Bruna Papandrea

Bruna Papandrea AM (born 1971) is an Australian film and television producer and the founder of production company Made Up Stories. Prior to Made Up Stories, Papandrea co-founded the production company Pacific Standard with Reese Witherspoon.

Bruna Papandrea

AM
Born1971 (age 51–52)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
NationalityAustralian
OccupationFilm producer
Years active1997 – present
WorksWild; Big Little Lies; Gone Girl
SpouseSteve Hutensky
Children2

Early life and education

Papandrea was raised in Adelaide, South Australia,[1] by a single mother.[2]

Career
See also: List of accolades received by Gone Girl (film), Wild (2014 film) § Accolades, and Big Little Lies (TV series) § Accolades

She moved to New York City in the 1990s after establishing a career in film production. She briefly returned to Australia to produce the 2000 film Better Than Sex, which was nominated for the AFI Award for Best Film, before moving to London in 2001. She served as a production executive at the film studio Mirage Enterprises and later returned to New York to work for GreeneStreet Films, a production company for independent films, as a creative director. At GreeneStreet she executive produced the 2006 romantic comedy Wedding Daze before joining another independent production company, Groundswell Productions, in Los Angeles in February 2006. There she was responsible for producing Smart People (2008), Milk (2008), The Marc Pease Experience (2009), and All Good Things (2010).[3]

In 2011, Papandrea produced Warm Bodies, a zombie comedy film directed by Jonathan Levine and released in 2013.[4]

In 2012, she and actress Reese Witherspoon co-founded Pacific Standard, a Beverly Hills-based production company focusing on creating films made by and about women.[5][1] Their first two projects at Pacific Standard were Gone Girl and Wild, both adapted from books whose rights were acquired by Papandrea and Witherspoon before publication. Both films were released in 2014, by which time they had also completed production on the 2015 comedy film Hot Pursuit.[5] In 2016, they announced that they were ending their partnership, though they would continue to work on the projects that were in the middle of production, including the HBO series Big Little Lies and a film adaptation of the novel Luckiest Girl Alive.[6]

Papandrea launched her current production company, Made Up Stories, in January 2017 to carry on her mission in championing female filmmakers, adapting female-written novels and creating stories featuring multi-faceted female characters. The company is also committed to inclusivity in less-acknowledged departments behind-the-scenes such as transportation teams and gaffers. Papandrea has expressed intent to start a foundation, Made Up Solutions, to provide opportunities for women from low socio-economic and diverse backgrounds.[7][8]

In April 2020, Papandrea and Gregg Fienberg founded the "It Takes Our Village" initiative, along with numerous A-list Hollywood producers to help raise money for below-the-line crews affected by COVID-19.[9] Papandrea credited "below-the-line crews" as "the backbone of our industry". “They are our community – and our community is in need. This initiative is personal to me as I’m a working-class girl who grew up with unions protecting my family. I want to help provide that protection to those who are a vital part in creating stories; the stories that are providing escapism and comfort to people around the world."[10]

Recognition

2015: Papandrea received the Australians in Film International Award.[2]

2018: Papandrea was honored by G'Day USA, receiving Outstanding Achievement in Film & TV Award.[11]

2020: Papandrea won the Don Dunstan Award, and appeared "In Conversation" with one of the patrons of the Adelaide Film Festival, Margaret Pomeranz AM in mid-October during the 2020 event.[12][1]

2020: Papandrea was named to Variety's L.A. Women's Impact Report 2020.[13]

2020: Papandrea was named as one of 40 Australians who mattered in Film & TV for 2020 by The Age's Good Weekend.[14]

2021: Papandrea received the Australian Women's Film Festival (AWFF) Groundbreaker Award.[15]

2021: Papandrea was included in The Hollywood Reporter's 2021 Women In Entertainment Power 100[16]

2021: Papandrea was included in Deadline's DISRUPTORS 2021 class[17]

2023: Papandrea was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours.[18]

Awards and nominations

2000: Nominated for the Australia Film Institute (AFI) Award Best Film for Better Than Sex

2017: Winner of the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Limited Series for Big Little Lies

2018: Winner of the Golden Globe for Best Television Series or Motion Picture Made for Television for Big Little Lies (season 1)

2018: Nominated for the BAFTA TV Award for Best International for Big Little Lies

2018: Nominated for the PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episode Television, Drama for Big Little Lies (season 1)

2019: Winner of the AACTA Award for Best Film for The Nightingale

2020: Winner of the Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards for Best Film for The Nightingale

2020: Nominated for the PGA Award for Outstanding Producer of Episode Television, Drama for Big Little Lies (season 2)

2020: Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Television Series, Drama for Big Little Lies (season 2)

2021: Nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Awards for Best Limited Series for The Undoing

2021: Nominated for the Golden Globe for Best Limited Series or Television Film for The Undoing

2021: Nominated for the PGA Award's David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Limited Series Television for The Undoing

Personal life

Papandrea is married to producer Steve Hutensky and gave birth to twins in 2012. She has systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), diagnosed in August 2010, which causes her chronic joint pain.[19]

Filmography

Before she started her own production companies, Papandrea produced various films with other companies, including:[3]

Films
Year Title Director Gross (worldwide) Notes
2013 Warm Bodies Jonathan Levine $117 million A Summit Entertainment film
2014 Wild Jean-Marc Vallée $52.5 million Produced as Pacific Standard

Nominated for two Academy Awards

2014 Gone Girl David Fincher $369.3 million Produced as Pacific Standard

Nominated for one Academy Award

2015 Hot Pursuit Anne Fletcher $51.7 million Produced as Pacific Standard
2019 Lucy in the Sky Noah Hawley n/a Produced by Bruna Papandrea

Premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival

2018 The Nightingale Jennifer Kent n/a Premiered in competition at the 75th Venice International Film Festival, winning two awards

Swept the 9th AACTA Awards including winning Best Film and Best Director

Distributed in the United States by IFC Films

2019 Little Monsters Abe Forsythe n/a Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival

Released in the United States by NEON and Hulu

2020 Penguin Bloom Glendyn Ivin $6 million[20]

(AUS & NZ only)

 Premiered at the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival

Released in Australia by Roadshow on January 21, 2021,

Releasing in North America, U.K., France and select countries in Asia by Netflix on Jan. 27, 2021

2021 The Dry Robert Connolly $17 million[21]

(AUS & NZ only)

 Released in Australia by Roadshow on January 1, 2021,

Releasing in N. America by IFC Films on May 21, 2021

2022 Luckiest Girl Alive Mike Barker n/a Will be released by Netflix[22]

Television series
Year Title Network Notes
2017-2019 Big Little Lies HBO Produced as Pacific Standard (S1) and Bruna Papandrea (S2)

Created by David E. Kelley, based on the Liane Moriarty book

S1 nominated for 16 Emmy Awards, winning eight including Outstanding Limited Series

2018 Queen America Facebook Watch Created by Meagan Oppenheimer
2020 The Undoing HBO Created by David E. Kelley, based on a Jean Hanff Korelitz book

Nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Awards for Best Limited Series

Nominated for 4 Golden Globe Awards including Best Limited Series or Television Film

2021 Tell Me Your Secrets Amazon Prime Video Created by Harriet Warner
Pieces of Her Netflix Created by Charlotte Stoudt, based on the Karin Slaughter book
Nine Perfect Strangers Hulu Created by David E. Kelley, based on the Liane Moriarty book
2022 Anatomy Of A Scandal Netflix Created by David E. Kelley and Melissa James Gibson, based on the Sarah Vaughan book
Long Slow Exhale Spectrum Originals/BET Created by Pam Veasey
Roar Apple TV+ Created by Liz Flahive and Carly Mensch, based on the short story collection by Cecelia Ahern
Wolf Like Me Peacock, Stan Created by Abe Forsythe
TBA The Lost Flowers of Alice Hart Amazon Prime Video Created by Sarah Lambert, based on the Holly Ringland novel

Projects in development

References
  1. Smith, Matthew (14 October 2020). "Big Little Lies producer Bruna Papandrea inspires a new generation of Adelaide's female filmmakers". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 16 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  2. "Reese Witherspoon Honors Bruna Papandrea at Australians in Film Gala". Variety. 26 October 2015. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  3. "Bruna Papandrea". Focus Features. Archived from the original on 21 April 2016. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  4. Goldberg, Matt (4 January 2013). "Producer Bruna Papandrea Talks Working with Director Jonathan Levine, Aiming for a PG-13 Rating, Zombie Sex, and More on the Set of WARM BODIES". Collider.com. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  5. Riley, Jenelle (7 October 2014). "Reese Witherspoon, Bruna Papandrea Push for Female-Driven Material With Pacific Standard". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  6. Kroll, Justin (1 September 2016). "Reese Witherspoon Parts Ways With Producing Partner Bruna Papandrea". Variety. Archived from the original on 17 March 2017. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  7. "Producer Bruna Papandrea Didn't See A Space For Women In Hollywood, So She Created One Herself". Bustle. 22 February 2019. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  8. "Bruna Papandrea: From Adelaide to Hollywood". www.australiaunlimited.com. Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  9. "Mark Ruffalo, David E. Kelley and More Launch COVID-19 Relief Fund for Film Crews | Hollywood Reporter". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 8 April 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  10. McNary, Dave (8 April 2020). "Producers Launch 'It Takes Our Village' Relief Fund for Crews Impacted By Coronavirus". Variety. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  11. "2018 G'Day USA Los Angeles Gala, LA". Average Socialite. 27 January 2018. Archived from the original on 2 November 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  12. "The Don Dunstan Award". Adelaide Film Festival. 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
  13. Turchiano, Diane Garrett,Thomas K. Arnold,Jem Aswad,Andrew Barker,Jon Burlingame,Shalini Dore,Paula Hendrickson,James Patrick Herman,Daniel Holloway,Carole Horst,Janet W. Lee,Todd Longwell,Addie Morfoot,Jenelle Riley,Malina Saval,Ellise Shafer,Jazz Tangcay,Danielle; Garrett, Diane; Arnold, Thomas K.; Aswad, Jem; Barker, Andrew; Burlingame, Jon; Dore, Shalini; Hendrickson, Paula; Herman, James Patrick (28 October 2020). "Variety's L.A. Women's Impact Report 2020". Variety. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. Quinn, Karl (27 November 2020). "Good Weekend's 40 Australians Who Mattered: Film and TV". The Age. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  15. Anabel, Anita (14 February 2021). "A Film Festival "Created By Women, For Women" Is Coming to Australia — TheLatch—". thelatch.com.au/. Archived from the original on 16 April 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  16. staff, T. H. R. (12 May 2021). "The Hollywood Reporter's 2021 Women in Entertainment Power 100". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  17. "Deadline Hollywood - AwardsLine - 07/06/21 - Disruptors/Cannes". issuu. 30 June 2021. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  18. "Australia Day 2023 Honours: Full list". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2023. Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  19. Lew, Janine (23 November 2014). "Reese Witherspoon Honors Bruna Papandrea at Lupus LA Luncheon". Variety. Archived from the original on 9 February 2015. Retrieved 9 February 2015.
  20. "Penguin Bloom". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  21. "The Dry". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on 2 February 2021. Retrieved 4 May 2021.
  22. "Mila Kunis to Star in 'Luckiest Girl Alive' Film at Netflix". TheWrap. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
  23. Fleming, Mike Jr. (28 November 2018). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories Lands JoAnn Chaney Thriller Novel 'As Long As We Both Shall Live'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  24. Hipes, Patrick (11 October 2018). "Aussie Novel 'The Lost Flowers Of Alice Hart' Headed For TV In Deal With Bruna Papandrea". Deadline. Archived from the original on 9 May 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  25. Petski, Denise (9 October 2018). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories Acquires Signe Pike's Novel 'The Lost Queen' For Television". Deadline. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  26. Fleming, Mike Jr. (22 June 2018). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories Acquires Jessica Knoll Novel 'The Favorite Sister' For Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on 17 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  27. Andreeva, Nellie (26 September 2017). "Bruna Papandrea Options Tina Brown's 'Vanity Fair Diaries' For Limited TV Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on 25 May 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  28. "Lynette Howell Taylor, Bruna Papandrea Team for Cinderella Reimagining 'Stepsister'". The Hollywood Reporter. 13 May 2019. Archived from the original on 30 December 2019. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  29. Fleming, Mike Jr. (20 October 2020). "Endeavor Content Acquires Jennifer Donnelly Fantasy Novel 'Poisoned'; 51 Entertainment & Made Up Stories Producing". Deadline. Archived from the original on 14 November 2020. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  30. "How Australian producer Bruna Papandrea is championing women on and off screene". Vogue Australia. 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 16 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
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  32. "Nina Dobrev to Star in 'Woman 99' Adaptation Acquired by Bruna Papandrea's Production Banner". The Hollywood Reporter. 23 July 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
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  35. Kroll, Justin (12 November 2020). "'Homeland' Director Lesli Linka Glatter To Direct Adaptation Of 'Ashley's War' For Universal; Molly Smith Metzler Penning Script". Deadline. Archived from the original on 15 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  36. Petski, Denise (15 December 2020). "'Clap When You Land' Novel In Works For Television By Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories". Deadline. Archived from the original on 9 January 2021. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  37. D'Alessandro, Anthony (11 March 2021). "Nicole Kidman & Bruna Papandrea Team On Feature Film Adaptation Of YA Novel 'Mice'". Deadline. Archived from the original on 11 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  38. Fleming, Mike Jr. (13 May 2021). "Erin French Memoir 'Finding Freedom: A Cook's Story' Sells After 18-Bidder Auction To Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories & Endeavor Content". Deadline. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 13 May 2021.
  39. Perez, Lexy (9 June 2021). "Bruna Papandrea's Made Up Stories, Raelle Tucker Team for Adaptation of Novel 'The Change' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 9 June 2021. Retrieved 9 June 2021.
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