Rose McIver’s Directorial Debut: A Ghostly Heist with 1980s Mafia Twists!

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Warning: This conversation discloses details from “Ghostfellas,” the 13th episode in Season 4 of CBS’s popular series, “Ghosts.

As a devoted movie enthusiast, I can’t help but express my excitement over Rose McIver’s debut directorial venture on TV. In this episode titled “Ghostfellas” from Season 4 of Ghosts, we had it all – a nostalgic ’80s throwback, a Mafia saga unfolding, mind-bending spectral antics, and even a thrilling heist! It was simply captivating to incorporate a twist and a genre-infused spin into the episode. While maintaining the season’s cohesiveness, it was a blast to delve into some unique aspects and have fun reimagining classic tropes.

In “Ghostfellas,” Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) is aiming to introduce a new arrabbiata sauce in his restaurant, and 80s ghost Pete (Richie Moriarty) steps in with an extraordinary family recipe. The sauce becomes popular, but it later transpires that it belongs to Carol’s (Caroline Aaron) family. When Carol’s living cousin, who has connections to the mob, finds out that Jay is selling the sauce, he starts issuing threats. It’s only then that Pete uncovers the truth about the travel agency where he used to work – it was actually a cover for organized crime money laundering.

Simultaneously, in the secondary plot, Hetty (Rebecca Wisocky) feels frustrated by having Flower (Sheila Carrasco) as her roommate due to her talkative nature. Together with Trevor (Asher Grodman), they leverage their partnership to attempt a change in the manor’s sleeping arrangements. McIver mentioned that he enjoyed portraying the subtle intimidation and suspicion among ghosts as part of their power play. He described this episode as not being typical or textbook-like.

McIver has spent years readying herself to direct a TV episode, having learned from directors and even taken some directing and editing courses. “My desire to direct has always been grounded in the social aspect of it, and the intricate creative logistics and problem-solving that are necessary each day on a set for episodic television,” she explained. “I don’t harbor any illusions that I’m some genius auteur who will create deep, cinematic, independent films from my very soul. Instead, I appreciate practical people skills. I enjoy the managerial side of coordinating around 180 people every day so they’re all working together towards the same goal. I find the organized chaos on a film set fascinating.

Working with “Ghosts” co-creators Joe Port and Joe Wiseman, McIver had a decision to make regarding which episode she’d be directing. She was offered two options: One that primarily took place away from the usual Woodstone Manor setting (which would mean less focus on her character Sam, thus enabling her to concentrate more on directing), or one set within the manor, necessitating a balance between acting and directing responsibilities.

She mentioned that utilizing her expertise in our settings for the initial television episode would be beneficial. Being well-versed in how we film these environments, she’s comfortable with blocking and aware of the unconventional blocking techniques we haven’t explored yet but could be feasible. She felt it was more advantageous to direct the episode, despite being involved in a larger number of scenes, as it would require less starting from scratch and more building upon familiar ground.

McIver’s scene was briefly taken outside the studio: The 1980s scenes were captured in a genuine Montreal travel agency. As she explained, they needed a location that was close enough to return to the stages later in the day, resembling the ’80s, and required minimal changes. Luckily, their talented team found this place. It’s like an old artifact. It’s still a functioning travel agency where we utilized some set pieces, such as hourglasses with sand from various beaches on the windowsill.

McIver expressed her gratitude for the heavy Pete episodes, as Richie Moriarty, who portrays Pete, is exceptionally skilled. “He’s not only technically proficient,” she said, “but he’s also hilarious. He’s an improviser, spontaneous, and has a keen intuition. Yet, he’s also one of the most versatile and easy-to-direct actors I could have hoped to collaborate with. A gentle push in his direction can yield performances that, while similar, possess distinct nuances, making him a true asset. I feel fortunate to have worked alongside such a generous scene partner, who spent so much time advising me and helping me build confidence for this experience.

McIver isn’t alone among the “Ghosts” cast members who are interested in directing. She mentioned that she has been encouraging her co-stars and is thrilled to see so many of them taking the initiative to shadow directors. Some of them are quite determined to pursue directing, and I think that’s fantastic. I wholeheartedly support their ambitions. In fact, I believe it’s beneficial for any actor to try directing, even as an exercise, just to get a better understanding of the intricate processes involved in getting on set and delivering lines.

Filming for Season 4 of “Ghosts” is completed, however, there’s still a lot left to accomplish! On Thursday, CBS officially confirmed the renewal of the show for another two seasons.

McIver is hinting at an exciting season finale: “I can’t reveal the exact timing, but when viewers see it, they’ll be wondering how in the world we’re going to move forward into Season 5, since it sets things up so dramatically,” she mentioned, emphasizing that the episode concludes with a major cliffhanger.

She remarked, “The ending is usually quite spectacular.” To illustrate, there’s a passage in the script that reads, ‘we witness an assembly of the most prominent spirits.’ With numerous guest appearances, it’s exhilarating, but managing everything can be as challenging as herding cats! I believe we’ll all need to step outside for some fresh air afterwards, and it might take us a week or two to reacclimate back to reality.

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2025-02-21 05:16