Robert Pietranton probably would have been aghast but his many friends and colleagues were heartened to gather on Saturday at the Steven J. Ross Theater on the Warner Bros. lot to pay tribute to the long-serving Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who died in November at the age of 56.
Pietranton, as numerous speakers noted, was a very private person who preferred to put the spotlight on others. But his great qualities — incredible work ethic, dedication to the studio, his kindness and his prodigious appetite for film, TV and music (especially the work of Bruce Springsteen) — made him an exceptional colleague as well as a great hang, any time of day or night.
“Robert was a consummate professional — steady, thoughtful, thorough, dedicated and quietly essential,” said Brett Paul, president of Warner Bros. TV Group and chief operating officer of U.S. Networks for Warner Bros. Discovery. “He moved through this business with dignity and care, showing up prepared and dependable day after day, without ever asking to be noticed for it. He didn’t seek attention. He didn’t need affirmation. He simply did the work —and he did it exceptionally well.
“In an industry that many of us know can be loud, fast-moving, and demanding, Robert remained calm. He was calm. And he somehow transferred that calm to others. Not only did Robert work without complaint and without the need for personal aggrandizement or recognition, he actively shied away from it. He believed the work mattered more than the credit, and the people mattered more than the noise that often surrounds our business. Because of that, he earned something far more meaningful than praise. He earned invaluable trust. I know, because he had mine,” Paul said.
Another speakers Stuart Levine, VP of editorial and media relations, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming and a Variety editorial alum, was a close friend of Pietranton’s for more than 25 years. Levine and others detailed Pietranton’s penchant for maintaining near-daily contact by various communication platforms with his closest friends around shared passions, whether it be music, movies, sports, TV shows or Wordle games.
“Instead of seeking the limelight and touting his own personal accomplishments, what he really relished was to be part of a team. For all the Bruce Springsteen concerts that we attended – and there were many – we rarely ever sat together,” Levine recalled. “For Robert, the best seat in the house for a Bruce show was always behind the stage. When I asked him why he wanted to sit back there, he said repeatedly, ‘It feels like I’m part of the band.’ That was his mantra. Be part of a collective unit. Do a good job. Do it without attention. Give the spotlight to your friends and colleagues and make them look good. Just make sure the work gets done.”
About 300 industry insiders turned out for Pietranton’s memorial, which closed with a luncheon featuring some of his favorite Italian foods (including pizza and meatballs) and an ice cream truck that served up cups, cones and root beer floats. It was the kind of comfort and closure that he always worked hard to deliver for his studio, his family and his many friends.
Source: variety.com
