Cat Hostick is a director and actress, recently nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for the Discovery Plus TV series ‘A Ghost Ruined My Life’, executive produced by Hollywood horror director Eli Roth (Cabin Fever, Hostel). Cat’s credits include popular shows on Netflix, Crave, TVO, and Amazon Prime. We had the pleasure to discuss her career and current projects.
Thank you for agreeing to catch up with Occhi Magazine. Congratulations on your career to date. For readers unfamiliar with your background, how did you get into film and television?
Thank you for having me! From as young as I can remember, I knew that I was going to be in film. I made my first horror movie in grade six with one of those camcorders. I was always wanting to do plays and found that I loved filmmaking and acting. My parents had no idea how to get me into the industry, so I decided to move to Toronto after high school and forged my own path. I started doing acting classes and auditioning but felt unfulfilled with some of the roles I was getting/ going out for. So, I decided to produce my own work. From there, I fell in love with directing and put all my focus into it.
Who have been major influences and mentors on your journey?
Major influences have been directors I look up to — Christopher Nolan, James Cameron, Ari Aster…Depends on the genre! So many brilliant minds.
The industry’s landscape appears to be changing, with more diversity on and off camera. From your experience and observation, are these significant? What changes are still necessary, in your opinion?
YES – there is way more diversity. It’s refreshing! I’m happy to see all my friends and colleagues getting opportunities. I still think we need more funded training programs for future actors, directors, writers, camera operators, Ads, grips etc. We need more people from the industry to go out and talk to diverse groups in high schools and scout them from an early age, educating them on a future either in front or behind the camera. Perhaps our unions can create some programs that are almost like a pre-training for high schoolers before graduation, so they are ready for the industry.
You have won awards and been nominated for several projects at film festivals. Has this created further opportunities or shaped your approach to work?
In terms of creating opportunities, that’s hard to quantify. After winning an award, there usually isn’t any immediate effect all the time as people would expect, unless you just got picked up by A24 at Sundance or won the Palme d’Or. It’s all about timing. I’ve noticed “oh okay, a few years ago, I was in in the conversation for 1.5-million-dollar movies… and now I’m in the ring with the best directors for the 15 million ones, but that didn’t happen from one award I won – it’s many awards plus doing consistently good work overtime.
Festivals and awards don’t shape my approach as an artist. I think filmmakers make the mistake of being obsessed with a result and not the process, and they think that winning an award validates them as being a “good filmmaker”. It doesn’t. There’s a lot of great artists out there who deserve award and don’t get it. Leonardo DiCaprio should have won an Oscar for eight better movies/performances than The Revenant. Doesn’t make him any less of an actor because he didn’t win in the previous ones. My process is my process. If I’m celebrated in public for the work I do in private, that’s an honor, but I know it won’t make it break my career.
You’ve directed episodes of the new nightmarish anthology series Urban Legend, under the creative guidance of the master of horror Eli Roth. Please tell us more about working with Eli Roth and what audiences can expect from the series?
Eli is not just a master of the genre, but he’s one of the kindest and most passionate people I’ve worked with. He’s been a big supporter of mine and he’s always making sure the directors get the recognition they deserve even though that isn’t typical in TV. I always look forward to getting his notes on a cut – because of course, you’re getting notes from someone who dominates the horror genre. It’s helped me become a better filmmaker. Can’t wait to keep creating with this dude! Urban legends are wildly popular, and I think there are so many stories that we could tackle. Fans can expect a fun, horrifying ride from season one. The episodes are basically mini horror movies and I’m very proud of what we did with this show.
Can you tell us more about the production and how you got involved in the project?
I had previously worked on one of Eli’s shows, so I already had that relationship which was why I was asked to do Urban legend. However, the first show I ever did with Eli was called A Ghost Ruined My Life. A showrunner I had worked with previously was going to be helming this show and he knew I had a body of long-format horror work (which was a pre-req for A Ghost Ruined My Life). So, I got approved, did half of season 1, and got nominated for a CSA for best direction for the first episode.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on the second season of the horror anthology series called Haunted Museum with Zak Bagans and Eli Roth. I’m also finishing up post-production on a comedy series that I created called Poly is The New Monogamy.
Where can our readers find out more about you?
Instagram is the best place to keep in touch with me @cathostick
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