"The Ghost and the Whale" writer, co-producer and co-director Anthony Gaudioso, left, and star Maurice Benard.

Filming is under way on the Sonoma County coast during February for the independent feature film “Ghost and the Whale.”

The film project revisits the locales of Bodega and Bodega Bay during 50th anniversary year of Alfred Hitchcock’s 1963 film, “The Birds,” which was filmed in the area.

See other movies that were filmed in Sonoma County here

The film’ s web site gives this synopsis:

“‘The Ghost and the Whale’  tells the story of Joseph Hawthorne, a man who went off to sea with the love of his life and came back to the town of Bodega Bay alone. Accused of murder, Joseph was found not guilty after a long and grueling trial that was nationally covered.

“Now, Joseph questions his own innocence, because at the time of the death of his wife, he was suffering a bi-polar episode. One year later, acclaimed journalist Ed Hale has been called to Bodega to cover Joseph’s mysterious story. What he encounters is a hornet’s nest of uncontrollable consequences.”

The film stars Maurice Benard of “General Hospital”  as Joseph Hawthorne, with “Miss Saigon” villain Jonathan Pryce as the voice of the whale. The cast also features Ashlynn Yennie, Monica Keena and original “Birds” co-star Tippi Hendren.

Directed by brothers Anthony and James Gaudioso, the film is scheduled for 2014 release.

For more about the film: http://www.theghostandthewhale.com