Actor-producer Corbin Bernsen is back in Turlock to film scenes for his upcoming film, “Life of a Dog.”

Bernsen – who produced “Christian Mingle” in Turlock in 2013 –  will be directing and starring as the main character of the film, an older gentleman being pressured to sell his home which is being crowded out by newer housing.

“He’s kind of the last property owner holding out against that and his wife is killed in a hit-and-run accident and he thinks that perhaps there was some foul play involved to get him to sell his property,” said Matt Garman, a local videographer associated with the project.

In the film, Bernsen’s character gets thrown in the slammer after losing his cool at the local bank. Garman said the house scenes will be shot in Turlock. The hit-and-run crash and the jail scenes may be filmed in Ceres, said Michael Everett, a producer in the film and the Turlock Film Commission.

Everett said Bernsen’s wife in the film gets killed in the beginning but appears a lot in the movie because “he sees her a lot,” said Everett. A dog trained for film work will have a prominent role in the movie, he added. Filming is scheduled to start today and wrap up by July 12.

Everett said fewer films are being shot in the Los Angeles area because of the difficulties in dealing with government agencies. As a result, many production companies turn to areas that are easier to do business in. The local economy also reaps an economic benefit.

Although “Life of a Dog” is lower budget than “Christian Mingle,” Everett said that doesn’t mean lesser quality.

“It’s a simpler movie. Eighty percent of the movie is in the house just Corbin and that dog and his wife. When you say low budget some people think lower quality,” said Everett. “The quality’s right up there with any other films. It’s just not a lot of locations. Christian Mingle we had like 12, 14 locations. This time we only have two or three.”

The new film has flown “a little bit” under the radar because there was no need to advertise for extras. “Christian Mingle” attracted 1,200 to 1,400 to show up for auditions during its filming.

Bernsen is best known for his role as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC TV series “L.A. Law” that ran from 1986 to 1994. He has been in a vast number of movies, including “Major League,” “Major League II,” and “Gentle Ben.” He also appeared in “General Hospital,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” “Ryan’s Hope” and an episode of “The Waltons.” He also wrote the script of the upcoming film.