Inside Making An Indie Film In RI: Meet Lead Actress Katie Killourhy

This is the second story in a four-part series following the making of "She, Who Dared," an independent short film partially shot in Rhode Island. The second part is a feature about the film's two lead actors, Katie Killourhy and Paul Noonan.

EAST GREENWICH, RI — Director and screenwriter Gabrielle Rosson spent parts of her summer at the East Greenwich Town Hall, filming portions of her independent short film, "She Who Dared."

"She, Who Dared," a first of its kind biopic about "the greatest female filmmaker history forgot,"Lois Weber. Weber was one of the founders of narrative filmmaking in the silent film era and is responsible for somewhere between 200 and 400 films in her lifetime.

Rosson is proud of her work and has called it "the most important film I've ever made in my life." And a big part of that pride and success came about because of her lead actress— Katie Killourhy, who plays Weber.

"It's been incredible to see Katie really shine. "Rosson said. "It was important for me to write a role to show how talented she is. I do think this will be her breakout role."

Rosson said her lead actress was crucial in inspiring her to make a film about Weber in the first place. When approaching Killourhy about working together, Rosson asked her what her dream role was.

"It took me a moment, but I wanted to do something powerful,"Killourhy said. "Play a woman in history that changed the narrative."

This is when Rosson told Killourhy about Weber and how she was the first woman to direct a feature in the U.S. and the first woman to own her own production studio. Weber was also the highest paid director in Hollywood — man or woman — at the height of her career, yet less than 20 of her films were preserved.

"I have been doing this, since I was 15, and I had never heard of her before," Killourhy said thinking back to her time in theater. "I realized oh my gosh! I have a lot in common with this woman. She also found her voice in the theater. Drama club is where I came out of my shell."

"For me, it was rather easy and effortless in a sense to take on Lois, because so much of her story was me," Killhourhy continued. " She started out in a church group choir. I always have been a woman of faith."

For those interested in checking out "She Who Dared," the short film will have a test screening at 3 p.m. Oct. 8, at the Somerville Theatre in Somerville, Massachusetts. Sebastian Baverstam and the Vangarde Sympony Orchestra will perform the score live during this special screening. Tickets are available here.

Read part one of the Inside Making An Indie Film In RI series: Inside Making An Indie Film In RI: Meet Director Gabrielle Rosson.

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