We were lucky to catch up with Carol Dorn recently and have shared our conversation below.

Carol, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you?

I am thinking career-wise the kindest thing was when Campbell Scott let me shadow him on a film he directed. It was early Fall, right after I was at Williamstown Theatre festival as an actress. Unfortunately they found out I knew tech, so by a third of the way through the season I barely made any acting classes. But my ego was bolstered because I was “in demand” as a board op and many other positions like scenic painter etc. Campbell had been there that season as well. SO when he saw me doing wardrobe supervision on this film that he was directing he said hi and “…why are you doing this? What do you really want to do?” And I said “I really want to direct.” So he said, “Ok, every day, after you finish your wardrobe set up, come find me and shadow me every day.” And I did and it was like having a private master class.

Carol, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m the youngest of 3 daughters to a Lutheran Pastor and a school teacher, both of whom sang professionally and recorded 2 albums with the St Louis Symphony. And they also acted. My whole family was cast in a production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC and it was so well received that we actually performed it at many venues. This sounds impressive until I tell you that this began in a town of 250 people and then the audiences grew to about 1000. That was the hook. I still was in a family that was focused on classical music so I learned cello while my oldest sister became a respected violinist and my middle sister learned viola but later became known as a classical singer. When I was a sophomore in high school I got a scholarship from the Princeton Foundation for cello and went to Wykeham Rise School for the Arts. While I was there the theatre bug pulled me away from my cello so thats when I made the full commitment to the craft. After that I went to Western Connecticut State University – which is in the top 10 universities for musical theatre. After university I was mentored by the late, Lola Schumlin, stage manager to Bob Fossi, and then by Anne Reinking. It was through there urging that I auditioned for and got in to Williamstown Theatre Festival. (For those that don’t know it is incredibly difficult to get into this program.) My acting mates were Brooke Smith, Peter Dinklage, Amy Redford, and several other notable talent of today. My time at Williamstown literally made me who I am today. My writing blew up there like it never had at university. I was around so much great talent – legends who shared their wisdom and experience both on stage and backstage. This is the thing that is so important about studying the arts. When you have a good teacher they are passing on what there good teacher taught them and adding their knowledge making your gifts that much richer. And it is evident in the great works we see.

I think because of the unusual childhood I had and the odd experiences I went through in life having theatre as a way to express those – or to use them as tools when writing or directing – I am able to bring something so different and yet relatable to what I write and whomever I direct. And certainly the background in music with my family adds a whole other dimension even when it isn’t a musical piece.

I have written, directed and produced three short films in a span of 18 months with practically no money and yet have won 22 awards and counting. I did the lighting, sound and editing myself. Not because I wanted to but because I couldn’t afford the professionals. And in that mix of 22 awards I won for cinematography! So this is (so far) what I’m most proud of…also because during that time I did it while living out of my car.

It’s not easy to share that information but far more people are being thrown into this situation than we know. And I was not about to let my circumstances prevent me from fulfilling that. I think having both my parents die in my arms 5 months apart sort of blew the doors off any cautionary feelings I had about going for it.

The one thing every one knows about me is that I work very hard. I don’t quit. I always find creative solutions. And I seem to do a pretty good job with inspiring my actors and crew. Because it’s a collaborative art form!! I am about serving the story, not my ego.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

Living in my truth. Doing the work I was born to do. Inspiring others through the stories I tell, and inspiring the artists I work with.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

This is a very, very good question/request. The thing that non-creative people need to understand is that being in the arts is a calling. I know people have said that before but it truly is. One is born with it even if it doesn’t surface til later in life. If that calling is not listened to it can literally kill the soul of an individual and could literally lead to death. I know that sounds dramatic but we have historical proof of that throughout the ages. Some non-creatives are resentful that they don’t have those talents. Personally I think those people especially need to spend some time exploring many of the arts because something is yearning to get out and is feeling left behind in the dust. (No artist wants any soul to feel this – because we’ve all felt it.)

We artists are incredibly upset about AI. A great many non-creatives think the use of AI is completely fine when all it does is sterilize the human experience into something fabricated by a computer that will never be able to write about the human experience in the way that another human can.

Lastly the non-creative person needs to know that artists deserve to get paid for our work. It’s not some “fun frivolous thing” we do. What you see, hear or experience comes from decades of work and sacrifice, and in many cases the sacrifices our parents put into helping us achieve our best in the arts. And it is the creative community that has helped find solutions to medical, architectural and civic problems. The arts are so essential…. you couldn’t sit in chairs, at a table, drive a car, etc…

I really feel the need to include teachers in this because they are so key to this. Anyway, I’ll stop here. LOL

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thecaroldorn
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.carol.dorn
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolmdorn/
• Twitter: @CarolMDorn
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/wxci/alumni-weekend-2019-carol?in=wxci/sets/alumni-weekend-2019&si=ff9736b8a0914a6db5c41294499a95ed&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
• Other: IMDB
  https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7824685/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk

Image Credits

Deanne Komlo
Ethan Weinstein
Nathanial Freeman