Michael Hertzberg is an American assistant director, writer, and film producer best known for his work with director Mel Brooks. Hertzberg was extremely influential on Brooks, having started working for Brooks as an assistant director on Brook's first film The Producers, and going on to produce several of Brooks' early films including box office hits, Blazing Saddles and Silent Movie. Blazing Saddles was awarded the #6 slot on the American Film Institute's list of Top 100 comedy films of all time. Hertzberg started working as an assistant director in commercials, television and feature films. He was the first assistant director to Frank Perry on the hit cult film, The Swimmer, starring Burt Lancaster. Hertzberg also wrote the story and produced Entrapment starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones. He produced Johnny Dangerously starring Michael Keaton and directed by Amy Heckerling