Beach Boys biopic from TV’s John Wells shooting in Southland

The life of Beach Boys co-founder and California native Brian Wilson gets the hometown treatment in “Love & Mercy,” a feature film produced by television veteran John Wells (“ER,” “The West Wing,” “Southland”), Bill Pohlad (who is also the director) and Claire Rudnick Polstein.

The biographical drama is shooting in the Hollywood area as well as in various locations around Southern California. John Cusack, Paul Dano, Elizabeth Banks and Paul Giamatti co-star in the story of the legendary musician, songwriter and producer who helped create the iconic California sound that made the group famous in the 1960s -- before mental health battles sidelined him.

Other feature films scheduled to shoot locally include Jon Favreau’s food truck comedy “Chef,” filming in Hancock Park, and the thriller “The Vatican Tapes,” filming in Eagle Rock, according to FilmL.A. data compiled by the Los Angeles Times.

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The data cover filming on city and county streets as well as non-certified soundstages.

Feature film production in the Los Angeles area has been up slightly compared with this time last year. Local television production is also still up so far this year, about 15%, compared with the same period a year earlier.

Television dramas -- prized for their impact on the local entertainment economy -- slated to shoot this week are new episodes of FX’s biker saga “Sons of Anarchy,” in Tujunga, and the TNT crime drama “Rizzoli & Isles,” in Highland Park.

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According to the California Film Commission, “Rizzoli & Isles,” as well as “Switched at Birth” (shooting this week in Santa Clarita), are two projects that qualified for California’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

Web-based shows, a highlight of last week’s report, include a one-hour comedy special shot this week at Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood featuring local comedian Greg Proops. It will premiere on chill.com.

The number of production days for local filming of commercials remains relatively flat compared with a year ago, though based on the most recent report from FilmL.A., the category was stronger than its five-year average last quarter.

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Where the cameras roll: Sample of neighborhoods with permitted TV, film and commercial shoots scheduled this week. Permits are subject to last-minute changes. Sources: FilmL.A. Inc., cities of Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Rancho Palos Verdes and Santa Clarita. Thomas Suh Lauder / Los Angeles Times

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