Howard Zieff

Howard was a legend in the transformation of advertising into a sorta art form. When I was doing documentaries (and hating ads) I saw a Benson and Hedges commercial that looked like Godard. 

Howard.

I saw a hysterical Alka Seltzer commercial.

Howard.

Maybe there was hope in advertising (as an adjunct to ‘more important’ work).

Howard came to Hollywood and had a successful career but never became the game changr that I thought he would. No matter. He was a great guy, intelligent, talented. 

We had a few lunches and dinners. His wife represented me for a while. He gave me a bit of bad advice though, ‘always work through the studios.’  I did, twice, both disasters in some ways.

That’s okay. I still respect and admire him.