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How to Please a Woman writer and director Renée Webster.

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How to Please a Woman writer and director Renée Webster joins the latest episode of the Cinema Australia Podcast.

Renée’s recent directing work includes series one and two of the drama serial The Heights for Matchbox Pictures and NBC Universal. Renée was the Set-Up Director for the children’s television drama Itchfor Komixx Entertainment in association with Feisty Dame Productions.

Renée was nominated for a 2020 ADG award for her directing on The Heights. Renée won Silver in London at the FAB World Awards for her Brownes Campaign. Renée’s direction on commercial campaigns also won Best in Show, Bronze and Silver Directing Awards at the PADC Awards, Best on Show at Oasis Campaign Brief Awards, and won a Silver Award at the 2016 Effie’s. Renée’s short film Scoff secured awards and festival screenings world-wide, including Berlin Asia Pacific Film Fest (Berlin); LA Short Shorts Film Festival; Hampton Film Festival (New York); High Falls (New York); Female Eye Toronto Film Festival and All Time Best Shorts; London Australian Film Festival; Marco Island Film Festival (Florida); St Kilda Film Festival and Flickerfest International Film Festival.

Her second short film Edgar And Elizabeth garnered awards and festival screenings including: World of Comedy Film Festival (Toronto); Short Shorts (Tokyo); St Louis International Film Festival (USA); Moondance International Film Festival (USA – Most Popular Film list); Rochester International Film Festival (Best of the Fest); Rushes Soho Shorts UK, St Kilda Film Festival; Perth International Film Festival (PIAF); Flickerfest International Film Festival and Brisbane International Film Festival (Top 5 Most Popular Films). Renée’s feature work includes attachments to directors Rowan Woods and Mark Lamprell. Renée was the Second Unit Director for A Few Less Men. 

Renée Webster and Sally Phillips on the set of How to Please a Woman.

About How to Please a Woman

Gina  is not feeling fabulous. She has lost her job and feels stuck and frustrated in a passionless marriage. She has always lived life on the sidelines – that is, until she is met with the groundbreaking business opportunity of converting a team of wellbuilt moving guys into well-built housecleaners. Initially the response from her ocean-swimming community is immediate, and her all-male cleaning staff an instant hit.

Finally, she is the boss she has always wanted to be. But, as her business booms, her clientele demands something more – sex, or better yet, pleasure. Faced with something far more than she imagined, Gina and her team, including her foodie manager Steve, launch an enterprise that is all about getting intimacy right between people. For the first time, the women experience desire on their own terms. As Gina faces the highs and lows, the joys and struggles of maintaining such a unique business, she learns to stand up for herself, to look out for her own happiness and pleasure, and to take control of her life. How To Please A Woman is a precarious, often hilarious and revealing journey into the vulnerable world of what women really want and how hard it can be to get it right. 

How to Please a Woman stars Sally Phillips, Erik Thomson, Alexander England, Ryan Johnson, Caroline Brazier, Josh Thomson, Hayley McElhinney, Tasma Walton and Cameron Daddo and is produced by Tania Chambers and Judi Levine. 

Renée Webster and Tasma Walton on the set of How to Please a Woman.

How to Please a Woman has had advance screenings around Australian, including here in Perth where it screened at the Perth International Arts Festival, The WA Made Film Festival, and it’s own Gala Night at Luna Cinemas and people are loving it!

In this interview Renée tells us about developing the script and her process for writing comedy which I found fascinating. She also talks about working with her cast, shooting in Fremantle and much more.

I had a lot of fun getting to know Renée through this interview and I hope you will too. 

How to Please a Woman is in cinemas from May 19. 

Anyway… enjoy.  

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