Veteran entertainment attorney Ken Ziffren will be named Los Angeles’ next film czar, succeeding Tom Sherak, sources confirmed.
Ziffren, who supported Mayor Eric Garcetti in last year’s election, is considered to have the stature in entertainment and political connections to lead the city’s drive to address runaway production.
Like Sherak, Ziffren would be taking a part-time position that nevertheless will entail being the face of the city’s push for increased state tax incentives, with legislation expected to be introduced soon in Sacramento.
He was a partner of Ziffren & Ziffren from 1967 to 1978, and, in 1979, became the founding partner of the successor law firm of Ziffren Brittenham.
Sherak died last month at the age of 68. Garcetti tapped the veteran film-industry insider last year for the post. Shortly after his election, the mayor declared a “state of emergency” regarding runaway production and vowed to appoint a film czar to help stem the flight of film and TV jobs from the city.
SEE ALSO: L.A. Mayor Declares ‘State of Emergency’ As Movie, TV Production Flees Hollywood
News of Ziffren’s appointment was first reported Saturday afternoon by Deadline.
