Meet Marjorie DeHey | Filmmaker, Director, Producer, Writer and Attorney

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

Hi Marjorie, what is the most important factor behind your success?

In my journey as a filmmaker, director, producer and attorney, I attribute the success of my work to a combination of passion, creativity, and a relentless pursuit of storytelling excellence. Passion fuels my commitment to each project, driving me to invest the time and energy needed to bring a vision to life.

Creativity is at the core of everything I do. Whether it’s crafting a compelling narrative, capturing visually stunning scenes, or experimenting with innovative storytelling techniques, I believe in pushing the boundaries of creativity to deliver unique and impactful content.

Along with creativity, it is so important to have amazing collaborators. Working closely with talented individuals, from my fellow producers- Paul Overacker, Ryker Overacker and Tony Dillistone, to actors to crew members, has allowed me to harness diverse perspectives and skills, which make better films. I always say that no one can make a movie alone so I am so grateful to have worked with some of the best talent in the industry.

The last thing that I think it so important is resilience. It’s about getting back up after you fail (and we all fail), dusting yourself off and getting back to what you love. There are thousands of “nos” in the entertainment industry so you have to make your own “yeses”.

Ultimately, I attribute any success that I have to working with amazing people, believing in myself and having the unwavering belief in the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and captivate people.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My journey into filmmaking has been a dynamic fusion of my legal and financial background with a lifelong passion for storytelling. I think what sets me apart is that I’m not just creating films; I’m exploring narratives that delve into real-world issues, giving the audience a thoughtful cinematic experience.

My passion has always been horror films and I believe that horror films can be told cinematically with deeply related and flawed characters suddenly having to confront monsters – sometimes real monsters and other times monsters of their own making. When I directed my first feature film “Bottle Monster”, I couldn’t sleep the night before. It was a combination of terror and excitement. You know you are pushing your boundaries when you are doing something that absolutely terrifies you so it was my monster. The film itself deals with real life monster (real whip scorpions were used for the monster) and it also deals with monsters of our own making (the mother’s fight with alcoholism).

Getting to where I am today hasn’t been easy. A life-altering brain tumor led me to start making films in 2017. It was that moment of asking yourself if you’ve really done everything you’ve wanted to do in life. I had the opportunity to think about it in a real way so I’m grateful to have had that time to really think about what I wanted. Often people realize too late that they didn’t get to live their dreams. What has been great, is that I recently wrote and produced my second feature film, “Immortal Thieves – The Bloody Heist”. Making a second feature film has been rewarding, scary (in more ways than one) and well, messy (there was a lot of blood). We have to learn to appreciate the messy parts of our lives as that is how we grow the most.

I don’t think anyone has an easy journey. Everyone who has ever been successful can point to how their failures shaped them to become a better person. I often think of how many people give up right before their big break or how hard we are on ourselves. The best advice I ever got is would you say what you are saying to yourself to your best friend? WE wouldn’t so we have to learn to not be so hard on ourselves.

What I want the world to know about me and my brand is that challenges are not roadblocks; they are opportunities for growth. My story is a testament to the belief that following your passion, no matter where life leads you, can lead to unexpected and fulfilling destinations. I want my films to be experiences that create conversations and connections (with a little blood and gore on the side for fun). With every project, I aim to leave a lasting impact and inspire others to pursue their passions relentlessly (and with a thirst for blood).

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is a fun question because I was speaking with a friend who had friends in town and they wanted to do Griffith Park and Venice Beach in the same day. We were like – slow your roll, we have traffic. I think my ideal day would be to start at this French Bakery I love (La Provence Patisserie & Cafe in Beverly Hills) for espresso and croissants. Then I would head to the hiking trails in Santa Monica where you get the most terrific view of the ocean. Then visit The Getty and then head to the beach. After the beach, I would go to Baja Cantina (the best Mexican around) or Hinano’s (in Venice Beach) for a burger and a beer. If people were here all week, then definitely the Hollywood Sign (Mt. Lee), the Walk of Fame, Universal (the new Super Mario World is awesome) and the Zoo. I’d also try to catch a hockey game if it’s hockey season.

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?
I would like to dedicate my success to my amazing family and partners – Paul Overacker, Ryker Overacker and my sisters Liz, Pam and Tina. They have been so supportive throughout the years and are truly some of the best people in the world.

Website: www.marjoriedehey.com

Instagram: @mediamarjorie1

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marjoriedehey/

Twitter: @mediamarjorie

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marjoriedehey

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqDVNU3mUn0

Image Credits
Color photos; Rodin Eckenroth @rodinphotography Black and White photo – Steve Albanese