Dangerous Offender: The Marlene Moore Story, award-winning prime time CBC movie.
Directed by Holly Dale, starring Brooke Johnson, produced by Duncan Lamb.
The true life story follows Marlene Moore as she enters training school in her teens and spends the majority of her life in prison. Behind bars she learns to self-harm as a coping mechanism, and her mental health declines. After twenty-five years behind bars the government succeeds in making her the first woman in Canada to be designated a Dangerous Offender, a legal status reserved for the most violent criminals. It carries an indeterminate prison sentence with no automatic chance of parole, requiring individuals to prove their rehabilitation over time.
- Nominated for seven Gemini awards, including Best Writing and Best Movie or Mini-series.
- Gemini win for Brooke Johnson, Best Actress in a Lead Role and Jayne Eastwood, Best Actress in a Support Role.
- Dangerous Offender on IMDB
- Preview the opening of Dangerous Offender (poor quality, pirate copy)
Night of Rage for Exhibit A: Secrets of Forensic Science, S5.E7, Kensington Productions.
The series dramatizes true crimes that are solved by forensic evidence. Victoria Day fireworks in Toronto mask the sound of three sex workers getting gunned down; a woman, a transvestite and a trans woman. When it’s discovered the bullets from each killing came from the same gun police realize they’re looking for a sinister predator who unleashed a purposeful killing spree on a vulnerable community.
Office Management for Bliss, S2.E6, Back Alley Productions.
The series explores female sexuality and erotica from the perspective of women creators. This episode follows a highly successful businesswoman who has become disillusioned with romance until a hot sexual encounter with a junior employee causes her to risk her position in pursuit of passion.
Heritage Minute: Agnes Macphail, Patrick Watson producer.
Agnes Macphail was the first woman elected as an MP in Canada. She stood up for disadvantaged groups including the unpopular cause of penal reform. Her tireless efforts improved the plight of prisoners in the mid 1930s. She’s remembered as a champion to Canadians, and a hero to incarcerated women and men.
Publications
- Movie reviews by Janis Cole, Contributing Editor and Writer
- About Velcrow Ripper
- About Philip Hoffman
- About Alan Zweig
- About Bonnie Sherr Klein
- About the first Toronto Nuit Blanche
- Cole’s documentary tips
- The MFA Documentary Media Program at Ryerson
- About family murders
- About courtroom films
- About Oscar-winning short, Saving Face
- About sex work
- About sex for sale
- About Babz Chula
- About the organ trade
- About women boxers, Canadian
- About Debra Zimmerman
- About Little Sister’s Bookstore
- About Mike Hoolboom
- About John Walker
- About Aileen Wuornos
- Full version Phil Hoffman
- Full version Velcrow Ripper
- Full version Alan Zweig
- Full version Family Murders
- Full version Courtroom Films
- Montage Magazine, feature article on the Feature Film Fund
- Montage, about Sandra Kybartas, designer
- Montage, about Jane Tattersall, sound editor
- Montage, about Susan Shipton, editor
- Montage, about Matthew Davies, designer
- Sketch, about Sara Diamond OCAD U President
- Sketch, about Nuit Blanche at OCADU
- NOW movie reviews
- NOW, first movie review assignment
- NOW, on the closing of P4W
- Canadian Encyclopedia entries
Story editing, workshops and teaching
Story Concept for Holly Dale’s short drama, Dead Meat, Iain Paterson producer.
Story Consultant for Holly Dale’s feature, Blood & Donuts, Steve Hoban producer.
Story Editor for fifty feature films as mentor of the Screenwriter Mentorship Program, TIFF.
Story Editor for How to Get a Girl Pregnant, Barb Taylor producer.
Taught Concept, Script and Narrative courses for thirty years at OCAD U, Toronto (retired 2020).
Taught Introduction to Film, York University, Department of Film and Video.
Taught a full day Master Class on Hybrid Media Arts at Trinity Square Video, Toronto.
Taught Documentary Film Production, three weeks, two films were completed, Winnipeg Film Co-op.
Taught Documentary Film Production for Women in Film, Atlanta.
Workshop leader, Writing Non-Fiction Stories, Fleming School of the Arts, Haliburton.
Workshop leader, Rewrite Your Screenplay, three sessions for TIFF, Film Reference Library.
Workshop leader, Advanced Screenwriting, three day course at Charles Street Video, Toronto.
Workshop leader, Advanced Documentary, three sessions at LIFT, Toronto.
Calling the Shots: Profiles of Women Filmmakers, by Janis Cole and Holly Dale, Published by Quarry Press, 1993 [ISBN 1550820850]
The book features twenty engaging conversations with some of North America’s most successful women film directors who discuss their vision, ambitions, challenges and triumphs, and share candid thoughts on industry hierarchy, personal sacrifices, feminism, and the power of the film image. The book is a companion tool for the film Calling the Shots. Book and film, used separately or together, make an important contribution to film culture and film theory, women and gender studies, and women’s studies.
On a limited basis Janis is available to read scripts in development and write story breakdowns, summaries and script notes. Contact Janis Cole.