Verdi by Zeffirelli Italian Journal / Columnists and Contributors, Verdi Ever After, Volume 20. Number X. 2013 / Marcia J. Citron / by Marcia J. CITRON Franco Zeffirelli has built his career on opera and on film. In the early part of his life he assisted famed director Luchino Visconti and learned a great deal about stagecraft and cinema.