Television Commercial Producers Elect National Officers For 2002

The Association of Independent Commercial Producers (AICP) hasannounced the election of national officers for 2002. Alfred Califano,a partner in the New York production company Wildlife Management, hasbeen elected chairman of the 30-year-old trade organization thatrepresents companies that produce television advertising. Mr. Califanowill serve a one-year term along with Mark Androw who was elected vicechairman. Mr. Androw is a partner in The Story Companies, which hasoffices in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Other officers serving with Messrs. Califano and Androw are: FrankScherma of the international production company @radical.media (NewYork, Santa Monica, Sydney, London and Paris) and AICP legal counselStephen Steinbrecher of Kane Kessler, P.C. (New York), respectively,treasurer and secretary; and AICP President and CEO Matt Miller, who isappointed to office.

Alfred Califano, Chairman: Califano, executive producer ofWildlife Management, was born into the industry. His father (nowretired) and brothers all worked in advertising and commercialproduction. Starting as a production assistant at Wylde Films, he movedinto production management with Focus Presentations and later GeorgeGage Productions where he also was a partner. Following seven years asHead of Production with Cooper Dennis Hirsch, he started his ownbi-coastal production company (New York and Los Angeles), OneSuchFilms, where he was Head of Production for 19 years until shutteringthe shop to focus on Wildlife Management. Califano, who has held thepost of AICP national vice chairman for three years, was a member ofthe AICP/East Board of Directors for many years, and served as itspresident in 1997. He has served as a voting delegate to the AICPNational Board of Directors, and is a member of the AICP National LaborCommittee. In addition, he is a member of the Board of Trustees for theDGA East Assistant Director Training Program as well as the Board ofTrustees for IATSE Local 52 Health & Pension Plans.

Mark Androw, Vice Chairman: Androw is executive producer andone of the founders of The Story Companies. Starting as Chicago Story,the company brought a novel approach to the commercial industry byenabling New York and Los Angeles-based directors to work in Chicago asif they were local talents. That formula proved to be a winner, asChicago Story quickly became Chicago’s largest commercialproduction house. The company was twice namedProduction-Company-of-the-Year by Screen Magazine. Androw went on toreplicate its success in other cities. Today, the group of companies inNew York, Chicago and Los Angeles is called The Story Companies andAndrow is executive producer for six directors spread across thecountry. A native of Chicago, and licensed to practice law in the Stateof Illinois, Androw got his start in commercial production while stillin school, working as a line producer and production manager at Freese& Friends. He later served as that company’s executiveproducer before leaving in 1989 to found Chicago Story. Androw’sposition as Vice Chairman of AICP comes after eight years serving asNational Treasurer. He also served as President of the Midwest Chapterfor one term.

Founded in 1972, the AICP represents, exclusively, the interests ofUnited States companies that specialize in producing commercials onvarious media; film, video, and computer for advertisers and agencies.The Association serves as a strong collective voice for this $5 plusbillion industry, addressing its many audiences within the advertisingcommunity, business circles and government offices; disseminatinginformation; negotiating labor agreements; developing industrystandards; and providing education on elements of production. The AICPhas headquarters in New York and a national office in Los Angeles, aswell as regional offices across the country.