Gracie Otto
Bio
 Acting may be in the Otto bloodline (father Barry and sister Miranda) but at 24 Gracie Otto is already an accomplished filmmaker with substantial credits in directing, writing, editing and acting from her bases in Sydney and Los Angeles.
Gracie completed four years of study in film - a two year Screen Production course (2003-4) while at high school; and a Certificate IV in Film (2005), Diploma in Film (2005) and Advanced Diploma in Film (2006) at the renowned Sydney Film School.
Gracie has directed five short films, all of which have screened at prestigious international and Australian film festivals. She is preparing to direct her first feature and has three writer/director projects in development – an Australian/French co-production Rue De Tournon about the wild and romantic adventures of two Aussie girls in Paris; Blonde V Brunette, a noir piece inspired by the films of Alfred Hitchcock and David Lynch and living in LA; and she is currently shooting a feature documentary on legendary British theatre and film impresario Michael White.
Winning the InStyle & Audi Woman of Style Scholarship in May 2011 was a major boost to her career, enabling her to buy professional camera and sound equipment and travel to the Cannes Film Festival, Paris, London and LA to film interviews and shoot footage for trailers for the three projects she has in development. It was also rewarding to finally be a winner as she had previously been a finalist for three awards - Inside Film Rising Talent, British Council Realise Your Dreams, and twice for SOYA.
Although directing is her major focus, Gracie has earned critical acclaim as an actress for her performances in leading roles in two Australian feature films – Three Blind Mice (2008) and LBF – Living Between F**ks (2011) both of which have screened at major film festivals including SXSW, Sydney, London and Toronto. Three Blind Mice also marked Gracie’s debut as a feature film editor, probably one of the few times the leading actress doubled in this role.
Gracie’s most recent short film, Seamstress, was a winning screenplay in the Jameson Short Film Competition, and stars Australian acting legends Barry Otto and Julie Forsythe and supermodel Mink Sadowsky. Screening in 2011 at Flickerfest, St Kilda, London and Palm Springs, audiences have responded to her homage to Hitchcock and cinematic 60s style.
Gracie’s previous four short films - La Meme Nuit (2007), Tango Trois (2005), Broken Beat (2005) and Kill Blondes (2004) have also been acclaimed in major festivals including Flickerfest, St Kilda, European ECU Paris, Short Film Market Cannes, Interfilm Berlin, Palm Springs, Shoot Me Netherlands, Salento Italy, Spirit On Screen and Show Me Shorts NZ, Singapore, Santiago, Normandy and the Australia-Japan Student Film Festivals (Tokyo).
Apart from her editing skills on display in Three Blind Mice and her own short films, Gracie also worked as an editor on the feature documentary Rocket Compulsion and frequently does corporate work.
To finance her film work, Gracie moonlights as a photographic model and ambassador for many top Australian and international designers and magazines and has developed a substantial portfolio including Stronghold Jeans (US) and Australian fashion magazines including InStyle, Cleo, Cosmopolitan, Who, Madison and Sunday. Last year she also graced the first cover of the new international art magazine, Stil, channeling Barbarella. She has also walked in shows for Pussycat Dolls Lingerie, Coca Cola Little Black Dress and Thirty Days of Fashion.
She is the Ambassador for the Chambord Shine Awards and has also been Ambassador for Royal Randwick Autumn Racing, international accessories company Mimco and Australian designer Jane & Eleni.
Gracie is an Industry Advisory Board member of the Sydney Film School and a Creative Director of Class Movies. She is passionately committed to charities including Fashion Targets Breast Cancer, Madison Ovarian Cancer, Nobody Was Thirsty and Bulgari Save the Children Foundation.
Gracie travels extensively for her work, particularly to Paris and Los Angeles. As a schoolgirl she represented Australia and NSW in Futsal (Indoor Soccer) in New Zealand, Greece and Canada and NSW in softball.
She is represented in Australia by Shanahan Management and in the US by Dallas Sonnier at Caliber Management.
Downloads
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Resume´
Resume'
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DOB:23 May 1987
Education:
- Sydney Film School 2005-6
- Burwood Girls High School 1999-2004
Qualifications/Attainments:
- Advanced Diploma of Screen, Sydney Film School, 2006
- Diploma of Screen, Sydney Film School, 2005
- Certificate IV in Screen, Sydney Film School, 2005
- Higher School Certificate
- UAI 95.55 (English Ext 2, English Ext 1, English Adv, Drama, PD/H/PE, French Continuers)
Films
- Seamstress, short film, Drama, director/editor, 17 mins, 2010, Chaotic Pictures and John Jameson Productions producers
- Rocket Compulsion, feature documentary, assistant editor, 2010
- Rue De Tournon, feature film (in development), writer/director, Chaotic Pictures Producers
- LBF, feature film, actor (The Dead Girl), 2nd unit camera operator Paris, Dec 2008
- Flickerfest Trailer, tvc, actor, director, editor, writer, 2x30 seconds, 2008,
- Three Blind Mice ,feature film, actor (Emma), editor, 90 mins, 2008
- La Meme Nuit, 16mm short film, Romantic Comedy, Thesis Film, director, writer, 18 mins, 2007
- Tango Trois, 16mm short film, Drama, Thesis Film, director, writer, editor, production designer, 7 mins, 2005
- Broken Beat, 16mm short film, Drama, director, 9 mins, 2005
- La Vespa D'Oro, DV Documentary, editor and sound, 6 mins, 2005
- Kill Blondes, DV short film, Drama, director, writer, camera, editor, production designer, actor, 7 mins, 2005
Awards & Festivals:
- Winner InStyle & Audi Woman of Style Schoarship, 2011
- SOYA (Qantas Spirit of Youth Awards), Finalist Film Category, Nov 2008 & 2009
- British Council Realise Your Dreams, Finalist, 2009
- IF Rising Talent Awards, Finalist, 2009
Film: Seamstress
- Palm Springs International Film Festival, 2011
- London-Australia Film Festival, 2011
- Dungog Film Festival, 2011
- St Kilda Film Festival, finalist Best Original Score 2011
- Young At Heart Film Festival, finalist, 2011
- Flickerfest International Film Festival, 2011
- John Jameson Short Film Competition, Winner 2010
Film: LBF
- Sydney Film Festival, 2011
- Revelations Film Festival, 2011
- SXSW Film Festival, 2011
Film: Three Blind Mice
- London Film Festival, 2008, Winner Best Film (International Film Critics Award)
- Thessaloniki Film Festival, 2008
- Toronto Film Festival, 2008
- Sydney Film Festival Competition, 2008, Commended
Film: La Meme Nuit
- Dungog Film Festival, 2009
- 16th Fe San Car Short Film Festival, Santiago, Chile, 2008
- 9th International Du Grain a Demaudre, Normandy, France, 2008
- Show Me Shorts Film Festival, Auckland, New Zealand 2008
- Salento International Film Festival, Italy, 2008
- Shoot Me Film Festival, Netherlands, 2008
- Palm Springs International Short Film Festival, 2007
- St Kilda Film Festival and Touring Festival, Melbourne, 2007
- Flickerfest International Film Festival, Sydney 2007
- Audience Award Best Film, SFS Awards, 2006
Film: Tango Trois
- Japan-Australia Film Festival, Tokyo, Oct 2008
- Dungog Film Festival, May 2008
- Singapore Film Festival, March 2008, shortlisted Best Film
- Show Me Shorts, New Zealand, November 2007
- Cannes Short Film Market, May 2007
- European Independent Film Festival (ECU), Paris, 2007
- Byron Bay Film Festival 2007
- Australian Japan Student Film Festival December 2006, Winner Best Film
- Berlin Short Film Festival Interfilm November 2006
- St Kilda Film Festival June 2006
- Sydney College of the Arts Award Best Thesis Film, SFS Graduation Ceremony, 2005
- IF Award Best Screenplay, SFS Graduation Ceremony, 2005
- Stained Glass Fish Bowl Award, SFS Graduation Ceremony, 2005
- Chairman's Award, Sydney Film School Graduation Ceremony, 2005
Film: Broken Beat
- Spirit on Screen Top Ten Short Film Award, 2005, New Zealand
- Best Cinematography, Best Production, Best Sound Design, Sydney Film School, 2005
Film: Kill Blondes
- HSC 2004 Young Writers Showcase Award (HSC Exam Mark 100%)
Work History
Employment History
- MC - Moet & Chandon Lunch, Audi Race Week, Hamilton Island. August 2011
- Ambassador, Chambord Shine Fashion Awards 2011
- Director/Editor, Francois Champsaur, architecte d'interieur, Paris, Pitch Sizzler, 2011
- Spokesperson, John Jameson Productions, TropFest 2011
- Post Production Assistant, Chaotic Post, 2010
- Director/Editor, Seamstress, short film 2010
- Assistant Editor, Rocket Compulsion, Feature Documentary, Paperbark Films, Aug 09- Oct 10
- Ambassador, Chambord Shine Fashion Awards, July-November 2010
- Assistant Director, Rocket Compulsion, Los Angeles, July 2010
- Celebrity Model, Pussycat Dolls Runway, June 2010
- Cover Model, Barbarella Shoot for STIL Magazine, launch issue Oct 2010
- Ambassador, Royal Randwick Autumn Racing Carnival, April 2010
- Judge, Bondi Short Film Festival
- Actor, Maxine Kauter Music Video, Los Angeles, June 2010
- Camera/Editor, DVD Come To Your Senses, Arts Unit Showcase, May 2010
- Director/Editor/Camera, Music Video, Totally Over You, April 2010
- Guest actor, Sea Patrol, Series 4, Episode 5, screened May 2010
- House Model, Lili, 2009
- Creative Director, Class Movies 2008-9
- Editor, Feature Documentary, Paperbark Films April-Aug 2009
- Editor, The Art of Making Art, DET The Arts Unit, May 2009
- Director, Editor, DET Arts Unit, Chatroom, State Drama Company, video clip, Dec 2008
- Presenter, IF Awards, Nov 2008
- Actor, director, writer, editor Flickerfest Trailer, tvc, 2x30 seconds, Nov 2008
- Director, Editor, DET Arts Unit, Fugee, State Drama Company, archival film & interviews, August 2008
- Stage Management, DET Arts Unit, Festival of Instrumental Music, June 2008
- Editor, Matthew Clarke Media, March, Nov, 2008
- Editor, 2 Dogs Post, July 2008
- Editor, Three Blind Mice, feature film, 2007 - Sydney Film Festival 2008 Official Competition
- Actor, Three Blind Mice, feature film, 2007 - Sydney Film Festival 2008 Official Competition
- Editor, Home Studios Editing, Aug 2007 - Dec 2008
- Promotion, Sydney Film School, Melbourne, February 2007, June 2007
- Bar attendant, The Highlander, Paris, Oct-Dec 2006
- Nanny, five children, Rue de Tournon, Oct-Dec 2006
- Photographic Assistant, Erik Lamy, Paris, Sept 2006
- Producer, camera operator Artist Video Installation, Christian Todie, , Paris, Aug-Sept 2006
- Waitress, River Café, Paris, July-Aug 2006
- Bar attendant, Bar 333, Sydney, Jan-July 2006
- Editor, Home Studios Editing, Feb- June 2006
- Promotions, Allison Exley Promotions, various Jan-July 2006
- Commercial, NRMA, video split operator, 2005
- Music video, Diesel, camera operator, The Vanguard, November 2005
- Photographic Shoot, Amanda Baker, lighting & production assistant, Vaucluse House, November 2005
- Promotional Video, Budgy Smugglers, co-producer, director, editor, Salt N Pepper Prods, Nov 2005
- Short Film, Go Quickly, continuity & assistant editor, SFS, 2005
- Short Film, Mandu, producer, SFS, 2005
- Music video, Squire, production assistant, SFS, 2005
- Music video, Kid Courageous, first asst director, July 2005
- Music video, Modular Lounge, first asst director, 2005
- Work Experience: Bazmark Chanel short film, 2004
- Work Placement: ABC-TV Sydney, October 2003
- Work Experience: Channel 10 Sydney, White Collar Blue, 2002
- Work Experience & Extra: Lord of the Rings, 2001
Sport
Sporting Representation and Awards
- Australian Futsal Youth Women's Soccer Team Tour to Greece, Nov/Dec 2004
- Australian Futsal Under 17 Women's Soccer Team Tour to Canada, Nov/Dec 2002
- NSW Futsal Under 17 Women's Soccer Team Tour to New Zealand, April 2002
- NSW Under 19 Women's Futsal Soccer Team, Gold Coast, January 2006
- NSW Under 18 Women's Futsal Soccer Team, Canberra, Jan 2005
- NSW Under 18 Women's Futsal Soccer Team, Queensland, Sept 2004
- NSW All Schools Softball Team, Melbourne, April 2004
- State High Schools Blue Award, February 2005
- Nomination for Pierre De Coubertin Award, Sportswoman of the Year, August 2004
Travel
- London/Paris/Hong Kong, Dec-Jan 2010/2011
- LA/Austin, Feb-March 2011
- Cannes, London, Paris, LA, Palm Springs, May - July 2011
- Hong Kong, August 2011
- London/Paris/Rome, Oct - Nov 2010
- Los Angeles, Aug 2010
- Cannes/Paris/London/Los Angeles - May-July 2010
- Paris/Los Angeles, Jan-March 2010
- Los Angeles, Jan-April 2009
- Paris Nov 2009
- Thessaloniki Film Festival, Nov 2008
- Kawasaki Japan Film Festival, Oct 2008
- Toronto Film Festival, Sept 2008
- Cannes Film Festival, May 2008
- Palm Springs & Los Angeles, August 2007
- Paris, April 2007 (7 months)
- Berlin - November 2006
- Paris July 2006 - January 2007
- New York, July 2006
- Italy & New York, January 2006
- Greece, France, England, 2004
- New Caledonia, French homestay, September 2003
- Canada and New Zealand, 2002
- Italy, 2001
References
References
- Mr Gregory Read, Paperbark Films Pty Ltd
- Ms Lisa Shaunessy, Chaotic Pictures
- Mr Ben Ferris, Director, Sydney Film School
- Mr Phillip Lewis, Home Studios Editing
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