“A good day is when no one shows up and you don’t have to go anywhere,” – Burt Shavitz of Burt’s Bees. Burt’s Buzz is In Theatres, On Demand, and iTunes on June 6.
This is not your usual documentary. Directed by Jody Shapiro and executively produced by Isabella Rossellini of Green Porno, Burt’s Buzz documents the inspiring story of how a humble, Maine man came to be the icon of one of the most successful cosmetic brands today. The documentary delves into the personal life of Burt Shavitz, a recluse whose main companion is a golden retriever, and how “all the pins just fell into place”. As a young adult, Burt was a prolific photographer for Time-Life Magazine in New York City during the 60’s and 70’s, capturing the highlights of the social revolutions at the time. But after a few years, he suddenly had an epiphany while observing an old lady who never came out of their residential building. And fearing that he would someday embody her, he readily left the city to the wilderness of Maine.
During his adventures as a self described “high-class hobo”, Burt unintentionally adopted the beekeeping profession. But that alone did not result to the multi-million company that Burt’s Bees is today; there was a secret ingredient in this unperceived success: his first love, and business partner Roxanne. With Roxanne managing the growth of the cosmetic enterprise, Burt became assigned as the brand ambassador. Quickly, the success of Burt’s Bees transformed from a small business to a popular industry, gaining the interest of consumers nationwide with its unique combination of natural ingredients endorsed by the man who started it all. Soon enough, however, the couple began to drift apart due to conflicting interests and ultimately, Roxanne bought out Burt’s share in the company, to which his only indifference was towards the severance of his relationship than of monetary loss. It’s the philosophies like this that the documentary successfully highlights on, representing the laxed and humble character that’s been under the radar of such a powerful company.
Burt’s influence transcends through ages and cultures; he omits a unique blend of eccentricity coupled along with modesty and innocence that can only be understood by watching the film. When asked why he didn’t have a TV, his answer was that his last television set broke. When asked why he doesn’t have hot water, he replied that it was too expensive to fix. Although this a documentary on his personal life, following his journeys and contemplations, a significant aspect to take note on is the effect he has upon the lives he touches along the process. “小蜜蜂爷爷”, a name given to Burt by his Taiwanese fans, translates to Bee Grandpa, arguable epitomizing his presence as a universal patriarch. And how else can you explain the crowds of children and adults dressed in bee costumes at the airport waiting for his arrival? Or the queues occupying an entire shopping complex? Burt’s life can seem primitive to the modern day tech-savvy individual, but he is an inspiration for all generations to watch and learn from; Burt Shavitz embodies the universal mentality of discerning between “knowing what you want and what you need”. Don’t let the word “documentary” scare you from watching it, promise this one won’t be like Justin Bieber’s or Katy Perry’s.
– Tristen Yang
We had the opportunity to see the film at the New York premiere, which was held at The Crosby Hotel. Burt’s Bees co-founder Burt Shavitz, director Jody Shapiro and executive producer Isabella Rossellini were in attendance. Everyone left with gift bags full of Burt’s Bees products.
