Today, the stage of MIA | Mercato Internazionale dell’Audiovisivo welcomed Thom Zimny, an Emmy and Grammy–winning director renowned for his critically acclaimed music and film documentaries, who shared with the audience his approach to directing, producing, and editing.
With over two decades of collaboration with Bruce Springsteen, Zimny has directed works such as Springsteen on Broadway (Emmy for Best Director), the recent Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band (Toronto Film Festival 2024, Hulu and Disney+), as well as Willie Nelson & Family (Sundance 2023, Paramount+) and Netflix’s Sly, chronicling Sylvester Stallone’s 50-year Hollywood career.
The director explained the importance of capturing reality and authentic emotions: “For the Springsteen documentary, I focus on real emotions, like the reaction of a little girl in the crowd. I watch people’s faces and see how they respond. The combination of close-ups and wide shots is a key element of the film.”
Zimny also discussed building trust with his subjects: “With Sylvester Stallone, the first thing I noticed was that he could never just sit still, he’s always moving. I gained his trust by giving him space to speak freely and by avoiding the usual questions about Rocky or his painful experiences. This allows for an authentic dialogue, which then shows on screen.”
On visual and narrative choices, he added: “It’s essential to make strong visual choices. I try to move away from the obsession with celebrity and portray my subjects in the simplest, most authentic way possible. The Elvis project was the hardest in this regard, but it demonstrates how music and culture can bring people together.”
Zimny concluded by highlighting the universal nature of storytelling: “It’s really important to be universal. I want viewers to step into the story and experience it for what it is, without needing to know the full background, the discography, or anything else.”
