Photoplay director, Gracie Otto’s, outstanding flair for visual narrative stars in Heartbreak High 2

Photoplay’s Gracie Otto has achieved another television coup. Heartbreak High Series 2 launches on Netflix on April 11, and once again Otto has been given the honour of taking the reins as lead setup director.

In 2022, she directed episodes 1, 2,7 and 8 of the Netflix smash hit, Heartbreak High, and through that was nominated for the AACTA Award for Best Direction in a Drama or Comedy.

The first season made splashes around the world. It was in the top 10 shows on Netflix internationally for 3 weeks running and reached top 10 in over 43 countries. It won an Emmy. On TikTok the hashtag, #heartbreakhigh, has even amassed over 300 million views. Excitement for Season 2 is running high.

Heartbreak High has been praised around the world for its authentic representation of youth culture and diversity. It follows the trials and tribulations of a tribe of teenage high school students navigating the murky waters of love, sex and heartbreak. Season 2 will continue to follow these troubled teens, with Sam Rechner, who was recently in Steven Spielberg’s biographical feature film, The Fabelmans, joining the class.

According to Netflix’ Season 2 synopsis, “The flies are buzzing, the ibis are raiding the bins, and the sun shines down on our favourite lowest-ranking school in the district — Hartley High. Students stream through the gates and all our heroes are back for a second term — threesomes, chlamydia and burning cars a distant memory — it seems possible that everyone’s done a bit of growing up over the Term 1 holidays…”

Otto also directed episodes 5 and 6 of Disney’s drama series, The Artful Dodger:

…and episodes 3, 4, 5 and 6 of Disney’s psychological thriller, The Clearing, between the two Heartbreak High seasons.

The remarkably versatile director has directed three campaigns for Bonds, the “naked run” Go on Feel commercial for Amaysim, Maybelline New York’s spot with Gigi Hadid, as well as commercials for Myer, Sportsgirl, Seafolly, Tresemme, Westfield and U by Kotex.