Peacemaker? Troubled MPTF Names Pisano Board Chair

Published: April 28, 2010 @ 8:46 am

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By Sharon Waxman

The troubled Motion Picture and Television Fund has named Bob Pisano, currently the acting chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, to be the chairman of its board of directors.

Pisano will succeed Frank Mancuso, who served in the post since 2003.

The change is yet another to shake up the leadership of the fund. Picking Pisano - a veteran negotiator who headed the contentious Screen Actors Guild before joining the MPAA - may be a sign of a desire to negotiate an end to the controversy that has besmirched the fund's image over the past year.

Pisano is not expected to become permanent chair of the MPAA lobby.

In announcing the change, fund foundation chairman Jeffrey Katzenberg said as much: “I’ve admired (Pisano's) willingness to take on and resolve critical and complex issues involving all aspects of the industry. As MPTF continues to look at every aspect of its operations, governance, and mission, having Bob’s leadership in navigating the organization through these matters will be truly valuable."

The move follows the ouster in February of controversial president and CEO David Tillman, who resigned in the wake of a revolt by families who have resisted the closure of the Hollywood institution's hospital and long-term care facility.

Tillman was replaced with Bob Beitcher, who at the time admitted to many failures on the part of the fund. He is currently interim CEO. The organization decided to close the facilities because of funding problems, but inflamed resentment among residents and their families who claim that the decision betrays a promise to care for the ill and dying until the end of their lives.

Several dozen residents have been transfered to other facilities over the past year. But another several dozen residents remain in the hospital and long-term care facility, despite the decision in January 2009 to close them because the fund said they were too expensive to operate.

Claiming a $20 million shortfall, the fund announced that maintaining the hospital and long-term care units were sucking $1 million per month from the fund, and endangering the non-profit's ability to maintain its other facilities.

But famliies of elderly residents balked at the move, and about 60 have refused to leave.