Rising Of a New DAWN By LOLA JONES
In the new movie Dooley Does Murder, Dawn Storey has found a part that she was created to play. In a weird way, she has transformed ten times ten with her portrayal of the title character, Dooley. A Compton- born actor spent a long time running away from what she loved most, the camera, storytelling, and budding fame. Initially diving into auditioning Dawn had to deal with the very real life of rejections, close calls, and almost in Hollywood- but almost doesn’t count.
In 2020 Dawn released’ LiME’ a short film about a young queer man named Deshawn who is assaulted in an alleyway in Compton. The film screened with fourteen different festivals, winning at the San Francisco Black Film Festival, and ending its successful run at the OUTFEST Fusion Film Festival in Los Angeles in March 2020. The film can be watched via Dekkoo, SVTV, Amazon Prime, and several other streaming services. Success was surely met, given the film was an independent short, and 2020 was surely set to be a successful year then we all met something called Covid-19 and everything stopped. Taking a universe-imposed break Dawn had time to focus on what was coming next, and what this break birthed was her short new film ‘Dooley Does Murder!’. DDM for short is a total departure from the light autobiographical short LiME with its approach to self-obsession, self-actualization, and horror. Dooley Does Murder is set to release on April 19, 2023, via AMAZON PRIME, VIM, DEKKO, AND SVTV Streaming.
Lola X: Hi, Dawn.
Dawn Storey: Hey, nice to meet you.
Lola: Well, thank you for taking a few minutes to speak with us! We know you’re busy.
Storey: It’s been a gradual and slow, but very fruitful and intentional time. I hope what you’re speaking to me aligns with what the universe has planned for me.
Lola:We all had to take a big break from filmmaking. Did that time result in being in isolation and really doing that soul-searching and healing?
Storey: For me, sure. I mean, I spent a lot of time with my puppy, family, and myself. I truly left that time a new person, I see art differently, and the stories I choose to tell and want to tell are different. Sadly, it was a time I think changed many, and not so much for the best. Thank GOD I feel like I wasn’t one of them.
Lola: Right! Same here! Do you think Dooley is a result of your time in the lockdown?
Storey: I guess you can say that. I wrote it before the pandemic, kind of rewrote it and worked on it during the lockdown, and eventually filmed it during or right at the end of the lockdown. We’re still in a pandemic, let’s not forget, but we played it safe as hell. I’m so proud of that.
Lola: Did you? How did you move during the pandemic in terms of staying safe on set?
Storey: We had a covid officer. Kevin was amazing, he was also my 1st AD. He kept me on my toes, a total lifesaver.
Lola: well, I have to say that I loved the movie. I would love to see more of Dooley, and his world. I’m really intrigued by The Guru. Can you tell me a bit more about how you came up with this world?
Storey: The original script was set in San Francisco, and I was really excited about working in the Castro district and examining self-idolization and obsession via the internet. We live in a world where everyone is someone and everyone is famous or wants to be super important. We are also surrounded by this oddunlicensed self-help shit and so many people replace therapy with someone who can help them with it. What happens to a person who falls deep into delusions of grandeur? What happens when psychopaths fall into that ‘be the best you’ idea?
Lola: I love that! The film touches on that very well, but on the surface, it’s a raunchy, bloody rollercoaster.
Storey:Aww, thanks!!!
Lola: Can you talk about wearing multiple hats, and why you chose to portray Dooley instead of casting someone else?
Storey:Thank you again! Seriously. I decided to play Dooley because I could. Why not? Is that not what we’re doing here? We get to dress up and play pretend. It’s a lot of fun, and while I found myself humbled on this set, I wouldn’t change anything about the challenges and lessons learned on the set and in pre-production and post. Felt right at home.
You can catch Dawn Storey in Dooley Does Murder! As Dooley Does Murder on April 19, 2023, exclusively on SVTV and AMAZON PRIME.
