Robert Pietranton was probably stunned, but he was heartened by his many friends and colleagues who gathered Saturday at the Stephen J. Ross Theater on the Warner Bros. campus to pay tribute to the longtime Warner Bros. Television Group PR executive who died in November at age 56.
As many speakers pointed out, Pietranton was a very private person who preferred to put others in the spotlight. But his great qualities – his incredible work ethic, dedication to the studio, kindness, and incredible appetite for film, television, and music (particularly the work of Bruce Springsteen) – made him both an exceptional colleague and extremely dependable at any time of the 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 Warner Bros. Discovery US Networks. “He did this job with dignity and care, never seeking attention, appearing ready and dependable day in and day out. He didn’t seek attention. He didn’t need affirmation. He just did the job, and he did it very well.
“In an industry that many of us know to be a loud, fast-moving, demanding industry, Robert maintained his calm. He was calm, and somehow he transferred that calm to others. Not only did Robert work without complaint and without the need for personal hyperbole or recognition, he actively carried it out. He believed that work was more important than credit, and that people were more important than the noise that often surrounds our businesses, so he earned something that was far more meaningful than accolades. “Believe me, he earned mine,” Paul said.
Robert Pietranton
Another speaker, Stuart Levine, vice president of editorial and media relations for NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, is a Variety editorial alumnus and a close friend of Pete Langton for more than 25 years. Levine and colleagues detailed Pete Langton’s penchant for staying in near-daily contact using various communication platforms with close friends around shared passions such as music, movies, sports, TV shows, and the Wordle game.
“More than being in the spotlight or touting his personal accomplishments, what he really enjoyed was being part of a team. At every Bruce Springsteen concert we went to, and there were many, we hardly ever sat together,” Levine recalled. “For Robert, the best seat for a blues show was always behind the stage. When I asked him why he wanted to sit there, he reiterated, “It feels like I’m part of the band.” That was his creed. Be part of a collective unit. Please do a good job. Do it without caution. Put the spotlight on your friends and colleagues and make them look great. Just make sure the job gets done. ”
Pietranton’s memorial service drew about 300 industry members and concluded with a luncheon featuring Pietranton’s favorite Italian dishes (like pizza and meatballs) and an ice cream truck serving cups, cones and root beer floats. It was the kind of solace and closure he always strived to bring to his studio, family, and many friends.
