The new director of the Illinois Film Office is Christine T. Dudley, a long-time Republican political, public and government affairs consultant, who will assume her new role Tuesday, Feb. 17.
She will be the sixth IFO director since the office was established in the late 1970s, and the first purely political appointee to that office.
“She is at the front door of politics and it’s a good thing to have that connection,” says Ron Ver Kuilen, IFO director 1994-2004 who served in the film office for 20 years and has met Dudley on several occasions.
“She is focused, has her act together and is personable,” he says. “Knowing what political muscle is all about, she’ll pass the ‘stink test’ with the industry very easily and her power should work advantageously for the industry’s continued growth,” he says.
Dudley’s entry comes at a time when total Illinois visual transmedia production is an estimated $538 million. Her first official IFO duty will be attending the AFCI Locations Show in LA, March 5-7, where she will meet her counterpart from other states and countries.
Giving Dudley “a big welcome” are Local 476 business manager Mark Hogan and president Brad Matthys, who say they’re excited to meet her and “we look forward to working with her to continue the successful production momentum we have going here.”
According to her bio, Dudley’s career has been devoted to Republican politics, mentoring women for leadership positions and serving on boards of political and cultural organizations.
Her consulting business provides strategic planning to political, public and government affairs clients, with a focus on grass roots engagement, management and compliance, media strategies and event planning.
Her political background includes having been Regional Political Director for the National Republican National Committee and the executive director of the Illinois Republican Party.
She belongs to several boards and has many prestigious awards to her credit.
Dudley is a native of South Bend and attended the University of Indiana.
Dudley will be the sixth director of the Illinois Film Office since it was established in the 1970s. Her predecessors have been Lucy Salenger, Susie Kellett, Ron Ver Kuilen, Brenda Sexton and Betsy Steinberg.
Steinberg, who was abruptly pinkslipped Jan. 5 by the new administration, said at the time that she’d hope to stay a while longer to be able to help her successor through the transition.
Steinberg will be the guest of honor at a dinner hosted by the Illinois Production Alliance board Wednesday night at Sunda restaurant.
