"King Ivory" Resumes Amidst SAG-AFTRA Strike Chaos
The crime drama "King Ivory" has resumed production in and around Tulsa, OK, following a forced pause due to the Screen Actors Guild - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strike. The brainchild of writer-director John Swab (known for "Ida Red"), "King Ivory" is one of the 39 productions benefitting from a SAG Interim Agreement. The agreement allowed many previously unannounced actors, such as James Badge Dale, Ben Foster, and Michael Mando, to return to set.
While many studio projects are at a standstill amidst dual strikes by SAG-AFTRA and the Writers Guild of America (WGA), SAG-AFTRA is providing interim agreements for "truly independent producers" unconnected to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Under these agreements, such independent producers would be retroactively bound by contract terms established post-strike.
"King Ivory" is rooted in comprehensive research involving Oklahoma law enforcement and active gang members. It sheds light on the menacing underground of fentanyl trafficking within the Oklahoma State Penitentiary, a.k.a. “Big Mac". With drug potency eerily 100 times that of heroin, nearly impossible to detect at the boarder, it triggers a swell of parallel issues - overdoses, crime, and addiction. The movie diligently follows local, state, and federal task force agents as they strive to block the Irish Mob’s fentanyl trafficking operations led by Ben Foster's character alongside the Indian Brotherhood and the New Generation Mexican cartel.
Produced under the banner of Roxwell Films by newly inducted PGA member Jeremy M. Rosen, alongside Nicole Flores, "King Ivory" is Rosen's eighth venture with Swab. The duo's recent projects include the Lionsgate crime thriller "One Day as a Lion," the Paramount crime thriller "Little Dixie," and the slasher "Candy Land."
Now, let me wax a bit poetic. It’s all rather thrilling if you ask me. Is it just me, or does the the phrase "King Ivory is back up and running" have a certain allure? It's like the favorite villain in a comic book serial who just slips away when cornered. Gives you the shivers, doesn't it?
The SAG Interim Agreement is a clever workaround, a feat of Hollywood magic that's put our thespians back in action. Are the strikes really just a hard stop, or are they more like a pause button - a breather before the chaos of crime and narcotics descends once again on, of all places, Tulsa, OK? I bet even the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce didn't see this coming.
"King Ivory" isn't just another crime drama. It's a portrait of America's daunting fentanyl crisis - unvarnished, unabridged, and shockingly real. A peek into the belly of the beast. Artistically speaking, I’ve always favored movies that dare to look under the rocks and expose the grime. And with the likes of Badge Dale, Foster, and Mando onboard, this cinematic ship is set to sail right into the heart of the storm.
Finally, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. How often does an industry strike turn into a springboard for an indie film showcasing the grit and grime of America's underbelly? Times like this remind us that behind the glitz and glamour, Hollywood is a place that thrives on chaos and cynicism, where a production stoppage can morph into an unexpected windfall. Isn’t this what we love about Tinseltown? The dark charm and constant surprise? Producers are like magicians pulling rabbits out of hats, and somehow we never tire of the watching the spectacle.
Stay tuned, my friends. The show is just getting started.
