# Holly Dale

Holly Dale (born December 23, 1953) is a Canadian filmmaker and television director. Over the course of her career, Dale has worked in the Canadian film and television industry as a director, producer, writer, and editor. Although she has completed solo projects, the majority of Dale's work has been in collaboration with her former classmate, Janis Cole. 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. She has also received award nominations and wins, including a Gemini Award in 1982 for the Best Theatrical Documentary for P4W: Prison for Women.

## 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. 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.

## 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.

### 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.
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.
The content from this film motivated Dale and Cole's first feature documentary, P4W: Prison for Women (1981). 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. This film was well received by critics and the public alike, winning several awards at film festivals and a Genie Award in 1982.

### Later career

Later in their careers, Dale and Cole decided to develop and operate the Toronto-based independent production company called Spectrum Films.
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. She has also directed two episodes of NCIS: Season 11's "Alibi" and Season 12's "Status Update".

## 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 |
| 1977 | 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 |
| 1999 | Twice in a Lifetime | O'er the Ramparts We Watched Second Service |
| 2000 | The City | Motivation |
| 2000 | First Wave | The Believers Raven Nation Gulag |
| 2000 | 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 | A Nero Wolfe Mystery | Door to Death Christmas Party |
| 2001 | Tracker | Tracker ("pilot") |
| 2002 | Bliss | Valentine's Day in Jail Leaper |
| 2002 | Just Cause | Above the Law |
| 2002 | Tracker | Double Down A Made Guy |
| 2002 | Jeremiah | Thieves' Honor |
| 2003 | Bliss | Nina's Muse Cat got your Tongue |
| 2003 | Just Cause | Buried Past Lies, Speculation & Deception |
| 2003 | Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye | Diplomatic Immunity He Said She Said The Sniper |
| 2004 | The Collector | The Rapper The Photographer The Actuary The Medium |
| 2004 | Doc | Blindsided |
| 2004 | Stargate Atlantis | Home |
| 2004 | 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? |
| 2005 | The Collector | The Comic The Mother |
| 2005 | Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye | Fraternity Boy Meets World Troy Story |
| 2006 | 1-800-Missing | Double Take So Shall ye Reap |
| 2006 | Angela's Eyes | Blue-Eyed Blues |
| 2006 | The Collector | The Chef The V.J. The Junkie |
| 2006 | Kyle XY | The Lies that Bind |
| 2006 | Wildfire | Taking Off Who are you |
| 2007 | Blood Ties | Stone Cold Wrapped |
| 2007 | Cold Case | The Good-Bye Room Running Around Thick as Thieves Boy Crazy |
| 2007 | The Dead Zone | Drift |
| 2007 | 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 |
| 2008 | Flashpoint | Who's George? Attention Shoppers |
| 2008 | Heroes | Chapter Eleven 'The Eclipse - Part 2' |
| 2008 | Life | Crushed |
| 2008 | Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles | Self Made Man |
| 2009 | Being Erica | Dr. Tom Erica, The Vampire Slayer |
| 2010 | Being Erica | The Rabbit Hole Two Wrongs |
| 2011 | Castle | Head Case |
| 2011 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Delinquent |
| 2012 | Dexter | Chemistry |
| 2012 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Child's Welfare |
| 2013 | The Americans | COMINT |
| 2013 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | "The Bridge" |
| 2013 | Castle | Significant Others Get a Clue |
| 2013 | Dexter | Are we There Yet |
| 2013 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Betrayal's Climax |
| 2013 | Mistresses | Ultimatum |
| 2013 | NCIS | Alibi |
| 2013 | Reign | Kissed |
| 2014 | Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. | "A Hen in the Wolf House" |
| 2014 | Castle | The Greater Good |
| 2014 | Chicago Fire | Keep your Mouth Shut Santa Bites |
| 2014 | Extant | Wish You Were Here |
| 2014 | Reign | Royal Blood Corontation |
| 2014 | Under the Dome | Revelation |
| 2015 | Blue Bloods | In the Box |
| 2015 | Chicago Fire | 2112 |
| 2015 | Chicago P.D. | Disco Bob |
| 2015 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Granting immunity |
| 2015 | Mistresses | Threesomes Love is an Open Door |
| 2015 | NCIS | Status Update |
| 2015 | Reign | Three Queens, Two Tigers Extreme Measures |
| 2015 | The Whispers | Whatever it Takes |
| 2016 | Chicago Med | Guilty |
| 2016 | Chicago P.D. | Now I'm God |
| 2016 | The Family | Fun Ways to tell your Boyfriend You're Pregnant |
| 2016 | Game of Silence | Into the Black |
| 2016 | Limitless | Hi, my Name is Rebecca Harris |
| 2016 | Quantico | Right |
| 2016 | Timeless | Stranded |
| 2017 | Bull | Teacher's Pet |
| 2017 | Chicago Fire | Babies and Fools |
| 2017 | Chicago Med | Deliver Us |
| 2017 | Chicago P.D. | Favor, Affection, Malice or Ill-Will |
| 2017 | Law & Order: True Crime | Episode 3 Episode 4 |
| 2017 | Mary Kills People | Bloody Mary The River Styx Wave the White Flag Raised by Wolves The Judas Cradle Morning Glory |
| 2017 | Reign | All it Cost Her |
| 2017 | S.W.A.T. | Miracle |
| 2017 | Taken | I Surrender |
| 2018 | God Friended Me | Matthew 621 |
| 2018 | SEAL Team | Takedown |
| 2018 | Take Two | Smoking Gun Death Becomes Him One to the Heart |
| 2018 | Timeless | The Kennedy Curse |
| 2018 | The X-Files | Familiar |
| 2019 | SEAL Team | What Appears To Be Dirt, Dirt Gucci |
| 2019 | The Code | Molly Marine |
| 2019 | Blood & Treasure | The Lunchbox of Destiny The Shadow of Project Athena |
| 2019 | Batwoman | Who Are You? |
| 2019 | Batwoman | A Mad Tea-Party |
| 2020 | Transplant | "Pilot" |
| 2020 | Transplant | "Tell Me Who You Are" |
| 2020 | Transplant | "Your Secrets Can Kill You" |
| 2020 | Batwoman | Off With Her Head |
| 2021 | Batwoman | What Happened to Kate Kane? |
| 2021 | Batwoman | Bat Girl Magic! |
| 2021 | Batwoman | Survived Much Worse |
| 2021 | Batwoman | Armed and Dangerous |
| 2021 | Batwoman | Power |
| 2021 | Batwoman | Mad as a Hatter |
| 2021 | Batwoman | Antifreeze |
| 2021 | Batwoman | Pick Your Poison |
| 2022 | Batwoman | We Having Fun Yet? |
| 2023 | Will Trent | A Bad Temper and a Hard Heart |
| 2023 | FUBAR | "Stole Train" |
| 2023 | FUBAR | "Honeyplot" |
| 2024 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | "The Key to the Castle" |
| 2024 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | "The Real Eve" |
| 2024 | Law & Order: Organized Crime | "Three Points" |
| 2024 | Will Trent | "Capt. Duke Wagner's Daughter" |
| 2024 | The Irrational | "The Wrong Side of Maybe" |
| 2025 | Will Trent | "Mariachi Shelley's Frankenstein" |

### 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 |