If Pittsburgh City Councilman Doug Shields were a film director, he'd say, "Cut."

In a fiery letter sent to the Pittsburgh Film Office, and in statements made during a council session yesterday, Shields called for an end to the Film Office's current production: a stormy real-life story of love, law and attempts to lure Hollywood money to Pittsburgh.

In the letter to Film Office board chairman Russell Streiner, Shields challenged the Film Office to fire executive director Dawn Keezer in the wake of her plans to marry former film promoter Cody Cluff, who was convicted of embezzling from the Los Angeles film office. Keezer plans to represent Pittsburgh's film community from a home she and Cluff will share in Los Angeles.

Shields further called on Streiner and board members to tender their resignations, following the board's unanimous decision to approve Keezer's move and retain her as executive director.

City Council has no financial or legislative link to the Pittsburgh Film Office, which is funded through state grants and private donations. Shields said his remarks were prompted by fears that Keezer's relationship with Cluff could damage Hollywood's relationship with Pittsburgh.

Streiner said he is "appalled" by Shields' recommendations and said the councilman's letter contained "misstatements" and "misinformation."

In his letter to Streiner, Shields wrote: "It is well known within the local film and arts community, as well as in Hollywood's film industry, that Ms. Keezer is neither a respected professional nor an effective advocate for the City of Pittsburgh. ... It is in the best interest of this region and the City of Pittsburgh that the board act immediately to terminate Ms. Keezer. Once that has been done, I would hope that all board members offer their own resignations."

In a council session, Shields expounded on his concerns.

"You're judged by the company you keep, and Ms. Keezer keeps lousy company," he said. "We need a reality check on this. She is going to be associated with Cody Cluff, who has no standing, zero, in Hollywood. [Cluff] has essentially soured relationships with people in this industry."

Keezer was unavailable for interview by press time. In 2004, Cluff, pleaded no contest to embezzling public funds from a Los Angeles film office and was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to pay $80,000. Despite allegations of fiscal impropriety leveled as a result of Keezer's and Cluff's personal relationship, Keezer and the Pittsburgh Film Office were cleared of wrongdoing by the Allegheny County district attorney and county controller.

"I'm not alleging she stole funds," said Shields. "I'm saying she's ineffective ... because of her connection with Mr. Cluff. "

Streiner countered that he's eager to share letters of support from the film industry with Shields and to rebut the accusations publicly or privately before the council.

Shields also had harsh words for U.S. Rep. Melissa Hart (R-Bradford Woods), a member of the Pittsburgh Film Office board of trustees.

"Melissa Hart," he asked at yesterday's council session, "what the heck are you thinking about as the U.S. congresswoman of this district, in allowing them to perpetuate this nonsense?"

"He says, 'this nonsense.' " said Congresswoman Hart. "I don't know what he means. The Film Office approved a change in Ms. Keezer's contract to do a six-month trial residency in LA. We've spent a significant amount of money flying her back and forth, and this change will save us $15,000 a year. We've had success as a very slightly funded office, always consistently returning more to the taxpayers of this state than they spent in support of [the Film Office]. That should stand for itself. Certainly, some people [Shields] will go back and try to resurrect some story from four years ago."

Streiner said his "outrage" at Shields' remarks was fueled by his prior contact with Shields, in which he informed the councilman of the board's interest in supporting Keezer before the decision was announced.

"Out of courtesy, before the board's decision to expand the operation to California and retain Dawn as executive director was made public, I sent e-mails ... to the funders ... and to the mayor's office and county executive's office, and to some members of city council, specifically Doug Shields," Streiner said. "I even called to ask if he had any questions or concerns. He never called me back. ... "I think using the public forum of a City Council meeting for this attack is unconscionable."