REELSCENE: News & Notes – 10/17/03

GIULIANI SPEAKS HERE. Yes, the former New York mayor and 9/11 hero Rudy Giuliani will be the keynote speaker for the Dec. 3 Off the Street Club’s annual holiday luncheon, thanks to host Ogilvy & Mather. Annual holiday luncheon will be at Sheraton Chicago Hotel & Towers. For tickets, call 312/856-8312 or Email otscholidayluncheon@ogilvy.com.

UP FOR TOURISM. Six Chicago agencies are semi-finalists for the DCEO’s $12 million tourism account. They are: J. Walter Thompson, RSCG Tatham, Young & Rubicam, Campbell Mithun, Hoffman York and Grant/Jacoby. The decision will be made in December. FYI: Only Grant/Jacoby is a locally-owned, locally-headquartered agency.

L.A. SPOTS LAGGING. After two months of year-to-year gains, L.A. spot production days dropped nearly 30% in September, according to the Entertainment Industry Development Corporation (EIDC). L.A. had positive gains in only March, July and August. Production days in 2003 are behind 2002 by 4%.

NEW McDONALD’S CREATIVE. Paul Tilley, SVP/GDC, becomes the sixth creative head in six years to head DDB’s $550 million McDonald’s account. He succeeds Jim Ferguson who left in August to work for Temerlin McClain in Dallas. Tilley had been GCD on Dell.

ARNOLD’S CHICAGO CONNECTION. When the former body-builder was in Chicago in 1987 filming “Red Heat,” the set was abuzz with daily stories of Arnold’s indiscretions with cute young things. It got so bad that wife Maria showed up to quell the rumors and dampen the muscleman’s ardor for local talent.