Paul Kaplan

Paul Kaplan has been in sports broadcasting for more than four decades, dating back to his days producing features at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut . He helped launch a production company in Milwaukee in the early nineties and later started his own production company. Paul created, wrote and produced and directed two NFL television series. Helmets Off was a half-hour show Paul created for Fox Sports which aired for about seven years. The JB Awards was a one-hour special Paul created for CBS Sports which aired for about four years.

Paul has also produced national commercials, corporate image pieces as well as human interest stories for PBS. Recently, Paul helped start the video department at Bleacher Report, a division of Turner Sports. He also works with talent at Barstool.

Now for the Springsteen connection: Paul's musical taste was changed forever when he bought Born to Run in high school. Soon thereafter Paul saw Springsteen at Madison Square Garden in 1978 during the Darkness on the Edge of Town tour where he asked the usher who was warming up for the Boss. The usher quickly replied, "Young man, no one warms up for the Boss."  

Paul has produced the award-winning documentary, Almost Boss, which is about the longest-running tribute band in the world.

Paul jumped at the opportunity to direct Man At The Top as the story resonates completely with him and all Springsteen fans. According to Paul, "Springsteen means so many things to so many different people. To be able to tell this story, so beautifully written by Larry Shulruff, is a great honor. The main characters' love of Springsteen will surely ring loud and true across E Street nation. Fans of Bruce will undoubtedly love and totally relate to the film. But the real beauty of this story is you don't have to be a Springsteen fan to enjoy the film's major themes of love, redemption and perseverance. "

The film, which takes place in Milwaukee, feels particularly personal for Paul as he lived there for more than 20 years. Although he missed the 1975 "bomb scare" show, Paul saw many Springsteen shows at the Bradley Center watching his idol perform his legendary rock-and-roll shows.

Paul resides on the Jersey Shore in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. The next town over is Asbury Park where Paul runs every day on the boardwalk past such iconic landmarks and he Stone Pony and Madam Marie's, always listening to a Bruce playlist.