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 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]
On October 12, 2023 an open letter was published by Creative Community for Peace, whose mission statement is "to galvanize support against the cultural boycott of Israel."[11] The open letter states: "More than 2000 leaders from the entertainment industry have signed an open letter released by the non-profit entertainment industry organization Creative Community For Peace in support of Israel." Papandrea joined the petition.[12] On October 23, 2023 Papadrea signed a second petition, 'NoHostageLeftBehind'.[13] The petition consisted of 'Several Hundred Hollywood figures'[14] petitioning for President Joe Biden to secure the release of more Israeli hostages.
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.[23]
Filmography
Before she started her own production companies, Papandrea produced various films with other companies, including:[3]
Universal's film adaptation of Gayle Tzemach Lemmon's novel, Ashley's War: The Untold Story of a Team of Women Soldiers on the Special Ops Battlefield[39]
^"The Don Dunstan Award". Adelaide Film Festival. 9 September 2020. Archived from the original on 10 September 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
^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.
