Film Studies Major Enjoys Career With Panera Bread

Story by Rick Ryan 

| Published Sep 8, 2009

Seven years ago, David Goodwith came to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a film studies major. Three years later, he is climbing the ladder at the Panera Bread on Pine Lake Road.

“When I first came to UNL I wanted to make a living out of critiquing and understanding the fine art of film-making; it was a process I was deeply interested in,” Goodwith said. “Now I make ciabatta rolls at $7.35 an hour. I honestly don’t know if I could ask for more.”

And neither could Panera Bread. The 25-year-old Goodwith caught the attention of some reputable higher-ups. Martin Hasselbeck, a Kansas State graduate with a degree in peace studies and manager of the Pine Lake Panera Bread, says that Goodwith could reach as high as assistant, possibly even associate manager.

“He is just a dedicated young man with a good head on his shoulders,” Hasselbeck said. “He really owes it to the film professors at UNL who prepared him for a career where the sky is the limit.”

But don’t for a second think that film studies degree has gone to waste.

“You would be surprised by how many people are unfamiliar with East Asian cinema,” Goodwith said. “Yes I get paid to prepare Caesar salads and refill the napkin dispensers, but I believe I’m here to enlighten the customers and my fellow employees on the work of Jun Fukuda.”

It’s not just Goodwith’s work ethic that established him as one of Panera Bread’s top employees. His friendly demeanor and outgoing personality radiates from the bakery to the soft drink station.

“David and I get along so well,” said Mallory Battle, a fellow employee and Psychology major who felt it was in her best interest not to attend graduate school. “I never realized how terrible all of my favorite movies were until he broke them down into obscure, nitpicky pieces. He really opened my eyes.”

Goodwith knows he could move on. After all, he does have his options. Offers from Misty’s and Carlos O’Kelly’s have been coming in hot, but Goodwith knows where his loyalties remain.

“People always tell me, ‘Move on, kid, you could be such a huge star,” Goodwith said. “But that’s not why I was a film studies major. I never wanted to be the guy in front of or behind the camera. I want to be the guy in a theatre that could talk your ear off for hours about the lighting. That’s who I want to be. That and the guy with the pony tail that works at Panera Bread. ”

But like it or not, superstardom could be just around the corner. Goodwith has tried to maintain a low-key presence in south Lincoln, but the glitz and glamour of Hollywood keep calling.

“Alexander Payne came through here once and ordered a chipotle chicken sandwich with no lettuce,” Goodwith said. “He thanked me for my service and said I did a good job. Does that mean he wants me to work as his DP on the sequel to 'About Schmidt?' Maybe. I guess we’ll just see how things shake out.”