Directors Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin on Crafting Billy Joel: And So It Goes

The creators of the new HBO documentary discuss bringing the film to life, behind-the-scenes moments, fame, vulnerability, and the legacy of music legend Billy Joel. 

Billy Joel 1982

By Morgan Harms

Few artists have left a mark on American music quite like Billy Joel. His lyrics—tender, urgent, and unflinchingly personal—have scored decades of heartache and triumph for millions. But behind the piano man persona is a life marked by complexity, reinvention, and resilience. In Billy Joel: And So It Goes, the new two-part documentary directed by Susan Lacy and Jessica Levin, audiences are invited to look beyond the hits and into the soul of the artist himself. Through intimate, never-before-seen interviews with Joel, as well as rare archival footage and performances, the film paints a deeply human portrait of the songwriter whose music has shaped generations.

In this exclusive conversation with Miami Living, Lacy and Levin share the stories behind the storytelling—from the candid moments that revealed Joel's vulnerable side to the song lyrics that trace his emotional and artistic journey. They discuss how the documentary navigates six decades of Joel's life, the archival discoveries that surprised them, and why And So It Goes is more than just a title—it's a philosophy that defines the man behind the music.

Photos Courtesy of Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin

What drew you both to Billy Joel's story, and why did now feel like the right time to tell it?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: Billy's body of work as a musician has clearly had a cultural impact, and we wanted to explore the question of why this music has endured for generations, even though Billy hasn't released a song in 30 years.  Susan was approached by Tom Hanks' company Playtone. They had agreed to co-produce with Hazy Mills – Sean Hayes' company – but Playtone wanted Susan as the director based on her reputation as a masterful filmmaker of artists' stories, and they entrusted her to get to the heart of what makes Billy such a singular artist. Susan and I have been partners for over 25 years - I have produced countless films that she has directed. But we teamed up on this one due to the expansive nature of Billy's musical story, and we are glad we did!

The film features exclusive and deeply personal interviews with Joel. What was your approach to building the kind of trust that would allow him to open up so candidly?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: Billy's every move has been covered by the press for over 50 years – and he has frequently deflected the deeper questions with humor and self-deprecation in a self-protective manner, which is totally understandable. But Susan built trust with Billy over the span of about 20 hours of interviews. Once he realized that we were doing a deep dive into the music and the artistry, he began to open up and trust that he needed to go deep himself.  It is important to note that Billy told Susan early on that she should "tell the truth," and we never veered from that principle.  This film was made independently without any input from Billy, and he didn't see the film until it was finished.  It was a very courageous thing to do for an artist who has not had a rosy relationship with the press throughout his career.

Billy Joel (1962), Photo/Billy Joel Archives/HBO

Billy Joel (1964), Photo/Billy Joel Archives/HBO

Billy Joel (1973), Photo/Billy Joel Archives/HBO

Billy Joel, left and Phil Ramone, 1978, Photo/Billy Joel Archives/HBO

Billy Joel, center with Doug Stegmeyer, Jeff Schock, Rick London and Tim McCarthy, 1979, Photo/Billy Joel Archives/HBO

Was there anything Joel shared in this film that surprised you?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: There were so many surprises, but probably the biggest revelation was how intertwined Billy's songs are with his life – his songs are a road map to his personal journey. There is relatability and universality in his songs, but once you become aware of how autobiographical they are, it casts an entirely new light on the body of work. Take, for example, the song "Vienna", a beloved philosophical song that especially resonates with young people coming of age. The song has become so important to fans over the years that it is frequently requested in concerts. When we began digging into the meaning behind the song, we came to learn that it was deeply connected to Billy finding his father, who had been absent in Billy's life from the time Billy was eight until Billy sought him out in his 20s. After a good bit of probing by Susan, Billy finally admitted that the song was about the search for his father, whom he found in Vienna! So it turns out that Vienna is a deeply personal song, but the fact that it is still universal and relatable is a hallmark of Billy's musical genius. Another surprise was finding out about the story of Billy's family roots. His German Jewish family narrowly escaped the country during the Holocaust. Billy learned most of this from his half-brother, whom he didn't meet until he found his father. His half-brother, Alexander Joel, is a well-known opera conductor who also lives in Vienna. Billy and Alexander's shared musical DNA is apparent and runs deep in the Joel family.

How did you decide what moments or chapters of his life to spotlight, given the scope of a six-decade career?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: As filmmakers, Susan and I are about discovering the soul of the artist. Susan started the American Masters series with the founding principle of telling artists' stories for posterity. And she has continued that work at HBO, telling revealing stories about Steven Spielberg and Jane Fonda, among others. And the approach to Billy Joel was no different. Seeking to understand the person behind the work – the personal stories that fueled the music and the musical influences that fed his musical direction throughout many decades of prolific songwriting. We seek to understand the heart of an artist by examining process and emotion. This film will give fans a new lens on his music and will seek to answer the question "Why Billy Joel?" for those who have not appreciated or understood his artistry.

Joel's music must be woven intricately into storytelling. How did you approach using his songs to reflect or deepen the emotional arc of the film?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: Billy Joel's catalog is deeply intertwined with his life, and we felt that should be reflected in the storytelling. Many songs are ripped from the pages of his life with lyrics that tell the story of the arc of his journey. We knew we wanted to use Billy's music to underscore the entire film, and the depth and breadth of his catalog enabled us to do that. Billy has 121 songs in his catalog, and we are proud to say that there are over 110 songs in the film.  His music has a wide variety of influences  — Broadway, film, jazz, classical, and the American Songbook, in addition to blues and rock n roll, but classical music is probably his strongest foundational influence. We used many of Billy's classical compositions to underscore the film as well.  And we discovered what a learned classical musician he is – with a solid understanding of composition, structure, harmony, etc., and that has informed his music. If there is one composer he idolizes above all others, it is Beethoven! That cocktail of influences infuses his music with a cinematic quality that lends itself to underscoring not just the stories of his songs but the emotional rollercoaster of his personal life as well. 

Photo Courtesy of Art Maillett/Sony Music Archives/HBO

You included never-before-seen footage and performances. Can you share the story behind uncovering one of those clips?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: Because Billy has lived his life in the public eye for so many years, there is a treasure of archives recording Billy's evolution as an artist. But one piece of footage that was revelatory and has never been seen before was shot on the day he signed at Columbia Records, June 26, 1973. It is a very raw and emotional performance of the song Piano Man —  a very young Billy alone at the piano singing from his heart.  At that time, he had recently written the song, and the power of his connection to the piano is palpable in the footage.  We used this footage toward the end of the film to remind our audience where Billy started his career, as a young, vulnerable songwriter who had no idea where the piano would take him.

Joel has performed in Miami many times over the years, and once owned a home on La Gorce Island. Did the city or any of his time here come up in your research?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: Billy spends most of his time in Florida now! He still owns a home in Long Island, and those will always be where his roots are, but as he sings in the song "Miami 2017",  "But that was so many years ago…before we all lived here in Florida". And that came true for Billy. He has a long history of performances in the state, including one in Orlando a couple of years ago, where the temperature dropped in the 40s! 

The title And So It Goes is not only a poignant song but also a statement. What did it come to mean for you in the context of his life?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: The song And So It Goes resonated with Susan early on, and she knew she wanted it as the title of the film. The song very much encapsulates Billy's life philosophy. So much has happened to this man – his tale is truly Shakespearean in its unfolding, and Billy has embraced the philosophy of living with mistakes and missteps – in life and in love – and being able to accept these moments and move on.  He is resilient and a fighter. He understands that emotional lows will come, but there are also triumphs and beautiful moments that come into your life that you must appreciate.  He is a romantic at heart and love will always hold an important place in his life and his music, and many of his most important songs have reflected that.

Billy Joel's music has a deep emotional resonance for so many people. What do you hope audiences will take away about the man behind the piano after watching this film?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: We hope audiences will have a new understanding of Billy Joel's music by understanding where the emotions and inspirations came from. Having insight into Billy's journey and motivations enables you to hear the music in an entirely new way – on a deeper level – and we hope audiences will appreciate the many aspects of this complex man through his music.

Billy Joe, 1981, Photo/Billy Joel Archives/HBO

Billy Joe, 1981, Photo/Billy Joel Archives/HBO

After spending so much time immersed in his music and memories, how has your personal understanding or appreciation of Billy Joel changed?

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: Billy is more than the hits – more than "Uptown Girl", "Piano Man" or "We Didn't Start the Fire" (although we love those songs!).  He is a man of deep complexity and emotion. As his stepson Sean says in Part One – "If he could communicate about feelings, I don't know whether he would be able to create the songs and the feelings that they all convey. And that's where I have to look and go, alright, whatever he didn't do, whatever his shortcomings were, he did do that. And that's powerful. That moves people". We feel this statement underscores the power of Billy's body of work.

What's your favorite part about the city of Miami? 

Susan Lacy & Jessica Levin: Over the years, Miami has transformed into a cultural mecca with many cultural influences on display throughout the city. For us, the music and art take center stage, along with the incredible food and the cosmopolitan resorts that dot the beautiful shoreline. Diversity takes center stage in Miami!

Both parts of Billy Joel: And So It Goes are available for streaming now on HBO Max. 

All photos above by Billy Joel Archives/HBO