Beach boy

Talented actor plays a legend

By Tatat Bunnag
Photos courtesy of Sahamongkol Film International

Back in the 1960s, if The Beatles were the biggest band in the world, then The Beach Boys were the American Beatles. The Beach Boys are one of the most popular bands of all time. The group's early music gained popularity around the world for its pop vocal harmonies and lyrics reflecting a youth culture of the beach, surfing, cars and romance.

Love & Mercy is a biopic about the pop icon and Beach Boys’ leader Brian Wilson. Directed by Bill Pohlad, Love & Mercy stars the talented American actor Paul Dano who plays the role of the young Wilson in 1960s California. This was the time when Wilson’s creative ambition was growing, and he was seeking to push his band away from the bubblegum surf-pop of their early years to a more experimental sound.

With help from Sahamongkol International, Student Weekly recently scored an opportunity to do an exclusive interview with Paul Dano. We asked him about Love & Mercy, which is due to hit cinemas this week.

Student Weekly: How did you first become involved with the film?

Paul: I think the main reason I got this role is my face. Everybody keeps telling me that I look exactly like Brian. [Laughs.] After I met up with Bill Pohlad and read the movie script, I knew that I really wanted to be part of the project. Also, I’ve always wanted to be in a biographical film.

Student Weekly: What did you know about Brian Wilson prior to getting involved with the project?

Paul: I knew something about Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys. You hear their music everywhere, and you read a few articles in magazines.

Brian Wilson is absolutely a talented artist. His legacy didn’t just stop in the ‘60s, but continues to inspire younger generations. I was blown away when I listened to their album Pet Sounds. It’s timeless music that still sounds fresh even today.

Student Weekly: Did you feel any pressure portraying a living legend?

Paul: Maybe a little. But I tried not to worry about it too much. I looked at it as something challenging. I did a lot of homework and immersed myself in everything about Brian. I listened to everything I could, started reading through his biographies and just hunted down everything I could find to get ready for the part.

Student Weekly: Is it true that you really play and sing the songs in the movie?

Paul: Yes, I had to learn to play piano and sing many Beach Boys songs before filming. I played and sang "God Only Knows" and "Surf's Up" live on the set when we filmed. It remains one of the best days I've ever had on a film set. It took me some time to be able to play those songs though. It was incredibly hard.

Student Weekly: What kind of music you personally enjoy listening to?

Paul: What I normally listen to is quite the opposite of the songs in the movie. I love a lot more contemporary stuff like indie and alternative rock. My favourite bands are Rage Against the Machine, Pavement, Elliott Smith, The Clash and Radiohead. Sometimes I even enjoy listening to Eminem.

Student Weekly: How did you first start your acting career?

Paul: I was born in New York, and had my first acting experience in a Broadway musical when I was 12. But I didn’t think that I would want to become an actor. Back then I was dreaming more of becoming an NBA basketball player. It wasn't until I went to college that I gave up the basketball ambitions and replaced them with acting ones.

Student Weekly: Why shouldn’t movie fans miss Love & Mercy?

Paul: I hope people feel that we captured even the tiniest bit of the energy that Brian Wilson and The Beach Boys had. Fans know his story and they undoubtedly have a good idea of what he's gone through in his life, and how he finally found peace. If they love his music, they will certainly get a sense of who he is as an artist.

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