Martha Stewart on Why She Chose to Work With ‘Martha’ Filmmaker R.J. Cutler: ‘I Didn’t Want Some Namby-Pamby, Ralph Lauren Documentary’

On Monday evening in Beverly Hills, Martha Stewart plainly stated that she wasn’t interested in a soft, Ralph Lauren-style documentary,” she shared during an FYC event held outside the Maybourne Hotel, where she and director R.J. Cutler promoted their Netflix production titled “Martha”.

Stewart explained to moderator Dave Karger, host of TCM, why she selected Cutler to narrate her life story in a documentary. She mentioned that fashion icon Lauren, who resides nearby in Connecticut and is her friend, was instrumental in the creation of the 2019 documentary “Very Ralph.” However, it was Cutler who had the final say in “Martha,” which debuted on the streaming platform on October 30.

At first, Stewart had some strong criticisms towards the movie, particularly aimed at Cutler and the overall outcome. However, it appears that much of this tension has dissipated, as they later sat amicably for a full 30 minutes, followed by a networking event filled with Emmy Awards voters. In an eye-catching ensemble, Stewart made quite an impression in a bright lemon suit and glamorous gold platform heels.

According to numerous critics, the show “Martha” stood out due to its focus on Stewart and her groundbreaking role as a female entrepreneur and CEO. However, audiences were often caught off guard by Stewart’s frequent comments about working with women. When it came time for a comprehensive documentary about her life, Stewart spoke to at least four filmmakers. Ultimately, she decided that she wanted a male director to tell her story.

In simpler terms, “Stewart mentioned that she had interviewed two highly skilled documentarians who happened to be women, but for this particular project, she desired to collaborate with a man. During her professional peak, her company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia was predominantly female (70%), so it was refreshing for her not to work with another woman.

Stewart subtly responded to her earlier criticisms about the movie, such as her issues with unsuitable camera angles. She admitted there were parts of her life that deserved more emphasis — like the magnitude of Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia during its early 2000s height — but she also accepted Cutler’s expertise as the filmmaker. Furthermore, she mentioned that her daughter and grandchildren found it generally well-received.

“I had given, and probably rightly so, final edit to R.J.,” she said.

In addition to various topics, Stewart discussed her current projects, which include developing an AI software aimed at homeowners, and working on her autobiography that was announced by Random House last year.

She mentioned that anything R.J. hadn’t uncovered, by delving into my archives, could be utilized in her autobiography. She noted that while it wouldn’t span 936 pages like Barbara’s, it would follow a chronological order and promises to be quite intriguing. The process was fascinating, she added, and she’s happy she decided to go through with it.

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2025-05-13 06:23