A Small Montana Town Tells Ben Shapiro to F*ck Off
thebulwark.com • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Conservative media figure Ben Shapiro's film project, Pawn Shop, which features actors like Harvey Keitel and Danny Trejo, has faced a major setback with the temporary suspension of its filming permit in Livingston, Montana.
- The Livingston town commissioners voted to halt the production due to concerns over mismanagement and inadequate oversight, as the film crew reportedly took over several streets with minimal regulation and a low permit fee compared to the film's $1.5 million budget.
- No representatives from the film appeared at the hearing to defend the project, and local officials expressed frustration over the disruption caused to the small town of about 9,000 residents.
- Despite the film's controversial pro-ICE subject matter, the primary complaints from officials and residents focused on the logistical chaos and mismanagement rather than the movie's content.
- The town plans to review and tighten its film permitting process to prevent similar issues in the future, signaling ongoing challenges for Shapiro's production in Livingston.
