Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Friedman

Hi Emily, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

I started out working in development and as a casting assistant in reality TV. That really helped me learn the pitching process and allowed me to get my first job working in creative development in advertising. I was later able to go freelance and spent over five years working on pitches across the media industry as a designer, copywriter, and strategist. Parallel to that work, I’ve built a portfolio as a freelance producer and director and have been able to use my skills in pitch packaging to bring my own work to fruition.

Now, I’m currently in the process of completing my debut feature documentary “Kings & Things” and am also in the financing stage of a rom-com narrative feature called “Goldstar.” I plan to continue working in development strategy alongside my narrative and documentary directing work, and should be fully in post-production on “Kings & Things” by December of this year.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

It’s hard not to take rejection personally when it comes to work — especially when you put so much creatively into a project.

It’s also hard to find motivation after hearing “no” so many times, but it’s so important to bring yourself back to the reason you’re doing the work and just keep moving forward regardless. And that’s about learning to believe your own work has value and fighting for the chance to share it with the world.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

I work as a director and producer and also in pitch development. and I’m definitely most proud of the feature documentary I’m currently directing — “Kings & Things” — since it will be my first feature-length film. I’m also proud of my first short film “Pancakes” and a recent documentary project I did for Natalie Salinas and her company Nth Consulting Group.
Over the last few years working on this feature and other docu-style projects, I’ve gotten the opportunity to meet so many amazing people and share their stories on camera. It’s been amazing to make friends on these projects and capture so many beautiful moments, and I really love the documentary field just as much as narrative. I feel like my experience in both (as well as in commercial work) gives my work a unique look and feel. I love the balance of a naturalistic cinematic feel with deliberately styled elements and authentic performances. I think this comes from the work I’ve done across genres and also my background as a designer. I also write and play music, so score and pacing is also a super important element. I’ve had to learn how to edit my own work because of budget-constraints so having that understanding of post really helps in the development and production process.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://emilyfriedmanfilm.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emilyfriedman24/?hl=en

Image Credits

Neeraj Jain