January 20-26, 2005

political notebook

by Mary F. Patel

Hello Hillel?

Will Hillel Levinson run as a Republican for city controller this year? Word is that the eight-year managing director under the late Mayor Frank Rizzo wants to get back in the political fray after all these years.

When reached for comment, Levinson said he had had conversations with the party about running, but declined to say anything else.

After the Rizzo years, Levinson, an attorney, went into business in Harrisburg and later moved back to the city. City Councilman Frank Rizzo Jr. , son of the late mayor, said it wouldn't surprise him, particularly since he heard Levinson was mulling a run for an at-large City Council position in 2003.

"My father always had the utmost confidence in Hilly and considered him to be extremely trustworthy," said Rizzo, adding that he was not part of conversations with Republican leadership on who would run for local offices this year.

Republicans better get with it. The first day to circulate nominating petitions for the May 17 primaries is Feb. 15. In a predominately Democratic town, it's no wonder that Republicans are having a hard time finding sacrificial lambs.

Spahr-ing Partners

Another rumor circulating is that Jim Eisenhower may leave Ballard Spahr to join Gov. Ed Rendell's administration. Eisenhower, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully last year against Republican Tom Corbett for state attorney general and was reluctant to concede after Corbett was declared the winner. (Corbett was sworn into office this week.)

Eisenhower said the rumors are not true and that he intends to continue practicing at Ballard. His wife, Nora Dowd Eisenhower, is the state secretary of aging, appointed by Rendell.

Meanwhile, Ballard recently added former state Attorney General Jerry Pappert to their list of Who's Who uber-lawyers. Pappert, a Republican, served the remaining attorney general term after Michael Fisher was appointed by President George W. Bush to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Pappert was Fisher's deputy in the attorney general's office and was instrumental in Corbett's campaign.

Bacon Bits

Several noteworthy locals attended the Jan. 12 premiere of The Woodsman. The film, starring Kevin Bacon as a pedophile trying to get his life back together after serving time in prison, was produced by Lee Daniels of Monster's Ball fame.

Gov. Rendell attended the pre-party in the lobby of the Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts — a surprising location, since most film premieres here are shown at the Prince Theater.

"The Prince was too small for this crowd," explained Nicole Cashman, whose Cashman and Associates public relations/marketing firm ran the event, which included the pre-party, film and post-party.

Cashman and her team of pretty women handled the crush of some 450 guests well. Revenue from the $250 or $350 tickets went to three charities: Philadanco, Mastery Charter High School and Stop It Now!, a child-abuse prevention nonprofit.

Besides Rendell, Common Pleas Court Judge M. Teresa Sarmina attended the pre-party with Stefan Zorich, the marketing and post-production manager for New Market Films, which distributed the film. Zorich, who said he likes Philadelphia, is the son of Oscar-winning actress Olympia Dukakis and lives in Manhattan.

At the after-party at Marathon Grill and Marbar a few blocks away, the focus was on the couch in the upstairs bar where Bacon and his wife and co-star in the film, Kyra Sedgwick, lounged with Jerry Blavat.

Developing Film in Philly

Rendell did not make it to the after-party, but the film types there were getting a lot of use out of his Film Production Tax Credit. In July, Rendell enacted a 20 percent tax credit for filmmakers who make movies here, like The Woodsman. The state estimated that more than $107 million flowed into the state's economy from the film industry in 2003.

As such, a large contingent from the state is heading off to Utah this week for the annual Sundance Film Festival, where they hope to lure filmmakers into shooting here. Jane Shecter, the Pennsylvania film commissioner; Ray Murray and Thom Cardwell of the Philadelphia Film Society; and Richard Wolff, an owner of TLA Entertainment, intend to beat the Philly drum at Sundance.

"Sundance is the perfect opportunity to network with filmmakers, screenwriters, producers and distributors of all kinds, from the independent to the studio-driven projects, and let them know about the new legislation that can attract more film and entertainment production in the Keystone State," said Murray, a veteran Sundance delegate and artistic director of the Philadelphia Film Society.

To help network, TLA and Shecter are hosting a huge bash on Friday at Sundance.