Nancy Juvonen [film producer]

By: Julian Chavez | August 24, 2009 | Ten by Ten

Nancy Juvonen is a film producer and the cofounder of Flower Films with business partner and friend Drew Barrymore. Juvonen has produced films such as Music and Lyrics, Donnie Darko, Charlie’s Angles, 50 First Dates and Never Been Kissed. Currently, she is the executive producer for the new reality series Tough Love and the upcoming film Whip It!

What is the most important lesson you’ve learned?
There is always another direction to take.  No matter how convinced you were of your first choice, your second (or 116th) choice can always become your first.  If there is a will, there is always a way to make something happen.  You cannot be stubborn, but you must be passionate with every hopeful choice.  Then move on quickly to the next choice if that one doesn’t work.

What book have you read that made a powerful impression on you?
I would say the book I enjoyed most was Jitterbug Perfume by Tom Robbins.  I love his way with words; I love his devilish look at human nature; I love that he is able to see life differently and express those poignant observations by infusing them with humor, history and sexiness.

Describe your average Sunday morning.
Ideally, no commitments whatsoever.  Sundays should be your day off.  And if you cannot make Sunday work as a day off, make another day of the week your Sunday.  Everyone needs to recoup, I think it’s really a healthy choice. 

What individual was most influential during your formative years and how?
There are too many wonderful people.  To pick one, I would have to say my partner at Flower Films and in life, Drew Barrymore, though not in my formative years. We met at a time when I was truly ready to commit to something.  I had traveled, schooled and tried many jobs, and suddenly, as timing is everything, we found each other and really committed to the vision of making Flower Films a viable production company.  She saw something in me, and to this day I am not sure what it was, but I will always be grateful to her for moving on instinct, finding me again and asking me to start this company with her.  It is from that commitment that I’ve found something I love to do.  I’ve made great friends and had so many amazing experiences- I’ve been able to produce movies; I fell in love and got married- all of this and more because she believed in me. 

What is your take on the current economic crisis?
My take is that it is scary and real, but also an opportunity.  It seems we cannot make what happened go away, so we are left to make changes to what will happen in the years to come.  My hope is that America feels an overall sense of promise and light, which will lead people to make good decisions. We need to feel like we are in the pursuit of happiness, not in the pursuit of basic needs (unless that lifestyle is your happiness).  Hope makes you want to prepare for tomorrow.  So I’m hoping that with all of this optimism in the air, people start taking better care of themselves in every way, that people can see their choices clearly and make good, solid decisions about a brighter tomorrow. 

What are your thoughts on the overall importance of art in modern society?
There is a great argument that art separates man from beast, but I believe that art, in every modern culture reflects what that culture is about at a specific time.  I think art shadows the human consciousness of the moment, thus art is history, and not only helps to define us, but we are defined in and by our art.

What advice would you give to someone who wanted to follow your career path?
My career path is totally absurd in literal terms, but in overall terms, I would say follow your own heart and instincts.  Do what you want to do- what makes you feel good and fulfilled- that passion will lead you to what you love to do most, and to the career that suits you best.  That doesn’t mean it’s all joy at every moment- it’s a job, but you should feel invested in it.  The career part should grow from a place of doing what you love.  Going after a career can be putting the cart before the horse.  The career part should be an after-thought. Whatever it is you do- do it really, really well, and with integrity.  You never know where it will lead you.  Just knowing inside your heart that your intention was good and that you kept your word, completes the experience for you.  It actually makes you feel worthy of succeeding. 

How do you decompress after a hard day’s work?
Phones, computers, blackberries, pagers and fax machines OFF.  I resign to the fact that I did what I could today and that tomorrow is another day.  It will all be there for me then.  And I walk away.

Describe your most vivid dream or a recurring dream.
My most vivid and recurring dream always starts out at some kind of a party in a house- a big house.  I see familiar people I like, and sometimes people I don’t like, but I am moving through this big house looking for something.  There is a slight sense of urgency, so I don’t linger anywhere or chat with anyone too long.  Then I find these wooden stairs and I make my way up to a big empty room.  The room is inside a huge, beautiful tree with green leaves and giant branches, very sturdy and safe.  It is a part of the greater house- but the rest of the house is on the ground.  The room has a sleek wooden floor, lightly colored, and huge windows with white, billowing curtains.  The wind is just so – and I am always happy when I finally find this place.  I relax immediately on white, wooden furniture.  I never think anyone will come into this space, even though I know there is a party happening in the greater house.  It’s just completely peaceful.  And when I first wake in bed, I close my eyes again and think about the feeling of that room.  I’ve had this same dream for years and years. 

How do you define success?
I think it is how you define it -YOU define success for yourself.  So the definition of success is different for everyone.  For me, I think it’s the true smile in someone’s eyes, that honest look- a combination of hard work and play, being satisfied in the choices you’ve made.  You may be tired, and you aren’t always doing it all the right way- but you are really engaged in life and trying to make it work in a balanced manner.  There is a glow- that sparkling, happy glow in someone’s eyes when living a balanced life.  You can just feel it.  I think that is a life lived successfully.

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