“I grew up believing I was destined for a career in journalism,” says Medill alumnus David Friendly (BSJ ’78). But he is probably best known for his work in film, most notably as the producer of the Academy Award nominated Little Miss Sunshine.
How he made the switch from journalism to his true passion — producing — was the topic of Medill’s latest Crain Lecture, “HELP! Strategies for Career Survival in a World Where the Only Constant Is Change.”
“You never know what path is going to lead you to your career choice,” Friendly said.
After six years covering the business side of Hollywood for the Los Angeles Times, Friendly was approached by Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, who wanted a development executive at their studio, Imagine Entertainment.
“I didn’t feel like I was on the right side of the equation,” Friendly said of his career in journalism. He jumped at the chance to work on the other side, working in show business rather than writing about it. Since then, he has produced approximately 20 films, including Courage Under Fire, Dr. Doolittle, and the Big Momma’s House films.
In his speech, Friendly framed his advice for students using his favorite Beatles songs, including “Eight Days A Week” and “Hello Goodbye.”
“I use Beatles songs to impart life lessons, to impart some of the things I learned in the real world that I didn’t learn in the classroom,” he said.
“[The Beatles] loved what they did, and lived what they did, and that’s pretty good advice for anyone stepping out into this challenging and ever-changing world.”
Despite the fact that Friendly realized journalism was not his calling, his four years of journalism education were not a waste.
“Journalism was extremely important in making me the best producer I could be, so I’m glad I did both,” he said. “You’re learning to take complicated issues and simplify them for a mass audience. If you can do that, that’s a skillset that will help you in whatever you’re doing.”
Friendly’s first example of Beatles-inspired wisdom was taken from “No Reply,” a song about a girl who won’t answer the telephone. From this, he said, students should learn to accept rejection.
“One word you might not have heard very much is ‘no,’” he said. “As a producer, I hear that word on a daily basis.” The producer spent six years trying to get a studio to back the script for Little Miss Sunshine, and he says he still has every rejection letter.
Trusting your own judgment is another one of Friendly’s life lessons.
When he finished reading a script called “Born Jaundiced” for the first time, he had a lump in his throat. He knew he had found something important. “I did not wait to have anyone else’s opinion,” he said. That film was later retitled My Girl, and became Friendly’s first big success.
His next lesson was about dedication.
“When you love what you do, it truly ceases to be work,” he said. “To truly excel at anything, you’re going to have to live, breathe and focus on that passion every day of the week, not just Monday through Friday.”
When he was starting out as a producer, Friendly spent weekends locked in his apartment reading scripts, missing family gatherings and alienating friends in order to succeed in his career.
He also stressed the importance of asking for help when necessary. He said a common misconception among young people is that when you start a job, you’re supposed to know everything already.
“There’s nothing wrong with saying “I don’t know the answer to that question, but I’m going to find out really fast. When you’re confidant and wise enough to admit what you don’t know, your boss will respect you for being honest.”
Friendly used his favorite Beatles song, “In My Life,” to talk about how much his Northwestern experience meant to him.
“If you’re as lucky as I was, Northwestern and your four years here will offer such moments and memories that you will never forget. I spent a lot of time today talking about the movie business, but that’s only been a small part of my life that grew out of this really extraordinary place.”
And though he didn’t study film at Northwestern, his time here did help lead him to his career.
“My passion for producing started right over there at Norris,” he said. Friendly spent much of his time as an undergraduate producing concerts for A&O, which he says remains his favorite job ever.
In his closing remarks, Friendly gave one last bit of advice from the Beatles.
“Life is a marathon, not a sprint. Enjoy what the Beatles called ‘The Long and Winding Road.’”