HARVARD
INDEPENDENT FILM
GROUP
Runaway Production / Free Trade
Monday, June 3rd, 2002
Harvard Hall, 6:30PM
CODY G. CLUFF
President
Entertainment Industry Development Corporation
7083 Hollywood Boulevard, 5th Fl
Los Angeles, California 90028
Cody Cluff has been referred as LA's Film Czar and Mayor Richard Riordan's liaison to the entertainment industry. As the Mayor's point person on entertainment issues, Cluff helped spearhead the return of the music industry's Grammy Awards to Los Angeles.
Shoot Magazine, the leading trade publication for commercial production, calls Cluff one of the "20 Who Count" as a major player in the Southern California commercial production area. Shoot credits Cluff for the tremendous growth in commercial production in the Los Angeles area since his tenure as president of the Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC), an entertainment industry-government partnership working to enhance the regional economy by promoting Los Angeles as the entertainment capital of the world.
Cluff was the driving force in creating EIDC in 1995, which brought together the City and the County film offices under an independent economic development organization. EIDC provides a complete portfolio of services to the production community under one roof; it is a one-stop shop, ranging from pre-production planning to an environmental production guide for disposal of surplus materials.
EIDC is a liaison between the industry and local government to ensure the region remains a business friendly place for filming and entertainment- related activities. Its mission is to promote a strong relationship between the $30 billion entertainment industry and out local communities including residents and local governments.
Under Cluff's watch, EIDC initiated the "spot check" program, reducing the number of onsite fire personnel at any given shooting location and helping to reduce the bottom line for low-budget productions. he has worked closely with industry and neighborhood groups to improve coordination and communication, and reduce the impact of on-location production on surrounding residential and business communities. Cluff also has convened monthly meetings with [production personnel to help identity issue to facilitate filming in Los Angeles.
Cluff was instrumental in the formation of Film US, the advocacy group of nearly 200 state and local film offices across the country focused on promoting motion pictures and television production at the federal level. As First Vice Chair of the organization, Cluff spearheaded development of an industry working group, including the Screen Actors Guild and Directors Guild of America, seeking to work with Congress to address the production flight.
Prerviously Cluff was Executive Director of the Los Angeles County Film Office, where he assisted film companies in project development, privatizing the county's permit office and increased office productivity.
Cluff also served as Director of Business Retention for the Economic Development Corporation of Los Angeles County, where he developed and spearheaded "LA Means Business" - an outreach program to improve the relationship between business and government.
