James Garner was shooting a Polaroid Comercial
excerpt “History of the Groove, Drummer’s story” Russell Buddy Helm ©2013 all rights reserved
1978. James Garner was shooting a Polaroid Commercial, and I was second assistant director. Which meant I took care of anything that needed taking care of. If I had joined the CIA when they had asked me back when I was nineteen, it would have been this, get orders, pick stuff up, take care of the talent, make sure all the elements are delivered safely, and let everyone else take credit.
“Where do you want this, Buddy?” a production assistant /old friend of mine, who knew Fred Neil, and was a writer in LA yelled at me across the Malibu Pier. Before I could answer him, the Executive Producer from DDB Advertising agency from New York jumped down his throat.
“What did you call him?” She barked, overenunciating. Ron blinked innocently.
“Buddy….” He said.
“His name is Russell Helm. The assistant director; Mr. Helm to you. Not “hey buddy!”… She was working herself up into another frenzy. Heads would roll. Ron felt the need to defend himself.
“But that’s his name….”. He tried to be conciliatory.
“What is that supposed to mean?” She growled at him.
“That’s his name, Buddy Helm. He’s a drummer.”
If she could have changed skin tone, she would have turned bright red.
“What did you say?”
“He’s the drummer; Buddy Helm. He’s played drums with ev….”
She whirled on me, anger of betrayal in her eyes. “Is this TRUE?”
I nodded, “Yes. I am a drummer”; as if it were a mortal sin. She simmered on this new fact before making a decision that could cost her the account.
“Alll…Right….Just DON’T.. let the client know about it…”
excerpt “History of the Groove, Drummer’s story” Russell Buddy Helm ©2013 all rights reserved