THIS IS ME
GRACIE OTTO
Gracie
Gracie Otto, the highly regarded filmmaker, director, editor and writer (and the list goes on), permits ease to those that cross paths with her. Her effortless nature, intertwined with pure wit, humour, and excellent use of language, makes for intriguing discussions and a joyous atmosphere.
Gracie, what do you pride yourself on?
I pride myself on being a kind and honest person, personally and professionally, and a good team player who is supportive of other people in my work and industry. I try to look after myself by working on projects that offer me opportunities to develop my skills through meeting new interesting people. I’m very in the moment, and I love making connections myself and introducing people I meet to others in the industry who can help them with their projects.
Tell me why trackpants are the superior pant.
I’ve always loved track pants! I remember when I was a little kid my Mum sending Dad out with me to buy an outfit for an opening night for the Australian Opera. I chose a maroon matching Adidas tracksuit . . . and Dad was like “that’s what she wanted to wear!” I spent a lot of time playing sport in my teens and I feel relaxed in tracksuits. I really am a big believer in being comfortable. However, I don’t think I could ever wear trackpants with heels - when that came into fashion it was too much for me.
Describe how you express and embrace your individuality.
My individuality - I was born with it. I have always had my own strong perspective on everything in life. I’m quite quick with my thought process and say what’s on my mind. In terms of fashion, I went from a sporty teenager to someone who devoured high end fashion as soon as I discovered it. Now I tend to keep things simple and have worked out a basic range that suits my work and my personality.
How does embracing your individuality play a role in the wider community?
I’ve always enjoyed being a role model for young women who want to work in the film industry. I like to speak to high school students about how believing in yourself and your talent and working hard can lead to a happy and successful life. I’m always happy to represent my industry or charities if I think I can make a contribution.
How has your perspective of the world evolved over the last 18 months?
My perspective, like everyone’s, has changed incredibly as a result of the pandemic and lockdowns. It’s been a very strange time for me as I have spent all my life travelling and working internationally, and suddenly that became impossible. Being based in Australia has been amazing for me work wise as I have discovered I am able to work with some of the best filmmakers and crews in the world, here in my home town.
The pandemic has also made me appreciate and be thankful for spending time with family, and I’ve loved reconnecting with good friends from my past. I’m grateful that I got to spend so much time travelling, having a great time and collecting stories. I hope in the future when we get through this pandemic that we can all come together to care for each other, and do what is right for us all as a wider community, not just ourselves.
TALENT: Gracie Otto @gracieotto
PRODUCTION: SIDE-NOTE @side_note
DIRECTOR/DP: James Campbell @james_cambo
PHOTOGRAPHER: Jake Terrey @jaketerrey
PHOTOGRAPHER ASSISTANT: Luke Schuetrumpf @lukeschuetrumpf
DIGI: Nick Shaw @knickshaw
CAMERA 2: Ady Neshoda @adyneshoda
FILM EDITORS: James Campbell & Ady Neshoda @james_cambo & @adyneshoda
SOUND: Oliver Dibley @oliverdibley
STYLISTS: Emma Kalfus & Karla Clarke @karla_clarke , @emma_kalfus
HAIR: Madison Voloshin @ Assembly agency @badisonv
BEAUTY: Stoj @ The Artist Group @stoj_makeupartist
