Thorne, Kilmer Helm Sigal's "The Tower" Amid SAG Strike

Actors Bella Thorne, known for "Divinity," and Jack Kilmer of "Palo Alto" fame are currently headlining the fantastical drama, "The Tower." Their involvement in the project, one of 102 under the SAG-AFTRA Interim Agreement, comes on the heels of the recent actors strike. Teaming up for the film by Adam Sigal, renowned for "Nandor Fodor and The Talking Mongoose," the cast also includes Cam Gigandet from "Violent Night" and Chris Mullinax of the "Chariot" project.

"The Tower" revolves around the dark narrative of a lonely mermaid trapped for years in the water tower of a small Southern town: a metaphor for the isolation and wanderlust Sigal experienced growing up in a similar setting. This film was one among several that had commenced shooting just before the SAG-AFTRA strike and was put on hold until the strike ceased through a SAG waiver.

The movie is jointly produced by B.I. Rosen, Frederic Demey, James Bruce, Johnny Remo, Clare Bateman-King, and Joey Stanton. The roster of executive producers includes Dani Druz, Sasha Yelaun, Dane and Liz Fiori, Johnny Graham, David Lipper, Robert A. Daly Jr, Tim Marlowe, and Phil Goldfine.

Expressing solidarity with the affected actors, writers, and crews amid the dual SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, Sigal acknowledges the privilege they have to progress with The Tower. He shows his gratitude to SAG for continually supporting independent movies and vows that the entire team will rally with their fellow actors and writers, once the film wraps, to fight for their rights.

Thorne, who burst into fame from her star role in the Disney Channel's "Shake It Up," recently debuted as a director with her short film "Paint Her Red," which made a world premiere at the 2023 Taormina Film Festival. With an exciting lineup of features ahead including "Rumble Through the Dark," "Saint Clare," and "The Trainer," her sci-fi thriller "Divinity" also received a grand world premiere at Sundance.

Kilmer, on the other hand, is an indie filmmaker's sweetheart known for his roles in the critically acclaimed drama "Palo Alto" and the Norwegian black metal biopic, "Lords of Chaos". Additionally, he lent his voice to document the compelling life and career of his father, Val Kilmer, in the documentary, "Val."

Film buffs can look forward to the release of Sigal's fourth feature, "Nandor Fodor and The Talking Mongoose," coming this September.

Now, let's get a little personal on this.

Nobody puts Bella in a tower - at least not until now. While we're all used to seeing mermaids as enchanting, carefree creatures basking in the ocean grandeur, Thorne's portrayal hints at a different underwater tale - one of seclusion and melancholy. It's a refreshing spin sure to make waves in the stubborn trope tide.

Jack Kilmer? More like Jack of all genres. This talented actor has blown us away across multiple film niches. From tackling the black metal scene to narrating riveting accounts of his iconic father’s life, and now exploring the fantastical mermaid realm, is there anything Kilmer can't do?

And of course, our proverbial hat goes off to Adam Sigal who amidst a tumultuous Hollywood strike manouvered this ship to sail. His personal connection to the narrative makes "The Tower" an allure worth diving into. The striking parallels may harbor potential for this film to resonate with a wider audience who've also encountered small-town wanderlust.

With such a narrative wealth submerged beneath the surface, "The Tower" may soon prove to be the treasure trove we've all been trawling for. Amidst this industry turbulence, at least we can still hope for waves of captivating storytelling.

Hope you're ready to make a splash, Hollywood.