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IFTN talks to Guiding Lights participant and ‘Little Doll’ director Kate Dolan
2016-07-26 12:00 : Katie McNeice
Young actress Sophie Power leads the cast of 'Little Doll'
The young Dubliner is represented by Jumper Productions, having graduated from IADT with an Honours Degree in Film & Television Production in 2012.

Dolan’s short film ‘Little Doll’ will screen this weekend as part of the GAZE International LGBT Film Festival. She talks us through her path to Guiding Lights, early success and her perspective on LGBT content in film in Ireland.

IFTN: Can you give us a little background information about yourself and how you got into filmmaking?

Kate: "I always wanted to make films, ever since I was very young. I bought my first camera when I was 11 with my confirmation money. When I finished secondary school went straight to the National Film School in IADT. While there, I focused on Drama Directing and minored in editing. Since graduating I have worked in advertising quite a bit, first working in Dublin ad agency Cawley Nea / TBWA. In the past year I have started working as a freelance commercials director, repped by Jumper Productions here in Dublin. It’s great being freelance because I get to work on my own creative work in my spare time."

IFTN: How did you become part of Guiding Lights, and what does the opportunity mean to you?

Kate: "I first heard about Guiding Lights just after I had just graduated. Someone recommended that I apply. At that time I had only really made my graduate short film, ‘Breathe In’, however. This year after my 2nd short ‘Little Doll’ premiered at Berlinale in February I thought it was the right time for me to apply. Also, this year the IFB had teamed with Lighthouse to send one Irish Female Writer and one Irish Female Director to Guiding Lights, so I felt like that was a sign to definitely go for it.

It is such great and unique opportunity. Firstly, the fact that you are mentored by a seasoned industry professional is amazing, but you are also entering a network of really creative and ambitious peers. This kind of networking is truly invaluable in our industry. Also the Guiding Lights team are extremely supportive and encouraging which is really valued by a young filmmaker like myself.

IFTN: What do you hope audiences at the GAZE Film Festival will take away from ‘Little Doll’?

Kate:As a filmmaker I feel like you should be using your skills to better peoples’ lives in some way, rather than just making content for the sake of it. Growing up gay I had a hard time accepting myself, and I felt extremely isolated and scared from 8 years of age. I wanted to make a film that showed that young people could be dealing with emotions they can’t comprehend from a very early age and hopefully start a conversation about how to address this.

‘Little Doll’ has been shown to a lot of young audiences, which is what I wanted for the film. I want parents and kids to see this film and have conversations that could save LGBT youth a lot of hardship down the line. I hope the film gets people talking at GAZE and that young LGBT people get some solace from seeing it."

IFTN: How do you feel about LGBT visibility in Irish film, in general?

Kate: "LGBT representation in Irish film hasn’t been great. There have been some films that have touched on LGBT issues but none that I can remember that have any lead LGBT characters. The content I was watching as a teenager was coming from the UK or the US. There was no Irish content that I could watch as a teen and see what I was feeling.

I think now it’s getting better. There are a lot of great Irish LGBT filmmakers making shorts and writing. For example, Mark O’Halloran with ‘Viva’, which is also showing at GAZE. I do feel however, as though LGBT stories can have a tough time getting funding here in Ireland, as I think they are seen to only have a niche audience. That’s true in some ways, but I think we need to stop seeing LGBT stories as only for LGBT people.

In the end they are human stories that have as much worth as any other narrative. My pet peeve is when people start saying that nowadays media is over-saturated with LGBT content and they complain of it being “rubbed in their faces”. This is really funny to me as growing up every film, book, TV show, song, poem, was made up of a heteronormative boy-girl narratives, so I think it’s time we had something a little different on the table."

IFTN: Do you have any other projects we can look out for in the coming months?

Kate: "I have been writing a few other shorts this year so hopefully I will be shooting one of them before the end of the year. I also have been working on a feature project, which I hope to develop over the next few months."

IFTN: Lastly, what advice would you give to young filmmakers reading IFTN on how to kick start their careers?

Kate: "Be persistent. Our short Little Doll was turned down for funding about 6 times, then myself and producer Claire decided we would fund it ourselves using a crowd funding campaign on IndieGoGo. We made it with a fairly small amount of money, calling in a lot of favours from friends and family.

It was hard work but we got it done. You have to really believe that whatever you’re doing needs to be made, and you can’t really take no as an answer sometimes. However, do listen, be respectful, and you can learn a lot from fellow filmmakers."

Dolan’s short ‘Little Doll’ will screen at the GAZE film festival Sunday the 31st of July at 6:30pm at the Lighthouse Cinema, as part of the Irish Shorts Programme.

Visit www.gaze.ie for further information on tickets and the festival schedule.





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