Robyn Butler is an award-winning Australian actor, writer and
producer. She runs the highly successful
Melbourne-based production company Gristmill with her husband, Wayne Hope. A
highly regarded content creator, Butler co-created and produced three seasons of
the multi-award-winning “The Librarians” for ABC TV, in which she
also starred. She also co-wrote and produced the much-loved comedy “Very Small Business.” Most recently, she co-created and produced two seasons
of the critically acclaimed hit comedy “Upper Middle Bogan” for ABC TV and
wrote and produced the upcoming mockumentary series “Little Lunch” for ABC3. Butler stars in, wrote and produced “Now Add Honey.” (Press materials)
“Now Add Honey” will premiere at the 2015 Bentonville Film Festival on May 6.
W&H: Please give us your description of the film playing.
RB: “Now Add Honey” is a warm and uplifting comedy about women and girls.
W&H: What drew you to this story?
RB: I was feeling flummoxed by the pressure on women to stay young and the pressure on girls to become sexual if they
wanted to be attractive. I wanted to dramatize the correlation — and the sheer
absurdity — of those states.
W&H: What was the biggest challenge in making the film?
RB: Financing, probably. Getting all the ducks lined up with money and cast
was hard!
W&H: What do you want people to think about when they are leaving the
theatre?
RB: I want people to think about appreciating and celebrating who they are.
For women, especially, I would love them to be a little kinder to themselves.
W&H: What advice do you have for other female film writers/producers and
filmmakers?
RB: Be tenacious. Try to collaborate with producing partners and creatives
who are willing to see a story being told from a female perspective, which is rare.
W&H: What’s the biggest misconception about you and your work?
RB: That it comes easily!
W&H: How did you get your film funded? Share some insights into how you got
the film made.
RB: Through a combination of government funding and private investment.
W&H: Name your favorite woman-directed film and why.
RB: “The Kids Are All Right” by Lisa Cholodenko. It has pitch-perfect performances, wonderful storytelling, a point of view, is beautiful to look at and makes a statement without trying to at all. Love it.
