About me

My career in production began at the age of 18 when, whilst studying French and Genetics at University, I found a job running on the set of TV commercials in my home town of Melbourne.

A 3-week trip to London turned into 4 years, and in that time I worked my way up the ranks in advertising production at companies such as Tomboy Films and Partizan. A 4-year stint in New York followed, where I produced for Oscar Nominated director Bennett Miller at Hungryman, before joining David Droga as employee number 4 at Droga5.

After 8 years away from Australia, I returned home, producing at award winning companies Plaza Films and Exit, before founding my own Production Company The OTTO Empire in 2009.

Throughout my career I've had opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the industry around the world, and it was important for me to bring that experience back to Australia.

Now at the helm of not only The OTTO Empire, but also content company Dougal, and OTTO VR, my passion is storytelling, the people, the idea, communicating that idea and the craft of filmmaking.

Jo's achievements

Site Achievements

3 Featured

Creativepool Annual

Listing of award wins in Creativepool's awards

Annual 2018

Top 100 Creative Leaders

Judging

Jo De Fina has sat on the Creativepool Annual jury.

Annual 2021 Judge Production

Featured work

Work picked by the Creativepool editors for the homepage.

The Australian Don's

31 May 2018

Pep Talk

19 February 2018

Bud Knight

15 February 2018

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