California Film Commission

Governor Davis Names Members to the California Film Commission

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04/12/2002

Contact: Karen R. Constine, Director or Karen Caesar, Information Officer
Contact Phone: 323.860.2960

SACRAMENTO -- Governor Gray Davis today announced the appointments of Joseph A. Aredas, San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, Joseph R. Hartwick, Los Angeles City Councilman Alex Padilla, Jack F. Shea, and the reappointments of Donna C. Arnold, Hope J. Boonshaft, and Lisa N. Casey, as members of the California Film Commission.

Mr. Aredas, 63, of Los Angeles, is the International Representative-in-Charge of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees' (IATSE) West Coast Office, having been appointed to that position by IATSE President Thomas C. Short in 1998. He began his career in the entertainment industry in 1967 at the MGM machine shop as a member of the former Cinetechnicians Union Local No. 789 of the IATSE. In 1980, Mr. Aredas was appointed to the position of Assistant Business Representative of IATSE Local No. 695 (Sound Technicians), a position he held for seven years. He also served as Vice President of Labor Relations at Consolidated Film Industries (CFI), a Hollywood motion picture film processing laboratory. In 1997, Mr. Aredas left CFI to assume the position of Chief Administrative Officer at the industry's Contract Services Administration Trust Fund. He is a member of the Entertainment Industry Development Corporation, and is on the Board of Directors of the Motion Picture Pension and Health Plan, Motion Picture Television Fund, and the Entertainment Industry Foundation.

Mayor Gonzales, 50, of San Jose, was elected Mayor in November 1998. Before his election as Mayor, he worked as an executive with the Hewlett-Packard Company. From 1989 to 1996, Mayor Gonzales served on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors. He also served as a two-term Mayor and member of the Sunnyvale City Council from 1979 to 1987. Mayor Gonzales earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He graduated from the Mayor's Leadership Program at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.

Mr. Hartwick, 50, of Los Angeles, has been President of Physical Production for 20th Century Fox since 1997. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice President for Turner Pictures from 1996 to 1997, and before that, he was a freelance producer from 1986 to 1996. Mr. Hartwick is a member of the Directors Guild of America. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from Dominican College.

Mr. Padilla, 29, of Los Angeles, is President of the Los Angeles City Council, representing Council District 7. He serves as Chair of the City Council's Rules, Elections and Intergovernmental Relations Committee, and as Vice Chair of the Education and Neighborhoods Committee. Councilmember Padilla also serves on the Commerce, Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He earned a bachelor of science degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Mr. Shea, 73, of Studio City, is President of Silkn Productions, Inc. He is a member of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Mr. Shea is a major television director, and served three two-year terms as President of the Directors Guild of America. He is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, having served during the Korean War. Mr. Shea earned a bachelor of arts degree from Fordham University.

Ms. Arnold, 65, of Los Angeles, has been a member of the Film Commission since March 2000. She is the President of the horse racing company, Four D Productions, Inc., a position she has held since 1995. Since 1990, Ms. Arnold has been Vice President of the entertainment company, Tetragram Inc. She has also been a partner with Sunset Travel since 1982. Ms. Arnold is a member of the American Jazz Orchestra/Henry Mancini Institute, the Society of Singers, the National Thoroughbred Racing Association, and the Thoroughbred Owners of California.

Ms. Boonshaft, of Los Angeles, is Executive Vice President, External Affairs, for Sony Entertainment. She joined Sony Pictures Entertainment in 1995 as Vice President, External Affairs, after serving as Senior Vice President of Edelman Public Relations. Ms. Boonshaft has been serving on the California Film Commission since 1998. She earned a bachelor's degree from Pennsylvania State University, and attended Delaware Law School.

Ms. Casey, 40, of San Diego, has been a member of the Film Commission since March 2000. She is a homemaker and community volunteer. She has traveled extensively throughout the world as an employee of American Airlines and a private airline company from 1983 to 1985. Ms. Casey also worked as a paralegal for the law firm of Silldorf, Birdman, Eisendorf, and Duigman in San Diego. She is a member of the San Diego Film Commission, and the St. Germaine Auxillary, which is involved with child abuse prevention. Ms. Casey earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of California, San Diego.

The California Film Commission works to enhance the economic climate in California by keeping film industry jobs and projects in the State. Members do not receive a salary. These positions do not require Senate confirmation.