Meet Katy Dore | Actor/Writer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katy Dore and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katy, how has your background shaped the person you are today?
A small logging town in Northern California called Quincy was my hometown. It was a place and time when parents scooted us out to play and told us to be home by dinner, never knowing whether we were at a friends, down at the swimming hole or wandering through the trails in the woods behind our house. It sounds cliche now (maybe even scary) , in our world of cell phones and GPS tracking, but it was idyllic in many ways. It taught me both independence and the need to accept the help and generosity of others–the ride in the back of the truck from the rancher after my bike broke down, the cookies Mrs. Perotti always had on hand when we needed a snack, and later, the advice from Mrs. Burns about listening to my heart, even if it meant disappointing my parents by not following their plan for me.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I yearned to be a writer, a novelist, since I understood that there was such a career. However, in college I realized what an uncertain financial future was in store if I chose that path. I watched my mom be financially trapped in an unhappy marriage and vowed to be financially independent. I ended up in marketing and graphic design and had a good business for about 25 years before being in a financial position to pursue the dream.

It may sound dramatic, but reaching the age where there are more years behind you than ahead of you, made me want to tell stories that would reach more people. I began learning all I could about screenwriting–taking classes, reading books and writing scripts.

Of course, starting a career in the film and television industry when you’re over 50, female, have absolutely no connections and live three and half hours from LA is foolish–and for me, extremely motivating. I’m not proud of this, it’s definitely not always healthy, but if I’m told “You can’t do this”, my response is usually, “watch me!”

I wrote an incredible TV series about an entrepreneur name Mary Ellen Pleasant in early California. I was pitching to the VP of scripted content at the History Channel and he said, “Let me stop you right there. We don’t do stories about women.” (note: this exec has moved on to another company). It would have been easy to tuck my tail between my legs and shove the script in a drawer. It’s taken some hard work, but now the same project has Quincy Jones Productions, Flavor Unit and Goldmann Pictures attached as producers. I’m hopeful it will be on television screens in the future and will inspire and entertain viewers worldwide.

People talk a great deal about the wisdom that comes from aging. I have to say, the most important piece of wisdom for me has been truly not getting wrapped up in trying to please everyone. I’ve always verbalized the idea “I don’t care what others think about me,” but now I truly embrace it. If something needs to be said in a group setting, I’m much more likely to just say it. There is an impatience at playing the “pleasing” game. I’m far more direct than I used to be. Not unkind (I hope), just more honest. I think this has helped my work both as a writer and director. I appreciate directness in others, too.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
1) Hike in Griffith Park (not telling you where. It’s a secret trail! : ) 2) Some epic thrift store shopping (favorites are actually in the Valley, Reseda Goodwill!)
3) Breakfast at Humble Bee, coffee at Cafe de Sol, milkshake at Fat Sal’s
4) I like small gathering of friends at the outdoor dining patios in LA area (Home in Loz Feliz, The Atrium on Vermont, Hyperion Public)

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Two people come to mind. I started off in the film and television industry later in life and had a lot of catching up to do. The playwright and director, Del Shores, was one of the first people I met. I met him at an audition workshop where he encouraged me to bring myself to the process. He mentor me long after the workshop ended. The second is Russell Boast, a casting director and extraordinarily kind human. He has similarly been a friend and mentor throughout my career. Both these men took the time to extend their talents and wisdom to me. I’m so grateful to them and to the many others who have encouraged, pushed and assisted along the way.

Website: www.katydore.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/katy.dore

Twitter: @tweetkatydore

Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3643886/

Image Credits
Dana Patrick, Gabe Polanski