The BEST episodes directed by Thom Zimny
#1 - Bruce Springsteen: The Ties That Bind
BBC Documentaries - Season 2015 - Episode 321
Before Bruce Springsteen became a global superstar in the '80s with Born in the USA, he and the E Street Band released the 1980 double album The River and then began a tour that celebrated its combination of haunted ballads and joyous rock'n'roll to great acclaim. In this film Springsteen gives a first-hand account of the events and aesthetic behind the writing of The River, performing a number of the key songs on acoustic guitar. A unique account of one of the great rock 'n' roll statements, in which Springsteen explores his working-class roots and the ties that bind.
#2 - The Ties That Bind
HBO Documentary Film Series - Season 2015 - Episode 31
Bruce Springsteen’s 1980 double album The River was a landmark achievement that inspired raves from critics and fans alike, and prompted an extended international tour that raised his profile dramatically around the world. The Ties That Bind features an inside look at the creation of this groundbreaking album, along with previously unreleased archival footage from The River Tour. Employing an intimate interview style, Grammy- and Emmy®-winning filmmaker Thom Zimny showcases Springsteen’s first-person take on his writing process. Offering an in-depth discussion on the origins of key tracks from his first double album, Springsteen shares how they were developed, from the notebook page to the studio to, most viscerally, the concert stage. Interspersed throughout the interview are his acoustic versions of several defining tracks from The River, including “Two Hearts,” “The River,” “Independence Day,” “Hungry Heart,” “Point Blank” and “Wreck on the Highway.” In addition to rehearsal clips from September 1980 and live performances from the legendary November 5, 1980 Arizona State University show in Tempe, Arizona, the documentary showcases more than 100 recently unearthed photos of Springsteen and The E Street Band during recording sessions for The River. Also presented are rare and previously unheard demos and outtakes from the 14-month recording process, including songs such as “Stray Bullet,” “Chain Lightning,” “The Time That Never Was,” “Cindy” and “Take ‘Em as They Come.” The River was released October 17, 1980 to critical acclaim. Rolling Stone called it “a rock and roll milestone,” and an “epic exploration of the second acts of American lives,” and included it on the magazine’s list of the greatest albums of all time.
#3 - Elvis Presley: The Searcher, Part 1
HBO Documentary Film Series - Season 2018 - Episode 11
He was a boy from Tupelo who grew up to become the biggest star in music. Along the way, he absorbed a staggering range of influences, creating a revolutionary sound in his lifelong search for self-expression. Part 1 details Elvis’ early life in Tupelo, Mississippi and his unprecendented rise to fame over a single year.
#4 - Elvis Presley: The Searcher, Part 2
HBO Documentary Film Series - Season 2018 - Episode 12
Elvis Presley: The Searcher includes stunning atmospheric shots taken inside Graceland, Elvis’ iconic home, and features more than 20 new, primary source interviews with session players, producers, engineers, directors and other artists who knew him or who were profoundly influenced by him Part 2 begins with his return home after his Army discharge and facing a rapidly changing pop-music scene.