Date: 2006 - 2007
Client: Warner Bros
Agency: Peter Bogdanovich
Role: Personal Assistant to Peter Bogdanovich
Project: "Runnin' Down a Dream" — A Tom Petty Documentary
Situation: Legendary filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich was undertaking a monumental task: creating the definitive documentary about one of America's greatest rock and roll bands, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. The project, "Runnin' Down a Dream," was conceived as a 4-hour epic, chronicling 30 years of the band's history. A film of this scope and importance, honoring the legacies of both the director and the musicians, demanded an intensely focused and supported creative environment.
Task: As the personal assistant to Peter Bogdanovich, I was tasked with providing seamless, comprehensive support to a master filmmaker throughout the entire creation of this epic documentary. My mission was to anticipate every need, manage the intricate details of the director's schedule, and serve as a trusted facilitator, particularly during the grueling and creatively intense post-production and editing process.
Action: I became a shadow and a sounding board to the director, immersing myself completely in the craft of documentary filmmaking at its highest level.
Intensive Edit Bay Support: I was a constant presence in the edit bay, observing and absorbing every decision. I became an active participant in the problem-solving process, not by making creative calls, but by helping facilitate solutions as Peter and the editor navigated the immense challenge of shaping hundreds of hours of archival and new footage into a cohesive narrative.
Witness to Creative Collaboration: I had the unique privilege of being in the room during creative sessions between Peter and Tom Petty. I observed firsthand their collaborative process, their shared language of storytelling, and the deep trust between director and subject, gaining an unparalleled education in how to build a narrative around a life's work.
A Masterclass in Storytelling: My role allowed me to learn directly from a master. I watched Peter construct a story, find the emotional core of a scene, and wrestle with the structure of a 4-hour film, learning more about storytelling in those months than one could in years of film school.
Result: The result is "Runnin' Down a Dream," a critically acclaimed and Grammy Award-winning documentary that stands as the definitive history of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers. My role in providing dedicated, behind-the-scenes support was crucial in allowing Peter to maintain his singular focus on the creative narrative. For me, the experience was a profound and formative education, providing an intimate, front-row seat to the making of a legendary film and an unforgettable lesson in the art of storytelling.
