Latest news with #RoadDiary
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘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." More from GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'Eureka Day' playwright Jonathan Spector talks vaccine debates, vicious comment sections, and 'the failure of a utopia' Breakout star Owen Cooper admits 'Adolescence' was 'very out of my comfort zone' 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. Best of GoldDerby 'The worst has already happened, so now I have everything to gain': Meagan Good on love, loss, and empowering women in 'Forever' 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal The Making of 'Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
The Making of ‘Beast Games': Behind the scenes of Prime Video's record-breaking competition series
"What if we brought together more contestants than any competition show ever, offered the largest cash prize in history, designed the craziest games imaginable, and built it all on the most massive sets ever seen?" That was the spark behind Beast Games, according to host, cocreator, and executive producer Jimmy "MrBeast" Donaldson. The record-breaking Prime Video competition series assembled an astonishing 1,000 contestants to face off in intense physical and mental challenges — all for a jaw-dropping $10 million grand prize. More from GoldDerby How 'Rebel Ridge' became the Emmy frontrunner for Best TV Movie TV Documentary panel: 'Brats,' 'Chef's Table,' and 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' 'Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as 'music hits their soul' "I've always wondered why $1 million was the artificial ceiling [for winning a competition series]," Donaldson says. "Shows get paid a lot more than that." However, the creator admits Beast Games lost money. "My goal with Season 1 wasn't to make money, it was honestly just to make the greatest competition possible. We went a little overkill." One of the show's most significant expenses was the construction of an entire custom-built city, designed by production designer Stephen Leonhardt. SEE'Beast Games' production designer Stephen Leonhardt on redefining reality TV with the most complex sets in TV history "Nobody's done anything like it — and that's what was both so exciting and terrifying about it," says Leonhardt. "We had the same amount of time you have to put together a set for a regular television show, except instead of trying to set up an existing house for a reality cast of 30, we had 500. Just the logistics — how are we going to deal with people going to the bathroom — were overwhelming and only comparable to huge events. It was the mix of a TV set and a full Coachella festival." Leonhardt also notes that much of the industry is geared toward cutting costs. "Every call you get is about doing the same show for less than you did it before. Suddenly, we have these guys who just want to swing for the fences. How can you not get excited about being a part of that? They said, 'We're going to have the highest-budget sets in the history of television.' At first I wondered if I was being taken for a ride, but when I realized they were serious it was thrilling!" For over 20 straight days during preproduction, the set design team had a role call of over 1,000 employees. "They may not be the biggest sets ever made, but they were definitely the biggest sets ever made in that timeframe," Leonhardt says. With 380 million-plus subscribers and more than 2 billion monthly views, MrBeast is the most-subscribed YouTube channel in the world. Beast Games cocreator and executive producer Sean Klitzner credits Donaldson's understanding of digital audience engagement for the show's success "It's learning and understanding what Jimmy has spent tens of thousands of hours studying – the psychological connection an audience member will have with a piece of content," Klitzner explains. "It takes years to understand that. Once you get into that realm, you're able to ask, 'How do we translate your style and your vision of creating content to television?'" Casting 1,000 contestants to compete on the show was a massive undertaking for casting director Katy Wallin. "We put together a strategic plan to go out and find 1,000 amazing people — diverse, all ages, all types — and in my three decades of casting, it was one of the best experiences of my career. It was so challenging in the most positive way." Wallin says she sought out people who were "unforgettable, passionate, and interesting": "This is not a scripted show, so we're not releasing a breakdown and putting actors in roles. These are real people competing in a contest on the biggest show in the history of television. They have to have a really good 'Why?' If we use Jeffrey Allen as an example, who won the show, he had such heart and positivity about him. It wasn't really about [the money], it was about changing the course of his son's life by finding a cure for something. We look for those layered people who are unfiltered and really open to sharing the experiences of their life that will transcend on a show like this." SEE'Beast Games' editor Mack Hopkins on the scene that was inspired by 'Dunkirk' Meanwhile, the enormity of production posed challenges even in post-production. Co-creator and editor Mack Hopkins refers to the show as "the most advanced edit mankind has ever attempted." With 1,000 contestants and more than 1,100 cameras capturing footage, watching every moment was impossible. Yet, serendipity played a role in shaping the story. "The contestants who got first and second place in this show happened to — by an actual miracle — be standing next to each other in Episode 1. We were given — by the grace of God — dialogue exchanges between first and second place in Episode 1! As a person who was trying to tell a story through this whole process, it was unbelievable and I could not believe that happened." In the full panel video above, watch the team behind Beast Games discuss in more detail their favorite episodes, the most memorable contestants, biggest challenges, and jaw-dropping moments. This article and video are presented by Prime Video. Best of GoldDerby 'The Better Sister': Jessica Biel and Elizabeth Banks on their 'fun partnership' and the 'satisfying' killer reveal TV Documentary panel: 'Brats,' 'Chef's Table,' and 'Road Diary: Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band' 'Road Diary' director Thom Zimny reflects on 25 years with Bruce Springsteen and capturing fans as 'music hits their soul' Click here to read the full article.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘SNL' Stars Say 50th Anniversary Was Like 'Building Up To A Wedding' – Contenders TV: Documentary, Unscripted & Variety
Saturday Night Live celebrated its 50th anniversary in February with a star-studded concert and an A-list primetime special, a 'huge moment' for the NBC late-night show. Ego Nwodim, who joined the cast in 2018 for Season 44, said during Deadline's Contenders Television: Documentary, Unscripted & Variety event that the three-hour special February 16 felt like 'building up to a wedding.' More from Deadline Deadline's Contenders Television: Documentary, Unscripted & Variety Ready For Liftoff Deadline's Contenders Television Streaming Site Launches 'Road Diary' Director Thom Zimny On Bruce Springsteen's Incredible Capacity To Connect With Fans - Contenders TV: Doc, Unscripted & Variety 'All throughout the season, I feel like we anticipated what the 50th was going to be. We didn't know. I called it an SNL wedding, [even though] birthday is obviously more fitting. It felt like we were having a wedding, and it was like we're building up to this wedding,' she said. 'We had these episodes leading up to the actual 50th celebration, but all the while just knowing, 'Okay, we're working toward this thing, and that is going to be such a huge moment.' You could just feel it in the air.' RELATED: Mikey Day, who was hired as a writer in 2013 before becoming a cast member in 2016, said he first noticed Season 50 was going to be different with a new logo and opening titles, which was a 'constant reminder.' 'From the beginning, it was kind of this thing, kind of hanging over the show, like we have this big show in February,' he added. Day helped kick off the 50th special, playing an ICE agent, alongside Devon Walker, that escorted Martin Short off the stage as he cameoed on Steve Martin's opening monologue. The special featured a number of classic sketches including The Lawrence Welk Show, Black Jeopardy!, Close Encounters, a musical sketch from John Mulaney, Debbie Downer and Scared Straight, alongside regular programming such as Weekend Update and some pre-taped sketches. Stars included Tom Hanks, Pedro Pascal, Ryan Reynolds, Keith Richards, Robert De Niro, Jason Momoa and Meryl Streep alongside former cast members such as Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Eddie Murphy, Garrett Morris, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell and Laraine Newman as well as the current cast. Producer and costume designer Tom Broecker joked that he attended around 8,000 meetings from the summer onwards regarding SNL50. 'There were times when I had to remind myself and even tell other people, 'Look, take the moment in. It's never going to happen again. I don't want to be dramatic about it but this is something that will never happen again in the history of television',' he said. Saturday Night Live, which sees its 50th season run through May, won six consecutive Emmys in the Outstanding Variety Sketch Series category between 2017-2022. However, the category was reshaped by the TV Academy in 2023, when it began competing to, and losing out to, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Over the past 50 years, SNL has recorded 331 Emmy nominations and 90 wins. Check back Monday for the panel video. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far Everything We Know About Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club' So Far TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘RuPaul's Drag Race's Season 17 Queens Discuss The Series' 'Beautiful' Storytelling & Welcoming Their Parents To The Stage – Contenders TV: Documentary, Unscripted & Variety
Season 17 of RuPaul's Drag Race was quite the emotional journey — not only for the audience but also for the queens competing for the title of America's Next Drag Superstar. 'I think that being on Drag Race, especially right now, everyone getting to tell their stories and their backgrounds and getting to really understand who these people are is such a beautiful thing, especially right now in our current political climate where not just queer people are under attack, trans people are under attack, Latino people are under attack, Black people are under attack. We're here in the front lines telling our stories,' Season 17 runner-up Jewels Sparkles said during Deadline's Contenders TV: Documentary, Unscripted & Variety panel, joined by fellow queens Lexi Love, Onya Nurve and Sam Star. More from Deadline Deadline's Contenders Television Streaming Site Launches 'RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars' Season 10 Cast Photos: Meet The 18 Queens Competing In The Tournament Of All-Stars 'Road Diary' Director Thom Zimny On Bruce Springsteen's Incredible Capacity To Connect With Fans - Contenders TV: Doc, Unscripted & Variety No doubt, one episode in particular packed the biggest punch when the remaining queens were surprised by their parents, who had come to set to help them with the next challenge. The makeover episode, titled 'Drag Baby Mamas,' saw the queens not only transform their parents into drag stars but also heal some emotional wounds and dig deeper into their sense of self along the way. Coming off of a difficult challenge the week before, Star called that moment 'a total 180 of emotions, because I truly was at my lowest point having to lip sync the week before, and y'all saw me coming in the work room. I didn't even shave that day. I was like, 'Girl, I can't be bothered…'' RELATED: 'I needed it, and my mother is just as competitive as I am. And she said, 'Honey, you were in the bottom last week. That is not happening this week,'' Star continued. 'I was so proud of what she was able to do.' After 17 seasons, RuPaul's Drag Race is still going strong. This season ended its run holding steady with the record ratings it managed last season in the key entertainment demographics. Season 17 also raked in its biggest TV share in series history. Check back Monday for the panel video. Best of Deadline Everything We Know About The 'Hunger Games: Sunrise On The Reaping' Movie So Far Everything We Know About Netflix's 'The Thursday Murder Club' So Far TV Show Book Adaptations Arriving In 2025 So Far
USA Today
02-04-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Bruce Springsteen pays tribute to Joe DePugh, 'Glory Days' inspiration
Bruce Springsteen pays tribute to Joe DePugh, 'Glory Days' inspiration Show Caption Hide Caption Bruce Springsteen's wife Patti Scialfa reveals cancer diagnosis Longtime E Street Band member and wife of Bruce Springsteen, Patti Scialfa, revealed she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2018. He was walking out and Bruce Springsteen was walking in. Joe DePugh, the Freehold, New Jersey native who inspired Springsteen's hit 'Glory Days' after a chance encounter in their shared hometown, has passed away. He was 75. DePugh died after a bout with cancer, Rich Kane, a friend and long-time Freehold Borough teacher told the Asbury Park Press. 'Just a moment to mark the passing of Freehold native and ballplayer Joe DePugh,' Springsteen wrote in a post to his Instagram Sunday. 'He was a good friend when I needed one. 'He could throw that speedball by you, make you look like a fool' …. Glory Days my friend.' Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band still rock, quake and shake after 50 years The inspiration for 'Glory Days,' released in 1984 as part of Springsteen's 'Born in the U.S.A.' album, was largely a mystery until Freehold historian Kevin Coyne identified DePugh in a 2011 New York Times article. 'Whenever we're together, it's the same dynamic: I'm the star and he's the guy at the end of the bench," DePugh told the Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Network, in 2011. 'That's who he has always been to me, my right fielder.' DePugh was a stand-out pitcher who tried out for the Los Angeles Dodgers and played basketball at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, earning an English degree. Bruce Springsteen talks 'Road Diary' and being a band boss: 'You're not alone' Family circumstances caused DePugh to raise younger brothers, instead of them going to foster homes, Kane said. DePugh worked as a self-employed contractor and would play summer basketball, where he met Springsteen in 1973. 'Finally, I go to leave. But once I saw Bruce we went back in and closed the place,' DePugh told the Palm Beach Post of a bar they both frequented. 'He had a little entourage with him. They all sat in a booth, but it was just me and him at the bar. All of a sudden, it's 1:30 (a.m.) and they started blinking the lights." A decade later, the night was the setting for 'Glory Days,' one of Springsteen's biggest hit songs, going to No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. "I had a friend was a big baseball player\Back in high school," the lyrics go. "He could throw that speedball by you\Make you look like a fool, boy. Saw him the other night at this roadside bar\I was walking in, he was walking out\We went back inside, sat down, had a few drinks\ But all he kept talking about was glory days." "When I first heard the song, I thought the song said 'and all we kept talking about was glory days,'" DePugh told the Palm Beach Post. "And years later, I finally saw the lyrics and saw 'all he kept talking about was glory days.' And I thought, 'Huh, (he) took a little shot at me!" "I was tickled pink I would even get into the song. I certainly wasn't going to complain about what he decided to write about," he continued. "It's about living in the past and letting go, especially for jocks, to get out of that and live in the present. That certainly wasn't the first time I was accused of that." Springsteen and DePugh were later part-time neighbors in Palm Beach County. DePugh, like Springsteen, never strayed far from his Freehold roots, visiting the borough at least twice a year when he went from Florida to his summer place in Vermont, and again on the trip south. "All he wanted to do was raise his brothers, play baseball, play basketball and just hang in Freehold Borough," Kane said. "This one hurt. Joe and I were very close."
