NYWIFT Blog

By Tammy Reese

The 2025 Tribeca Festival is kicking off with a bang as the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes takes center stage as part of the Opening Night Gala. This highly anticipated documentary, co-directed by the legendary multi-Emmy, Peabody and Grammy award winning filmmaker Susan Lacy and Emmy and Peabody award-winning producer Jessica Levin, delves deep into the music, mind, and legacy of one of America’s greatest songwriters.

In this exclusive NYWIFT interview, we speak with Susan, a proud NYWIFT member, and Jessica, her longtime collaborator, about the creative journey behind the film, the art of storytelling through music, and what it was like working alongside the Piano Man himself.

Huge congratulations to you both on the world premiere of Billy Joel: And So It Goes at the 2025 Tribeca Festival — and as part of the Opening Night Gala, no less! How are you feeling about this moment?

Susan: I have always admired the Tribeca Festival and what Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal have created for the city of New York. To have been chosen to open the festival is huge, and I couldn’t be more honored. I am excited to share this moment with my long-time colleague, Jessica Levin.

Jessica: This is my first time directing, so to be honest, it is a tad overwhelming to be premiering at such a world-renowned festival, but I am lucky to have such an incredible partner and mentor in Susan Lacy, who is keeping my nerves steady.

Still from Billy Joel: And So It Goes (courtesy of Tribeca)

This is such an iconic project. How did your collaboration come about, and what inspired you both to take on the life and legacy of Billy Joel?

Susan: When I was first approached by Playtone about my interest in taking this on, I wasn’t all that familiar with Billy’s music beyond the major hits, so I began to read about Billy and was intrigued to find out that he spent one European tour listening solely to Beethoven’s nine symphonies in between venues and realized there were hidden corners in Billy’s story that I wanted to explore. Jessica, who has been working with me, both at American Masters and since I left to sign a production deal with HBO, was a huge Billy Joel fan and at a certain point as we began developing the film, I realized that her deep knowledge of Billy’s music and my broad knowledge of classical, Broadway and the American Songbook would make for a more interesting musical exploration. Because we had been working together for so long over at least seven films that I directed, we had a wonderful and easy shorthand and our sensibilities blended beautifully.

Jessica: Susan began the project solo and originated the project. The Playtone folks came to her based on her incredible reputation as a filmmaker who knows how to take on the complicated and emotional stories of artists with grace and depth. Billy was such a huge iconic subject to take on between the archival material, the many high-profile interviews, the music and the abundance of story to delve into, that our co-directorship happened naturally and coalesced in a beautiful way, especially since we have been working together for decades. I was a pretty big fan of Billy, so it was easy for me to jump in with two feet!

Without giving too much away, what can audiences brace themselves for as they prepare to experience this film? Any unexpected layers or emotional moments they should be ready for?

Susan: This is difficult to answer because Billy is a much more complex artist than most people know. My experience in making this film was a journey of revelations and surprises, and I tried to make those discoveries the heart of the film without sacrificing the elements the fans would miss if they weren’t there. That was a herculean task because Billy’s musical output is vast and varied and his songs are pretty much a road map of his life. Over the course of many interviews, when Billy realized that our aim was to explore his story in a probing and deep manner, he became more comfortable with going places he hadn’t gone to before.

Jessica: There are so many! Billy is a complex artist with many layers to peel back. I think the audience will be surprised to see a side of Billy Joel that has never been revealed — a man who has been through an almost Shakespearean journey of highs and lows in his personal and artistic life — and he was willing to talk about ALL of it because of Susan’s sensitive and intelligent approach to the interviews.

Director and Producer Susan Lacy (image courtesy of Susan Lacy)

Directing and producing a story of this magnitude — about a living legend like Billy Joel — is no small feat. What did it truly take to bring this story to the screen with the depth and respect it deserves?

Susan: Films like the ones we are known for are a creative journey of their own and we task ourselves with making films which both honor the work and deconstruct it in a way that helps one understand it and see and hear it in a new light. In listening carefully to the music and putting it together with the events of Billy’s life, themes emerged that, in many ways, became the spine of the film. I also wanted to create an open and close that made the film feel like a cinematic whole and feel we accomplished that. It was a particularly long process because of the extraordinary wealth of archive material — I think more than on any other film — and we were blessed with great editors and a magnificent archive research team. Shout outs to James Pilott, Steven Ross, Kris Liem, Katie Asch and Sydney Kapelus.

Jessica: It did not happen overnight, that is for sure! Susan did about eight interviews with Billy over a couple of years and over time he began to trust our process when he understood that we were going to be taking a holistic approach to understanding his artistic process and how that fed his music. Once he understood that, I think he began to open up and go places he hadn’t in the past.

What was it like working closely with Billy Joel’s legacy and creative world? Were there any moments that surprised or deeply moved you during the making of the documentary?

Susan: I found Billy to be one of the most authentic artists I have had the privilege to explore and he told me, from the outset, that he was not the filmmaker and was interested in seeing what the film would be. He also stressed that honesty was the only way to go. Billy’s life is inherently dramatic — with more roller coaster ups and downs than you can imagine. He is also one of the most musically knowledgeable artists I have encountered, with a major foot in classical roots, as well as Broadway, jazz and, of course, rock and roll. This makes him almost unique among contemporary musicians and also led to some tangles with the press who couldn’t pigeonhole him, a source of pain for him for some time. But, it also fueled his music. When you think of the young man who wrote the defiant “My Life”, to the guy who wrote the romantic standard “Just the Way you Are”, to the father who wrote a beautiful “Lullaby” to let his daughter know he would always be there, to the musician who turns to composing classical music when he decides the song cycle had reached an end for him — you know you are dealing with a deeply complex human being. I was moved by all of the many Billys and especially wanted to explore the classical side, as this is an aspect that most people don’t know about. He is much more than the “Piano Man.” I can share that when Billy saw the finished film, not all that long ago, he said it was an epiphany for him and that it masterfully connected the dots of his life.

Jessica: We had the privilege of getting to know Billy’s closest collaborators and one of things I found moving was the relationship between this group of guys that have been together for 40 and 50 years. They are protective and loving. They want the best for Billy and know him so well since they have all been working together for decades. When Billy concluded his 10-year residency at MSG last year, it was a huge milestone for the entire Billy Joel team, and they were all very emotional in that moment. They have lived through all of the ups and downs I mentioned earlier and have been by Billy’s side for all of it. In terms of the musical legacy, I was a pretty solid fan, and I thought I knew Billy’s music well. But having the opportunity to delve into his catalog and see it in a new light, through the lens of his personal experiences, was eye-opening and gave me a deeper appreciation for the meaning behind the songs I’d been singing along to for decades.

Tribeca is one of the industry’s most powerful platforms. What does it mean to each of you to be premiering at this year’s festival, especially as the opening night feature?

Susan: In addition to being incredibly honored and excited, there is no more perfect place for this film to premier. Billy is the quintessential New Yorker, the man who wrote “New York State of Mind,” and who still identifies as a Long islander. As he says, this is where his roots are. I know he is very happy about this as well!!

Jessica: We always knew New York was the perfect place to debut this film because of Billy’s deep ties to this city. Billy’s music personifies and embodies all the many aspects of New York — from his edgy, tough-guy attitude to his deep melodic influences that draw on Broadway and Tin Pan Alley. I think the film will be a gift to the legions of New York fans who have followed Billy’s music and life from the beginning of his journey and still love him today.

Director and Producer J Jessica Levin (image courtesy of Jessica Levin)

For women aspiring to follow in your footsteps as both directors and producers, what advice would you give about navigating this dual role creatively and professionally?

Susan: In feature films, these roles are more distinctive of each other than in documentaries. All of filmmaking is a team sport and, on a feature, it is the producer’s job to assure that every single member of the team is making the same film, as even a 1% deviation between each of the key players can result in a film that is 10–12% away from the director’s vision. In a documentary, the director is most often also the producer for many reasons, but mostly because there are far fewer major creative roles involved. It is still a team sport, but the team consists of DPs, who are shooting interviews or documenting events with verité camera work, archive researchers, licensing staff, editors and post production — all essential to a successful film, especially the editors, who are true collaborators in the creative process. But you don’t have production and set design, costumes, hair and makeup, composers, etc. . All by way of saying that the director has to have a strong creative vision, which most often means being one of the producers. In the case of Pentimento Productions. Jessica and I, along with our other producer, Emma Pildes, have worked together for a long time and the collaboration is based on trust and mutual respect. If you have that, the collaboration results in a final film which is greater than the sum of its parts.

Jessica: Susan Lacy in my life has been a true blessing and gift. She has been my mentor and inspired me to keep reaching for more even when there are obstacles. Sometimes the creative and business aspects can fight one another but sometimes limitations can push you to come up with creative solutions. I think as long as you are constantly learning and growing from your challenges there is no reason you can’t play both roles well. It also helps to have trusted partners and colleagues to bounce things off of to help make decisions and in this case I was VERY happy to have that in Susan and in our other long time producing partner Emma Pildes along with the creative collaborators Susan mentioned.

Susan, as a proud NYWIFT member — what inspired you to join the organization? And how has being part of NYWIFT supported or impacted your journey in the industry?

Susan: Anyone who knows me, knows that I have always been a champion of women filmmakers. An astonishing number of films at American Masters, which I created in 1987 and ran for close to 30 years, were made by women — many of them first-time directors. NYWIFT is partly about mentoring and that is what I tried to do at AM and have continued since I left. Pentimento Productions is an all-women company. Our full-time staff for the last 12 years have been women. Emma, who started as an associate producer under the guidance of Jessica Levin, became a producer on all the films I directed at both AM and at HBO and became a director herself with the remarkable film, The Janes, which was shortlisted for an Oscar in 2023. NYWIFT has been a role model for me in how to mentor and help other woman filmmakers realize their goals.

Keep up with Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin’s work on their production company website at pentimentoprods.com.

Learn more about Billy Joel: And So It Goes at Tribeca here: https://tribecafilm.com/films/opening-night-billy-joel-and-so-it-goes-2025

Susan Lacy also appeared on NYWIFT’s “Behind the Lens: NYWIFT Filmmakers at Tribeca” panel at Kaufman Astoria Studios presented in partnership with the NYC Mayor’s Office of Media & Entertainment on May 29, 2025.

And we interviewed Susan for our special Tribeca Festival episode of The NYWIFT Podcast. Listen now!

Learn more about the rest of the NYWIFT member projects at Tribeca 2025!

About the Filmmakers:

In 2013 Susan Lacy began a new chapter in her long and celebrated documentary filmmaking career. After nearly thirty years as Executive Producer of the acclaimed American Masters series (which she created for PBS in 1986), Susan decided to form her own company, Pentimento Productions. Now, Susan is focused solely on directing and producing. She recently completed definitive films on the lives of Steven Spielberg, Jane Fonda, and Ralph Lauren, and executive produced The Janes. These projects are part of Pentimento’s exclusive multi-picture deal with HBO. Susan is currently directing a film about the life and work of Billy Joel, which will be her fourth major film under Pentimento’s deal with HBO. The film will have a full-scale premiere on HBO networks in 2025.

As the Series Creator and Executive Producer of American Masters, Susan was responsible for the production and national broadcast of more than 215 documentary films about our country’s artistic and cultural giants — those who have made an indelible impact on the American landscape. Susan earned the series 71 Emmy nominations and 28 wins, including a remarkable 10 for Outstanding Non-Fiction Series, in addition to 13 Peabody Awards, three Grammy Awards and a nomination, and an Academy Award and four nominations. Among many other distinctions, Susan was a Governor of the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for eight years, is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and a cherished member of Guild Hall’s Academy.

Emmy and Peabody award winning producer Jessica Levin has devoted her career to creating high quality non-fiction films, bringing to each new project her passion for music and the arts as well as her seasoned approach to archival material and inventive storytelling. She has collaborated with Susan Lacy on a rich variety of films, including the American Masters documentaries Joni Mitchell: A Woman of Heart and Mind, Judy Garland: By Myself, No Direction Home: Bob Dylan, Annie Leibovitz: Life Through A Lens, LennoNYC, and Inventing David Geffen. Some of Jessica’s earlier producing credits include PBS projects Swingin’ with Duke and The Shakespeare Sessions plus ABC specials Wingspan and The Beatles’ Revolution.

As one of Pentimento’s principal producers, Jessica most recently produced Spielberg, Jane Fonda in Five Acts, Very Ralph, and The Janes, all for HBO Documentary Films. Spielberg had its world premiere at the New York Film Festival in 2017 and was later nominated for an Emmy. Jane Fonda in Five Acts had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2018 and its international premiere at the Cannes Film Festival. The film was nominated for a 2019 Emmy. Very Ralph had its world premiere at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and was released on HBO in 2019. The Janes had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2022 and its broadcast premiere on HBO the same year. The film won “Best Documentary,” “Outstanding Social Issue Documentary,” and “Outstanding Direction – Documentary” at the 44th News & Documentary Emmys.

Jessica most recently directed (together with Susan Lacy) and produced Billy Joel: And So It Goes which will debut on HBO in the summer of 2025. Jessica is based in Los Angeles, CA.