Shapiro Follows Honey Trail; Enigmatic Shavitz is the Bee’s Knees
The bearded-face of Burt’s Bees, a pioneering company in the commodification of “all-natural” personal care, is not an imagined icon slapped onto distinctive yellow packaging, but the likeness of founder Burt Shavitz. Documentarian Jody Shapiro (How to Start Your Own Country) draws an intimate portrait of the lesser-known man behind the brand in Burt’s Buzz. The project, suggested and produced by Isabella Rossellini, never exoticizes the 76-year old recluse, but thoughtfully approaches his contradictory public and private life. Hardly resting on the unaided appeal of his strangely charming subject, Shapiro frames emotion and wry humor with subtlety to create a layered, lively documentary.
Somewhere in the backwoods of Maine, Shavitz looks at the camera and says “I got granola in my teeth should I get up and wash my mouth out”, introducing the steady stream of unusual hilarity to follow.
The bearded-face of Burt’s Bees, a pioneering company in the commodification of “all-natural” personal care, is not an imagined icon slapped onto distinctive yellow packaging, but the likeness of founder Burt Shavitz. Documentarian Jody Shapiro (How to Start Your Own Country) draws an intimate portrait of the lesser-known man behind the brand in Burt’s Buzz. The project, suggested and produced by Isabella Rossellini, never exoticizes the 76-year old recluse, but thoughtfully approaches his contradictory public and private life. Hardly resting on the unaided appeal of his strangely charming subject, Shapiro frames emotion and wry humor with subtlety to create a layered, lively documentary.
Somewhere in the backwoods of Maine, Shavitz looks at the camera and says “I got granola in my teeth should I get up and wash my mouth out”, introducing the steady stream of unusual hilarity to follow.
- 6/5/2014
- by Caitlin Coder
- IONCINEMA.com
Exclusive: The Film Sales Company president Andrew Herwitz has acquired international rights to Jody Shapiro’s documentary ahead of its world premiere in Toronto.
Burt’s Buzz chronicles the career of Burt Shavitz, founder of the cosmetic giant Burt’s Bees.
Shapiro previously directed How To Start Your Own Country and produced My Winnipeg.
Shapiro produced Burt’s Buzz and Jean Du Toit, Phyllis Laing and Isabella Rossellini serve as executive producers. Cinetic is in talks to represent Us rights.
Herwitz’s Toronto roster includes When Jews Were Funny and White Lies.
Burt’s Buzz chronicles the career of Burt Shavitz, founder of the cosmetic giant Burt’s Bees.
Shapiro previously directed How To Start Your Own Country and produced My Winnipeg.
Shapiro produced Burt’s Buzz and Jean Du Toit, Phyllis Laing and Isabella Rossellini serve as executive producers. Cinetic is in talks to represent Us rights.
Herwitz’s Toronto roster includes When Jews Were Funny and White Lies.
- 9/5/2013
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The Sydney Film Festival has announced a selection of free talks, Q&As and workshops surrounding film premieres and the arrival of international filmmakers.
Meet the Filmmakers at the Apple Store
Director Miranda July discusses her film The Future, in Official Competition, about a couple who feel the impending pressure of adopting a kitten and live out their dreams before responsibility strikes. The Future has competed at Sundance and Berlin film festivals. Session time: Sunday 12 June, 2-3pm.
The Forgiveness of Blood director, Joshua Marston will discuss his film, about an Albanian family caught in an old feud, and no doubt his debut, 2004′s Maria Full of Grace. Session time: Monday 13 June 12.30-1.30pm.
Phil Rosenthal discusses his hit TV series Everybody Loves Raymond and his feature film Exporting Raymond, about attempting to turn the show into a Russian sitcom. Session time: Monday 13 June, 2-3pm.
Metro Screen Q&As
Jody Shapiro,...
Meet the Filmmakers at the Apple Store
Director Miranda July discusses her film The Future, in Official Competition, about a couple who feel the impending pressure of adopting a kitten and live out their dreams before responsibility strikes. The Future has competed at Sundance and Berlin film festivals. Session time: Sunday 12 June, 2-3pm.
The Forgiveness of Blood director, Joshua Marston will discuss his film, about an Albanian family caught in an old feud, and no doubt his debut, 2004′s Maria Full of Grace. Session time: Monday 13 June 12.30-1.30pm.
Phil Rosenthal discusses his hit TV series Everybody Loves Raymond and his feature film Exporting Raymond, about attempting to turn the show into a Russian sitcom. Session time: Monday 13 June, 2-3pm.
Metro Screen Q&As
Jody Shapiro,...
- 5/31/2011
- by Colin Delaney
- Encore Magazine
As the leading independent screen learning and development hub in Nsw, Metro Screen has just announced that this year they're partnering with three of Sydney's major events this June - Sydney Film Festival, Creative Sydney and EncoreLive. In conjunction with the upcoming Sydney Film Festival, Metro Screen will hold a ‘Filmmaker Studio Series', an exciting collection of workshops where guest filmmakers, all of whom have films screening at the festival, will share their knowledge and insight about the creative process and establishing a career in the film industry. The first director to kick off the series is multi-talented Canadian filmmaker Jody Shapiro, who has produced for Isabella Rossellini and Guy Maddin and directed the unique and adventurous documentary How to Start Your Own Country, which is sure to be a highlight when it premieres in Australia at the festival.
- 5/17/2011
- FilmInk.com.au
I guess it should come as no surprise that my preference for film festivals tends to follow my sensibility when it comes to films themselves. If everyone in the blogosphere and beyond is talking about the upcoming Hollywood blockbuster or even the latest offering from the mumblecore crowd, I’ll want to review what’s coming out of Kazakhstan (The Gift to Stalin — three stars!) or rave about an undistributed doc that takes a refreshing look at a trio of grandma-age sex workers in Berlin (Saara Aila Waasner’s uplifting Frauenzimmer). I often feel like I’m out of the loop as the Zeitgeist passes me by. But to be honest, I’ll happily take the sun, sand and beach perks of the Miami International Film Festival while those in the know head to SXSW any day.
And since Miff is known for its focus on Ibero-American films and filmmakers,...
And since Miff is known for its focus on Ibero-American films and filmmakers,...
- 4/11/2011
- by Lauren Wissot
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Neatly balancing entertainment with information and a celebration of very unique brand of social outcast with a serious treatment of the issues that have driven them to the fringes - to say nothing of the further issues arising once they've arrived there - Jody Shapiro's How To Start You Own Country proves to be far less concerned with how to actually start a country of your own than it is with the people who have already done so.
Though the definition is somewhat hazy, the phenomenon that Shapiro explores here is the micro-nation, tiny countries seldom recognized on any map. They come in a surprising variety of shapes and sizes, from the very old and very serious - the Principality of Seborga was founded in 820 Ad and has been struggling to gain widespread recognition ever since - to seemingly frivolous art-punk stunts such as Gregory Green's New Free State Of Caroline,...
Though the definition is somewhat hazy, the phenomenon that Shapiro explores here is the micro-nation, tiny countries seldom recognized on any map. They come in a surprising variety of shapes and sizes, from the very old and very serious - the Principality of Seborga was founded in 820 Ad and has been struggling to gain widespread recognition ever since - to seemingly frivolous art-punk stunts such as Gregory Green's New Free State Of Caroline,...
- 9/11/2010
- Screen Anarchy
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