Tusk, Tusk

Ivan Passer (“Creator,” “Cutter’s Way”) will next direct “Ivory,” an action-adventure about African elephant poaching scheduled to begin shooting in Zimbabwe in April. International Sales Organization, which is producing, has promised to donate 10% of the picture’s profits to nonprofit conservation organizations.

“Of all the major African elephant countries, Zimbabwe has best controlled the poaching problem and successfully maintained its herds,” co-producer Lawrence Mortorff said. “Zimbabwe has also been very helpful to film makers. It’s an ideal setting for us.”

Stephen Beck wrote the screenplay, inspired by the African conservation efforts of the late William Holden. Fact-based, it focuses on an African political leader who teams up with a reformed American big-game hunter to halt the slaughter of local elephant herds, uncovering links between poachers, smugglers, merchants and corrupt game wardens.

“This problem can be compared to the Colombia-cocaine connection,” said co-producer Robert Lecky. “If no one buys illegal ivory, elephant poaching will decrease dramatically.”

Casting begins shortly.