“Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band” Filmmaker Thom Zimny Dissects The Man, The Music

Thom Zimny is an Emmy- and Grammy-winning filmmaker celebrated for his 24-year collaboration with Bruce Springsteen, crafting iconic films like Springsteen on Broadway, Letter to You, and Western Stars. Renowned for his immersive, emotionally-rich style, Zimny has also brought to life the stories of Johnny Cash (The Gift), Elvis Presley (The Searcher), Willie Nelson (Willie Nelson & Family), and Sylvester Stallone (SLY).

Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band offer the most in-depth look ever at the creation of their legendary live performances in Road Diary, including footage of band rehearsals, backstage moments, rare archival clips, and personal reflections from Springsteen himself. Zimny spoke with Creative Screenwriting Magazine to share his experiences with the band.

Thom Zimny

This is the third film you’ve made about Bruce Springsteen and his music. How does Bruce’s philosophy on life impact you and his fans?

Working with Bruce for the past 25 years I’ve had a chance to collaborate with him where he’s incorporated his philosophy, both in song writing and written voice over, that we’ve used from time to time. As a film director I’m no different than the fans who enjoy and feel inspired by his writing, whether it be lyrics, his reflections on his creative process, his time with the band, or his conversations with fans. All of this is a source of inspiration for me and many others.

A key point of Road Diary was rehearsing after a long absence. Aside from the anxiety of not touring for six years, describe the emotions Bruce and E Street experience during this process.

The opening of Road Diary captures for me as a filmmaker the story of how happy the band was to get together again, to play for a live audience. These are the things I look to explore in Road Diary. I was able to sit with the band, talk to them, and for me as a filmmaker that gave me the chance to reflect the brotherhood, the excitement, and passion that Bruce and the E Street Band has with both playing live and pushing themselves into a new chapter with new music. I saw this film as an opportunity to tell that story.

Creating a 3-hour set list is no small feat. Discuss the thinking behind deciding what to play – beyond the greatest hits.

Making films with Bruce, one of the key things I always like to experience, focus on and hopefully explain, is his creative process.

Whether it’s in the studio or creating a set list, what I’ve witnessed again and again is a relentless work ethic and a storyteller who consistently challenges and engages his audience with a vast array of songs, themes, and pure rock and roll.

Discuss the concept of alchemy, energy, and flow of Bruce and E Street on stage.

Trying to keep up with The E Street Band, one realizes quickly that it’s a next to impossible task. You try to stay in sync with the spontaneity of Bruce and the band, out of the way and hope that your cameras capture the unexplainable, the magic of live E Street, the veracity of the band’s sound, performance, and invisible musical language that they use nightly.

It’s not a band simply on stage; it’s a brotherhood of many years. My goal with Road Diary was to put you front and center on that stage in a way that’s never been expressed before.

Max Weinberg. Photo courtesy of Disney.

Bruce mentions the need to be musically tight yet feel like jamming on stage. How do these seemingly contradictory ideas work?

What you see with the E street band and Bruce’s creative process is summed up by drummer Max Weinberg who says, “It takes a lot of thought and detailing to make it all look tight and to be spontaneous at the same time.”

Bruce has suffered tragedy both in his personal life and in the band. How does this loss inform his music?

I think the beauty of Road Diary was that I was able to collaborate with Bruce where he could express the history of E Street and his feelings on losing the band members and him processing time and aging. I think all this is really a big part of the theme of the Album “Letter To You” which Road Diary featured live. Bruce’s lyrics and voice over in Road Diary really give you a clear understanding of his intense brotherhood and love of former band members, the people who have influenced him in his life.

What do you feel is the secret to Bruce and E Street’s longevity?

For me as a filmmaker, the secret to being around and filming Bruce and the band is to always be ready for Bruce’s next adventure and to realize that it’s evolving, growing, and never taken lightly. The spirit and plain work ethic involved with Bruce and the band is a magical thing to capture on film. Road Diary explains a bit of the magic and also really reflects an artist who is still very much hungry to create, hungry to continue his conversation with his fans.

To quote Bruces, “I plan on continuing until the wheels come off and as long as the band will follow me, if there is one thing I know after 50 years on the road, it’s too late to stop now.”

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