‘Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as ‘music hits their soul'
Director Thom Zimny has spent over 25 years collaborating with rock legend Bruce Springsteen, helping tell the story behind his music and performances. In his latest film, Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Zimny takes fans behind the curtain, showcasing band rehearsals, rare clips, concert footage, and Springsteen's personal reflections.
"What's different about Road Diary is that I had this opportunity to play with a bunch of different forms in the filmmaking process," Zimny tells Gold Derby. "I had vérité footage to work with, I had these moments of concert that I wanted to capture, and also, the band at this point was a narrative I wanted to explore."
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Springsteen hadn't toured in years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and Zimny saw an opportunity to explore themes of time, change, and connection. After receiving a call from the musician inviting him to 'drop in at the rehearsal,' Zimny assembled a small crew and began capturing behind-the-scenes moments.
'The story was the band going back on the road,' Zimny explains, 'but the bigger theme was [Springsteen] sculpting a set list that reflected what he was interested in at this moment — looking at the past and reconnecting with an audience.'
Zimny's relationship with Springsteen began while working on the Live in New York City concert film for HBO. 'It was the early days of filming with HD cameras, and Bruce hated the way it looked. It was too cold, emotionally. I was a film guy and really connected to what they were struggling with,' Zimny recalls. Through creative approaches — like adding grain and treating musical moments as dialogue — Zimny forged a strong creative bond with Springsteen, which eventually grew into a decades-long collaboration.
On the collaborative process for Road Diary, Zimny describes it as organic and improvisational. 'There was no set vision,' he says. 'What happens is, I go to his space, I film for a bit, I cut together some of the things that I see, and I invite him into the edit room... It just builds that way. It's a real luxury as a filmmaker to have that trust.'
Zimny also wanted to bring fans closer to the emotional experience of a Springsteen concert. 'There's this moment that happens — and I've seen it many times — this deep connection in someone's face. It's in their eyes. I chase that visual representation of the music hitting their soul,' says Zimny. "I wanted to be this observer of how Bruce and his writing hit and impact an audience. That meant shooting things at certain angles and studying how stage lighting looked in daylight — really trying to find these slowed-down magical moments where you feel like, 'Oh my god. This music is really moving this person.' We're trying to tell as story, but also staying as close as we can to the true musical experience in the filmmaking."
Even after working with Springsteen for so long, Zimny remains in awe of the musician's creative drive. 'Even after 25 years, I'm always surprised when he texts me the next adventure he's on,' Zimny shares. Reflecting on Springsteen's recent release of Tracks II: The Lost Albums, which features seven realized albums, Zimny adds, 'The body of work that he's created is just unbelievable. The big surprise that people can't possibly comprehend is the intensity and the focus he has with the work.'
"There was a great opportunity with Road Diary to both explain that history and bring it up to date," Zimny shares. "The common thread that I found with all of it was this work ethic and commitment they all carried.
Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band is currently streaming on Hulu and Disney+.
This article and video are presented by Disney and Hulu.
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