Paul Ruffino
- Location Management
- Actor
- Executive
Entertainment, Television, Film, & Print His mid-teens saw Ruffino lured into the world of theater. For a short stint, he worked with famed San Francisco Theater Little Fox Theater, a former burlesque house, in bringing Ken Kesey's famed novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest to the stage. Later Francis Ford Coppola bought the theater and converted into space for work on Apocalypse Now. Ruffino's dream of being a jazz and standards vocalist started to materialize for him when he was hired to work with the Ernie Hecksher Orchestra. Hecksher's band accompanied many famous singers, including Edith Piaf, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Mel Torme, Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee, Harry Belafonte, Sammy Davis Jr. and Lena Horne. Said Ruffino; "I was thrilled to be in the company of such great vocalists". His last foray in the public spotlight came with an invitation to sing with bandleader Del Courtney in Courtney's attempt to capitalize on the resurgence of big bands in the late 1970's. Courtney commented in an interview on PBS affiliate KQED; "...if anyone can bring jazz and the big band sound to today's youth, it's Paul Ruffino. God the kid is strappingly handsome, ten feet tall and has a voice that really captures the essence of the era. I think I hate him".[8]
Credited as being one of the early pioneers in reality programming and acknowledged by many to be the person that coined the word "infomercial",[9] Paul Ruffino was able to dovetail a career in travel and hospitality to become an innovative force in entertainment. Merging the industries he became the production executive responsible for taking television shows and feature films on location in a fashion not previously attempted. Ruffino's high public profile over the years in film and television often leaves him a target to be solicited by various groups and associations for his guidance and mentorship. In 2008 he was asked to take on the role of President for The Orange County Film Commission[10], helping steer over $1/2 Billion dollars to the county from film and media revenue.
Awards & Recognition 1987: University of Mexico (UNAM) Citizen Recognition, Top 25 Foreign National Leaders 1988: Top 25 Industry Leader Recognition, ASTA 1989: Hospitality Marketing Professional of the Year, IALHP 1992: Excellence in Media Award, S.P.Q.R. Film Institute of Rome 1993: Executive of the Year, World Film Institute 2013: Hotelier of the Year ~ The Boutique Lifestyle & Lodging Association 2015: Marketing Professional of the Year, GNEX/Perspective Magazine.
Credited as being one of the early pioneers in reality programming and acknowledged by many to be the person that coined the word "infomercial",[9] Paul Ruffino was able to dovetail a career in travel and hospitality to become an innovative force in entertainment. Merging the industries he became the production executive responsible for taking television shows and feature films on location in a fashion not previously attempted. Ruffino's high public profile over the years in film and television often leaves him a target to be solicited by various groups and associations for his guidance and mentorship. In 2008 he was asked to take on the role of President for The Orange County Film Commission[10], helping steer over $1/2 Billion dollars to the county from film and media revenue.
Awards & Recognition 1987: University of Mexico (UNAM) Citizen Recognition, Top 25 Foreign National Leaders 1988: Top 25 Industry Leader Recognition, ASTA 1989: Hospitality Marketing Professional of the Year, IALHP 1992: Excellence in Media Award, S.P.Q.R. Film Institute of Rome 1993: Executive of the Year, World Film Institute 2013: Hotelier of the Year ~ The Boutique Lifestyle & Lodging Association 2015: Marketing Professional of the Year, GNEX/Perspective Magazine.