Film Shoot to Close Section of Boulevard

Filming for Walt Disney’s remake of “Mighty Joe Young” will keep four blocks of Ventura Boulevard closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. today through Thursday.

Vehicles will be barred from the street between Laurel Canyon Boulevard and Whitsett Avenue. Businesses open during that time, such as Art’s Deli, will maintain their normal hours.

Shooting on Ventura began Sunday night. The film updates the 1949 version, whose story of an oversized gorilla won over children and earned an Academy Award for special effects.

The remake, directed by Ron Underwood, stars Bill Paxton, Charlize Theron and David Paymer.

Darryl Seif, vice president of the Entertainment Industry Development Corp. of Los Angeles, said a four-night closure of a major city street is “quite a bit,” but added that details and logistics had been carefully planned.

“Ninety-nine percent of these businesses are closed at this time,” he said.

“People in L.A. sometimes think, ‘Oh no, another production company,’ but it’s a big boost to tourism. This is going to wind up [as] someone’s favorite film and that person will want to come and visit the street where it was filmed.”