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 and Cole co-founded Spectrum Films in the early 1980s. 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 Holly Dale was born on December 23, 1953 and 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.
Spectrum Films Dale and Cole decided to develop and operate the Toronto-based independent production company called Spectrum Films in the early 1980s. They registered the name as a partnership but when they tried to incorporate the company in the late 1980s, discovered that the name had already been used for another company. They therefore incorporated it as Spectrum-One Films Inc. Spectrum Films produced independent films of various lengths and genres, including Hookers on Davie; Calling the shots; P4W : prison for women; Blood & donuts; Thin line; The making of Agnes of God; and Dangerous offender. The company won a number of awards, including the 1988 Theatrical Producers Achievement Award and the 1994 Toronto Arts Award. It folded sometime between 2002 and 2026.
Television 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 +YearFilm titleAdditional Roles1975Cream Sodaco-filmmaker with Janis Cole1976Minimum Charge No Cover co-filmmaker with Janis Cole1977Nowhere to Runco-producer, co-editorThe Thin Lineco-filmmaker with Janis Cole1981P4W: Prison for Women co-filmmaker with Janis Cole1984Hookers on Davie co-filmmaker with Janis Cole1985Quiet on the Set co-filmmaker with Janis Cole1988Calling the Shots co-filmmaker with Janis Cole1989Dead Meat1994Historica Minutes: Agnes Macphail1995Blood and Donuts1996Dangerous Offender1999Amazon2006Absolution2007Hush Little Baby +YearTelevision Series TitleEpisode Title1994Side EffectsIn Sickness and in Health1996TradersSharper than a Serpent's Tooth1997Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic ScienceThe AccidentBone of Contention1999List of First Wave episodes Blind WitnessThe HeistNight FallsTwice in a LifetimeO'er the Ramparts We WatchedSecond Service2000The CityMotivationList of First Wave episodes The BelieversRaven NationGulagTwice in a LifetimeBirds of ParadiseFor Love and MoneyThe Sins of our FathersCurveballThe Escape ArtistExposeGrandma's Shoes2001Nero Wolfe"Door to Death""Christmas Party"TrackerTracker ("pilot")2002BlissValentine's Day in JailLeaperJust CauseAbove the LawTrackerDouble DownA Made GuyJeremiahThieves' Honor2003BlissNina's MuseCat got your TongueJust CauseBuried PastLies, Speculation & DeceptionList of Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye episodesDiplomatic ImmunityHe Said She SaidThe Sniper2004The CollectorThe RapperThe PhotographerThe ActuaryThe MediumDocBlindsidedStargate AtlantisHomeList of Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye episodesTo Grandmother's House we GoRocket ManAdventures in Babysitting20051-800-MissingLast NightHave you Seen this Man?The CollectorThe ComicThe MotherList of Sue Thomas: F.B.Eye episodesFraternityBoy Meets WorldTroy Story20061-800-MissingDouble TakeSo Shall ye ReapAngela's EyesBlue-Eyed BluesThe CollectorThe ChefThe V.J.The JunkieKyle XYThe Lies that BindWildfireTaking OffWho are you2007Blood TiesStone ColdWrappedCold CaseThe Good-Bye RoomRunning AroundThick as ThievesBoy CrazyThe Dead ZoneDriftDurham CountyWhat Lies BeneathThe Lady of the LakeDivide and ConquerGuys and Dolls2008Cold Case season 5The RoadRoller GirlBreaking NewsFlashpointWho's George?Attention ShoppersHeroesChapter Eleven 'The Eclipse - Part 2'List of Life episodesCrushedTerminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesSelf Made Man2009Being EricaDr. TomErica, The Vampire Slayer2010The Rabbit HoleTwo Wrongs2011CastleHead CaseLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitDelinquent2012DexterChemistryLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit season 13Child's Welfare2013The AmericansCOMINTAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D."The Bridge"List of Castle episodesSignificant OthersGet a ClueDexterAre we There YetMistressesUltimatumNCISAlibiList of Reign episodesKissed2014Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 15Betrayal's ClimaxAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D."A Hen in the Wolf House"List of Castle episodesThe Greater GoodList of Chicago Fire episodesKeep your Mouth ShutSanta BitesExtantWish You Were HereList of Reign episodesRoyal BloodCorontationUnder the DomeRevelation2015Blue BloodsIn the BoxList of Chicago Fire episodes2112List of Chicago P.D. episodesDisco BobLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit season 16 Granting immunityMistressesThreesomesLove is an Open DoorNCISStatus UpdateReignThree Queens, Two TigersExtreme MeasuresThe WhispersWhatever it Takes2016Chicago MedGuiltyList of Chicago P.D. episodesNow I'm GodThe FamilyFun Ways to tell your Boyfriend You're PregnantGame of SilenceInto the BlackLimitlessHi, my Name is Rebecca HarrisQuanticoRightTimelessStranded2017List of Bull (2016 TV series) episodesTeacher's PetList of Chicago Fire episodesBabies and FoolsChicago MedDeliver UsList of Chicago P.D. episodesFavor, Affection, Malice or Ill-WillLaw & Order: True CrimeEpisode 3Episode 4Mary Kills PeopleBloody MaryThe River StyxWave the White FlagRaised by WolvesThe Judas CradleMorning GloryReignAll it Cost HerList of S.W.A.T. (2017 TV series) episodesMiracleTakenI Surrender2018God Friended MeMatthew 621SEAL Team season 1TakedownTake TwoSmoking GunDeath Becomes HimOne to the HeartTimelessThe Kennedy CurseThe X-FilesFamiliar2019SEAL Team season 2What Appears To BeDirt, Dirt GucciThe CodeMolly MarineBlood & TreasureThe Lunchbox of DestinyThe Shadow of Project AthenaBatwomanWho Are You?A Mad Tea-Party2020Transplant"Pilot""Tell Me Who You Are""Your Secrets Can Kill You"Batwoman season 2Off With Her Head2021What Happened to Kate Kane?Bat Girl Magic!Survived Much WorseArmed and DangerousPowerMad as a HatterAntifreezePick Your Poison2022We Having Fun Yet?2023Will TrentA Bad Temper and a Hard HeartFUBAR"Stole Train""Honeyplot"2024Law & 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"2025Will Trent"Mariachi Shelley's Frankenstein""This Kid's Gonna Be Alright"Sheriff Country"Exit Interview""Glory Days"2026Brilliant Minds"The Invisible Man"Will Trent"The Man From Nowhere""Where'd You Come From, Little Angel?"R.J. Decker"In Vanity Venitas"
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