Robert Liano has been creating content for screens of all sizes for 25 years. His career began as a runner for CBS Sports. Legend has it that he drove Brent Musburger to O’Hare airport before he had a driver’s license. That type of tenacity helped to set the stage for the next decade working in the high adrenaline world of live network sports television. He learned storytelling through production credits on both live and taped productions including the NCAA Final Four, Daytona 500 and The Masters. As a producer his talent has been showcased on NETFLIX, Disney+, ABC, NBC, ESPN, Discovery Channel, IFC, USA Network, Fine Living and Court TV.
In 2002 his work for NBC at the Olympics earned him his first Emmy award. He has since won two more (TNT NBA Playoffs) including 4 nominations.
In 1998 he set out to produce, write and direct his first documentary film, a tale about the vanishing American barber titled, Barberland. The film premiered at the AFI Film Festival and is currently distributed on DVD.
It was the wisdom of the barbers in the film that inspired him to create his New York based production company, Saul Goode Entertainment, LLC. A seat in a windowsill at Saul Goode Entertainment’s headquarters in New York’s Greenwich Village provided the inspiration for, A Broad Way, the first ever-massive collaborative documentary film about Manhattan. Over 400 filmmakers took part in simultaneously documenting each of the 221 blocks that make up Broadway. The film won the award for Best Documentary at the ACE Film Festival in 2007 and is currently in contract for theatrical distribution.
His latest film, Six Strings of Separation, tells the story of luthier Tom Lieber as he sets out to create handmade guitars to honor the 50th Anniversary of the Grateful Dead. The film includes interviews with Jerry Garcia’s daughter Trixie, long-time roadie Steve Parish, Jazz legend Stanley Clarke, Photographer Bob Minkin and bassist Pete Sears. Six Strings of Separation Premiered at the Napa Valley Film Festival.
When he’s not making movies he’s working on pitching, developing and producing television. Having developed and sold the 20 episode docu-series MTV Hired that chronicled young people seeking their first full-time job. More recently he oversaw the production of BRAVO’s Mad Fashion, HBO’s UCONN: The March to Madness, NETFLIX’s First Team: Juventus and The Marvel Hero Project for Disney+. In 2019 he tapped President Obama, Samuel L. Jackson, Angela Bassett and Kobe Bryant to help honor NBA Legend Bill Russell with the ESPYs Ashe Award for Courage.
Saul Goode Entertainment is currently developing two TV series and a documentary about live recorded music
Re: A Broad Way
Hello Rob. I hope this finds you well.
My name is Beth Bernett (Wood) and my younger son, Evan Wood, was a participant in A Broad Way when he was in middle school, shortly before his father died of kidney cancer.
Evan’s corner was 26th street. It’s hopping now but it was pretty dead back then, before ‘Flatiron’ became a destination. Still, the whole event was definitely a memorable highlight in his young life! And while none of his footage made it into the finished film, a sweet little interview with him towards the beginning of the film did! And, he went on to graduate from Tisch film school (director, narrative track)—on an almost full ride in 2016. 🙂
I have been trying to find a copy of A Broad Way for some time. Evan is turning 30 in February and I’d really love to be able to give him a dvd of the film. Is there any way you can help me?
Many thanks for doing A Broad Way. That experience was certainly influential in Evan’s path.
Beth