Crew Member Claims Lack of Disclosure on Pro-ICE Film 'Pawn Shop' Production in Montana
An anonymous crew member says they were not informed about the political content of the Daily Wire-backed film 'Pawn Shop' before joining the shoot in Livingston, Montana, prompting several workers to leave and raising questions about disclosure practices in the industry.
Production of the action film "Pawn Shop," financed by Daily Wire and produced by Bonfire Legend, was temporarily halted in Livingston, Montana, after local officials cited public-safety concerns. The city commissioners later allowed filming to resume following assurances that permit requirements would be met.
Ben Shapiro, Daily Wire founder, said the interruption was politically motivated, describing it as "content discrimination" and a violation of the First Amendment.
An anonymous crew member told IndieWire they were recruited with the description of a "fun action movie" set in downtown Livingston and were not provided the script or details about the film’s immigration-enforcement storyline until after they began work. The worker said they would have declined the job had they known the political focus.
Local activist Brooklyn Wilde, who publicized the shoot, said several crew members left after learning more about the script, which depicts a federal ICE agent in a fictionalized scenario that mirrors a real 2023 shooting of Renée Good in Minneapolis. Wilde characterized the screenplay as a distortion of that incident.
The crew member reported difficulty arranging a departure, concerns about safety amid protests, and a lack of clear protocols from the production team. Producer Dallas Sonnier and co-producer Amanda Presmyk cited safety incidents, such as a truck breaching barricades and protesters shouting during stunts.
Legal scholar Eugene Volokh noted that while employees can generally quit a job, contractual obligations may affect potential breach-of-contract claims, and the First Amendment does not typically protect crew members from being required to work on politically charged projects.
The film stars Danny Trejo and Harvey Keitel. SAG-AFTRA confirmed a conditional start for the production, while IATSE said the film is not covered by its agreements. No representatives for the actors responded to inquiries.
The anonymous worker emphasized the need for earlier disclosure of a project's political content, stating, "I would like to have the ability to say no to something if it’s not something I feel comfortable doing."