Holly Dale

Holly Dale
Born	(1953-12-23) December 23, 1953 (age 71) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Occupation(s)	Director, film editor, film producer, screenwriter
Years active	1976–present

Holly Dale (born December 23, 1953) is a Canadian filmmaker and television director. ^{[1] [2]} Over the course of her career, Dale has worked in the Canadian film and television industry as a director, producer, writer, and editor. ^{[3] [4]} Although she has completed solo projects, the majority of Dale's work has been in collaboration with her former classmate, Janis Cole. ^{[1] [4]} The Thin Line (1977), P4W: Prison for Women (1981), and Hookers on Davie (1984) are some of their most recognized projects. Dale's work has been featured in festivals around the world including North America, Europe, and Australia. ^[1] She has also received award nominations and wins, including a Gemini Award in 1982 for the Best Theatrical Documentary for P4W: Prison for Women. ^{[1] [3]}

Early life and education

Dale was raised in a low-income household in Toronto, Ontario. However, she decided to leave home as a teenager due to ongoing family conflict. During this time, she worked in non-therapeutic massage parlors in downtown Toronto. ^{[1] [3]} In the mid-1970s, Dale was accepted into the film studies program at Sheridan College in Oakville, Ontario. Here, she met Janis Cole, who she would continue to work with for the next 20 years. ^{[1] [3]}

Career

Early career

Often working with a low budget, Dale began her film career as an independent documentary maker. Sharing the responsibilities of writing, directing, producing, and editing with Cole, the two women focused on showcasing social inequalities and hardships experienced by marginalized groups. Their choice to question and challenge class-based oppression and gender norms in their work prompted their reputation as feminist filmmakers. ^[1]

Short and feature films

As students, Dale and Cole completed their first short film, Cream Soda, in 1976. This documentary revealed the demands on women employed in Toronto-based body-rub parlors. Meanwhile, their next film, Minimum Charge No Cover (1976), explored the lived experience of homosexuals, drag queens, sex workers, and substance users. ^{[1] [3]}

Their following short, The Thin Line (1977), documented the day to day lives of people who were deemed criminally insane and institutionalized in a maximum-security prison. While shooting this film, Dale and Cole admit they sought to emphasize the prisoners' humanity to provoke a sense of commonality with the audience, as opposed to solely focusing on their misconduct. ^[1]

The content from this film motivated Dale and Cole's first feature documentary, P4W: Prison for Women (1981). ^[3] After four years of communicating with officials, Dale and Cole were granted permission to film inside an all-woman prison outside of Kingston, Ontario, Canada. This marked the beginning of the documentary P4W: Prison for Women (1981). As co-directors and co-producers, Dale and Cole focused on the relationships between inmates as well as the prisoners' willingness to live despite ongoing challenges. ^[1] This film was well received by critics and the public alike, winning several awards at film festivals and a Genie Award in 1982. ^{[3] [4]}

Later career

Later in their careers, Dale and Cole decided to develop and operate the Toronto-based independent production company called Spectrum Films. ^[5]

In addition to her career in film, Dale has directed and produced episodes of different Canadian television series, including Bliss, Sue Thomas: F.B. Eye, Just Cause, Twice in a Lifetime, Durham County, Cold Case, and Being Erica. ^[3] She has also directed two episodes of NCIS: Season 11's "Alibi" and Season 12's "Status Update". ^[6]

Filmography

Director

Year	Film title	Additional Roles
1975	Cream Soda	co-filmmaker with Janis Cole
1976	Minimum Charge No Cover	co-filmmaker with Janis Cole
1977	Nowhere to Run	co-producer, co-editor
	The Thin Line	co-filmmaker with Janis Cole
1981	P4W: Prison for Women	co-filmmaker with Janis Cole
1984	Hookers on Davie	co-filmmaker with Janis Cole
1985	Quiet on Set	co-filmmaker with Janis Cole
1988	Calling the Shots	co-filmmaker with Janis Cole
1989	Dead Meat
1994	Historica Minutes: Agnes Macphail
1995	Blood and Donuts
1996	Dangerous Offender
1999	Amazon
2006	Absolution
2007	Hush Little Baby

Year	Television Series Title	Episode Title
1994	Side Effects	"In Sickness and in Health"
1996	Traders	"Sharper than a Serpent's Tooth"
1997	Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science	"The Accident" "Bone of Contention"
1999	First Wave	"Blind Witness" "The Heist" "Night Falls"
	Twice in a Lifetime	"O'er the Ramparts We Watched" "Second Service"
2000	The City	"Motivation"
	First Wave	"The Believers" "Raven Nation" "Gulag"
	Twice in a Lifetime	"Birds of Paradise" "For Love and Money" "The Sins of our Fathers" "Curveball" "The Escape Artist" "Expose" "Grandma's Shoes"
2001	Nero Wolfe	"Door to Death" "Christmas Party"
	Tracker	Tracker ("pilot")
2002	Bliss	"Valentine's Day in Jail" "Leaper"
	Just Cause	"Above the Law"
	Tracker	"Double Down" "A Made Guy"
	Jeremiah	"Thieves' Honor"
2003	Bliss	"Nina's Muse" "Cat Got Your Tongue"
	Just Cause	"Buried Past" "Lies, Speculation & Deception"
	Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye	"Diplomatic Immunity" "He Said She Said" "The Sniper"
2004	The Collector	"The Rapper" "The Photographer" "The Actuary" "The Medium"
	Doc	"Blindsided"
	Stargate Atlantis	"Home"
	Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye	"To Grandmother's House we Go" "Rocket Man" "Adventures in Babysitting"
2005	1-800-Missing	"Last Night" "Have You Seen This Man?"
	The Collector	"The Comic" "The Mother"
	Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye	"Fraternity" "Boy Meets World" "Troy Story"
2006	1-800-Missing	"Double Take" "So Shall Ye Reap"
	Angela's Eyes	"Blue-Eyed Blues"
	The Collector	"The Chef" "The V.J." "The Junkie"
	Kyle XY	"The Lies that Bind"
	Wildfire	"Taking Off" "Who Are You?"
2007	Blood Ties	"Stone Cold" "Wrapped"
	Cold Case	"The Good-Bye Room" "Running Around" "Thick as Thieves" "Boy Crazy"
	The Dead Zone	"Drift"
	Durham County	"What Lies Beneath" "The Lady of the Lake" "Divide and Conquer" "Guys and Dolls"
2008	Cold Case	"The Road" "Roller Girl" "Breaking News"
	Flashpoint	"Who's George?" "Attention Shoppers"
	Heroes	"Chapter Eleven 'The Eclipse - Part 2'"
	Life	"Crushed"
	Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles	"Self Made Man"
2009	Being Erica	"Dr. Tom" "Erica, the Vampire Slayer"
2010		"The Rabbit Hole" "Two Wrongs"
2011	Castle	"Head Case"
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	"Delinquent"
2012	Dexter	"Chemistry"
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	"Child's Welfare"
2013	The Americans	"COMINT"
	Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.	"The Bridge"
	Castle	"Significant Others" "Get a Clue"
	Dexter	"Are We There Yet?"
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	"Betrayal's Climax"
	Mistresses	"Ultimatum"
	NCIS	"Alibi"
	Reign	"Kissed"
2014	Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.	"A Hen in the Wolf House"
	Castle	"The Greater Good"
	Chicago Fire	"Keep Your Mouth Shut" "Santa Bites"
	Extant	"Wish You Were Here"
	Reign	"Royal Blood" "Coronation"
	Under the Dome	"Revelation"
2015	Blue Bloods	"In the Box"
	Chicago Fire	"2112"
	Chicago P.D.	"Disco Bob"
	Law & Order: Special Victims Unit	"Granting Immunity"
	Mistresses	"Threesomes" "Love Is an Open Door"
	NCIS	"Status Update"
	Reign	"Three Queens, Two Tigers" "Extreme Measures"
	The Whispers	"Whatever It Takes"
2016	Chicago Med	"Guilty"
	Chicago P.D.	"Now I'm God"
	The Family	"Fun Ways to Tell Your Boyfriend You're Pregnant"
	Game of Silence	"Into the Black"
	Limitless	"Hi, My Name Is Rebecca Harris"
	Quantico	"Right"
	Timeless	"Stranded"
2017	Bull	"Teacher's Pet"
	Chicago Fire	"Babies and Fools"
	Chicago Med	"Deliver Us"
	Chicago P.D.	"Favor, Affection, Malice or Ill-Will"
	Law & Order: True Crime	Episode 3 Episode 4
	Mary Kills People	"Bloody Mary" "The River Styx" "Wave the White Flag" "Raised by Wolves" "The Judas Cradle" "Morning Glory"
	Reign	"All It Cost Her"
	S.W.A.T.	"Miracle"
	Taken	"I Surrender"
2018	God Friended Me	"Matthew 6:21"
	SEAL Team	"Takedown"
	Take Two	"Smoking Gun" "Death Becomes Him" "One to the Heart"
	Timeless	"The Kennedy Curse"
	The X-Files	"Familiar"
2019	SEAL Team	"What Appears To Be" "Dirt, Dirt Gucci"
	The Code	"Molly Marine"
	Blood & Treasure	"The Lunchbox of Destiny" "The Shadow of Project Athena"
	Batwoman	"Who Are You?"
		"A Mad Tea-Party"
2020	Transplant	"Pilot"
		"Tell Me Who You Are"
		"Your Secrets Can Kill You"
	Batwoman	"Off With Her Head"
2021		"What Happened to Kate Kane?"
		"Bat Girl Magic!"
		"Survived Much Worse"
		"Armed and Dangerous"
		"Power"
		"Mad as a Hatter"
		"Antifreeze"
		"Pick Your Poison"
2022		"We Having Fun Yet?"
2023	Will Trent	"A Bad Temper and a Hard Heart"
	FUBAR	"Stole Train"
		"Honeyplot"
2024	Law & Order: Organized Crime	"The Key to the Castle"
		"The Real Eve"
		"Three Points"
	Will Trent	"Capt. Duke Wagner's Daughter"
	The Irrational	"The Wrong Side of Maybe"
2025	Will Trent	"Mariachi Shelley's Frankenstein"
	Sheriff Country	"Exit Interview"

Producer

• Thin Line (co-produced with Janis Cole) (1977)
• Starship Invasions (1977; assistant producer)
• Plague (1978)
• P4W: Prison for Women (co-produced with Janis Cole) (1981)
• Hookers on Davie (co-produced with Janis Cole) (1984)
• Calling the Shots (co-produced with Janis Cole) (1988)

Awards and nominations

Year	Name of the Award	Awarding Institution	Name of Film or Television Series	Status
1981	Gold Hugo: Best Documentary	Chicago International Film Festival	P4W: Prison for Women	Nominated
1982	Genie Award: Best Theatrical Documentary	Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television	P4W: Prison for Women	Won
1982	Red Ribbon Award	The American Film Festival	P4W: Prison for Women	Won
1982	Grand Prize: the Best Human Condition	York Film and Video Festival	P4W: Prison for Women	Won
1982	Grand Prize: the Best Cinematography	York Film and Video Festival	P4W: Prison for Women	Won
1984	Theatrical Producers Achievement Award	Canadian Film and Television Association		Nominated
1984	Gold Plaque: Best Documentary	Chicago International Film Festival	Hookers on Davie	Won
1985	Genie Award: Best Theatrical Documentary	Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television	Hookers on Davie	Nominated
1988	Lillian Gish Award	Los Angeles Women in Film Festival	Calling the Shots	Won
1989	Genie Award: Best Feature Length Documentary	Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television	Calling the Shots	Nominated
1994	Toronto Arts Award in Media			Won
1998	Gemini Award: Best Direction in a Dramatic Program or Miniseries	Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television	Dangerous Offender: The Marlene Moore Story	Nominated
2002	DGC Craft Award: Outstanding Achievement in Direction	Directors Guild of Canada	A Nero Wolfe Mystery, "Christmas Party"	Nominated
2003	DGC Craft Award: Outstanding Achievement in Direction	Directors Guild of Canada	Just Cause, "Buried Past"	Won
2003	Gemini Award: Best Direction in Dramatic Series	Academy of Canadian Film and Television	Bliss	Nominated
2008	Gemini Award: Best Direction in Dramatic Series	Academy of Canadian Film and Television	Durham County, "What Lies Beneath"	Won
2008	DGC Team Award: Television Series - Drama	Academy of Canadian Film and Television	Durham County, "What Lies Beneath"	Nominated
2008	DGC Craft Award: Direction - Television Series	Academy of Canadian Film and Television	Durham County, "What Lies Beneath"	Won
2009	DGC Craft Award: Outstanding Achievement in Direction	Directors Guild of Canada	Flashpoint, "Attention Shoppers"	Won
2010	DGC Craft Award: Outstanding Achievement in Direction	Directors Guild of Canada	Flashpoint, "Perfect Storm"	Nominated
2013	DGC Craft Award: Outstanding Achievement in Direction	Directors Guild of Canada	The Firm, "Chapter Eighteen".	Nominated
2017	DGC Team Award: Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television and Mini-Series	Directors Guild of Canada	Mary Kills People, "The River Styx"	Won
2018	Best Drama Series	Canadian Screen Awards	Mary Kills People	Nominated
2018	Best Direction, Drama Series	Canadian Screen Awards	Mary Kills People, "The River Styx"	Won
2020	Outstanding Directorial Achievement	Directors Guild of Canada	Transplant, "Pilot"	Won
2021	Best Direction, Drama Series	Canadian Screen Awards	Transplant, "Pilot"	Won

See also

• List of female film and television directors
• List of lesbian filmmakers
• List of LGBT-related films directed by women

References

1. Felando, Cynthia (1999). "Cole, Janis and Holly Dale". St. James Women Filmmakers Encyclopedia. Canton, MI: Visible Ink Press. pp. 92–94.
2. Townsend, Paul (2000). "A Cinematic Map of Ontario A to Z listing of Ontario Actors, Producers and Filmmakers". Take 1. 28: 48 – via International Federation of Film Archives' International Index to Film Periodicals.
3. Wise, Wyndham (October 24, 2011). "Holly Dale | The Canadian Encyclopedia". www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca. Retrieved 2018-09-27.
4. Armatage, Kay (1991). "A Brief History of Women Filmmakers in Canada". Changing the Focus: The Future for Women in the Canadian Film and Television Industry. Toronto, ON: Toronto Women in Film and Television. p. 138.
5. "History: Janis Cole & Holly Dale-- Filmmakers". Spectrum Films. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
6. "Holly Dale Biography". Film Reference. Retrieved October 17, 2018.

Further reading

• Hays, Matthew (2007). "Janis Cole and Holly Dale: Out From the Margins". The View From Here: Conversations with Gay and Lesbian Filmmakers. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: Arsenal Pulp Press. pp. 55–65. ISBN   978-0739483961.

External links

• Official website
• Holly Dale at IMDb
• Spectrum Films website
• Holly Dale ^{[ permanent dead link ]} at Canadian Filmmakers Distribution Centre
• Holly Dale at Film Reference
• Holly Dale at Queer Media Database Canada-Québec