‘Burt’s Buzz’ Director Jody Shapiro On Burt Shavitz, Burt’s Bees [VIDEO EXCLUSIVE]

Documentary filmmaker Jody Shapiro found a prime subject in Burt Shavitz, the eccentric founder of cosmetics company Burt’s Bees. “I thought there was going to be Burt the corporate logo and corporate influence and then Burt the man,” Shapiro told uInterview exclusively. “I realized it is actually not black and white, it is a grey story. Burt is an ex-hippie, he is a live off the lander. He is a bit of a drop out. He does not have anything to do with technology and he is quite happy just sitting around doing nothing, but at the same time he is a salesman, he believes in the product.”

The focus of Shapiro’s documentary became more about the man than the product. “Well, he is a storyteller,” Shapiro said. “He does literally nothing but sit on his front porch and either as he likes to say, listen to the grass grow or tell stories, so I’ve realized while we were making the film that this was going to be Burt’s story, Burt’s story opposed to being Burt’s Bees story. I wanted it be in his voice. I wanted it to be at his pace. I wanted it to be you know in his universe.”

Burt’s Buzz is currently playing in theaters and is available online through Amazon VOD.60