”

The production also tapped year-round residents to stand in as extras, including Hilderbrand’s son. Laurie Richards was also a local extra who stood in the background of a scene at Nantucket Memorial Airport. “I was surprised I didn’t know everyone,” she said. “But I was astounded by the amount of trucks and equipment that’s needed for a five-minute scene. The airport was jam-packed with people."

Like Richards, extra Jasmine Alcantara was instructed to dress like a vacationer, so she opted to sport her mother’s Nantucket basket handbag. “A lot of the crew from LA had never been to Nantucket before. And the props people loved my mom’s basket. They were just like, ‘Oh my god, I have to get this bag. Tell me where I can buy one,’” Alcantara said. “They all really wanted to embrace the culture and embrace everything about Nantucket in their limited time there. So we were glad to be ambassadors.”

With an increase in TV series and movies set on Nantucket in recent years, it raises the question: Have they made an immediate impact on the island’s tourism? The answer isn’t so clear cut. Town policy doesn’t allow filming to take place during peak season, so film crews aren’t interrupting anyone’s summer beach walks or nights at The Chicken Box. Even so, these shows are bringing increased visibility to the island, and viewers may feel inspired to book a trip.

"While it’s difficult to measure the direct impact on tourism, this kind of publicity may encourage interest in visiting, particularly outside of the peak summer months,” said Shantaw Bloise-Murphy, director of culture and tourism for the town of Nantucket. Hilderbrand’s books are a perfect example of that. “We get visitors that call in, explain they’ve experienced the island through the books, and are looking for information to plan their first visit,” said Peter Burke, executive director of the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce.

Still, there’s a fear that Nantucket will be flooded with travelers after the release of yet another show. It’s a fear Hilderbrand has considered. “Nantucket is self-regulating, so there are only so many boats, there are only so many planes, and there are only so many places to stay,” Hilderbrand said. “It cannot be overrun.” Instead, she envisions a Nantucket where the season is expanded, allowing for more people to have a classic island experience. “My eventual dream is that Nantucket becomes as busy in November as itis in June,” Hilderbrand said. “The season lasts right up until Stroll and we are able to say we are fully a three-season resort.”