Robert Allan Black

Robert Allan Black
Alma materSan Jose State University
Occupations
  • Writer
  • director
Years active1970–present

Robert Allan Black is an American writer and film director. He wrote and directed the documentary Loving Henri (2016), which follows the life and work of philanthropist and concentration camp survivor Henri Landwirth (1927–2018).[1][2]

Early life

Black lived on various U.S. Army bases in the United States and Japan. After he graduated from San Jose State University, he wrote two screenplays: Remember the Thrill, loosely based on his years playing college football, and Austin City Limits, a love story set between Washington, D.C., and a honky-tonk in Texas.[3]

Career

Throughout the 1970s, he also worked at several advertising agencies, including Honig-Cooper & Harrington, which merged with Foote, Cone & Belding, Ketchum Advertising, and Bozell & Jacobs. From 1976 to 1979, Black worked as a freelancer under the name Robert Allan Black Productions for Atari founder Nolan Bushnell. During this period, he named and developed the entertainment segment Pizza Time Theater for Chuck E. Cheese.[4][5][6]

In November 1988, after receiving offers from several film companies to direct,[7] he left FCB and joined Travisano, DiGiacomo, and Black Films. A front-page feature in Backstage Shoot magazine highlighted his departure from advertising, noting that he pioneered a new genre with his serialized commercials for Pacific Bell.[8] Black remained on retainer with FCB as creative director for Holland America Cruise Line and Westours through 1989.[9]

In 1992, Black wrote and directed Let Them Run Free for the Starbright Children's Foundation to benefit terminally ill children.[10] Later, Black received the Mercury Award for his work on Holland America Cruise Line/Westours.[11] His work has won Clios, Cannes Lions, Mobius Gold, Andys, Addys, and Best of Show awards.[3] He was nominated by the Directors' Guild of America for "Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials."[12][13]

In 1999, Black directed episode 7 of season 1 of the ABC television drama Once and Again, titled "The Ex-Files," starring Sela Ward and Billy Campbell.[14]

Black began filming a documentary titled Borrowing Time in 2000, which he partially funded.[15][16][17] This project later evolved into a feature documentary titled Loving Henri (2016).

References

  1. ^ Boedeker, Hal (October 20, 2016). "'Loving Henri' arrives after 14 years". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  2. ^ "Nashville Jewish Film Festival: Loving Henri". The Belcourt: Nashville's Nonprofit Film Center. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  3. ^ a b "Robert Black - Black Gold, Texas Tea". Directors - A Supplement to SHOOT. Spring Edition: 26. 1998.
  4. ^ Copyright Law Decisions: Robert Allan Black v. Pizza Time Theatres, Inc., et al. Commerce Clearing House. 1985. p. 17971. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  5. ^ "Chuck E Cheese Characters". Chuckecheesehistory.com. Archived from the original on 22 December 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Jasper T. Jowls". ShowbizPizza.com. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Onward and Upward…FCB star joins Travisano as Director". Adweek (HP12): 17. November 7, 1988.
  8. ^ Miller, Richard (November 4, 1988). "Robert Black Exits FCB/S.F. To Join Travisano Digiacomo". BackStage/Shoot.
  9. ^ Desalvo, Kathy (November 10, 2000). "Dir. Robert Black Goes Into Orbit". SHOOTonline. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  10. ^ Haspel, David K. (2015-07-31). Starbright Film 1992. Retrieved 2025-11-01 – via Vimeo.
  11. ^ "Flashback: 5 Years / 10 Years". SHOOTonline. July 21, 2000. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  12. ^ "DGA Announces 1997 Nominees for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Commercials". Directors Guild of America. February 5, 1998. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  13. ^ Madigan, Nick (February 5, 1998). "DGA names commercial noms: Winners to be named at 50th awards dinner March 7". Variety. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  14. ^ ""Once and Again" The Ex-File (TV Episode 1999)".
  15. ^ "Street Talk". SHOOTonline. April 5, 2002. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  16. ^ "Borrowing time". WorldCat. OCLC 86118228.
  17. ^ Robert, Goldrich (May 3, 2002). "Coppos Films Signs Dir. Robert Black". SHOOT Magazine. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
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