“People will always listen to a guy over a girl on set about something technical.”
It was supposed to be a quick, five-minute catch-up to cover a couple of questions we didn’t get to cover in our initial interview (with producer Cody Greenwood) for her terrific documentary
But Gracie Otto was in a chatty mood, so into her CV we went to talk about Bump, The Other Guy and her upcoming projects, including Seriously Red, about a Dolly Parton impersonator due next year) and Otto on Otto, a documentary about her remarkable actor/artist father Barry Otto.
She also touches on her issues with sexism in the film industry, a surprising topic one hoped would be a faded memory in 2021.
Under the Volcano is screening at the Sydney Film Festival 3-21 November). For screening and ticket details go here.
Enjoy the unexpected second part to our interview, with Gracie Otto again proving an articulate and open interviewee.
Interview Index
00:00 Under the Volcano: visiting the site of the abandoned studio;
00:30 What it felt like; “It’s all fun and games until a volcano goes off.”
01:45 Amount of material;
02:30 How the film is travelling;
03:00 Directing Bump & The Other Guy;
04:00 Too experienced to do an attachment;
04:10 Landing The Other Guy;
05:20 On-set tricks;
06:10 Bump;
07:00 Criticisms of Bump and The Other Guy;
08:50 Love for Matt Okine;
08:55 Otto On Otto;
10:15 Bikini Girls – “It’s not something that I’m attached to”;
11:45 Seriously Red, about a Dolly Parton impersonators;
12:00 Busy, busy; “I think you ought to ride the wave when the wave’s coming.”;
13:15 Work ethic;
14:18 Why so generous with interviews;
16:10 Reality of being a female director;
17:45 “People will always listen to a guy over a girl on set about something technical”;
18:50 Dressing down on set!;
19:40 Sexism still an issue in 2021;
20:38 Attempt to end the interview;
20:50 Working on The Moth Effect;
21:25 Kate Box;
21:58 Landing the gig;
24:30 Describing the show;
25:50 Mother Susan Hill, creative collaborator;
26:55 Side projects on YouTube; Breakfast With channel;
29:50 Small Town News;
31:55 Coping with Covid; “I really enjoy my own company”.