The latest episode of Ghosts took a turn for the criminally hilarious as Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar) unwittingly landed in hot water over a stolen family recipe. When Pete (Richie Moriarty) shares a dish he learned from Carol (Caroline Aaron), neither realizes that the recipe belongs to her mafioso relatives—who aren’t pleased to see it served at an upstate B&B.
Behind the camera, series star Rose McIver took on an exciting new challenge: making her directorial debut. After years of wanting to step behind the camera, McIver finally got the chance to direct while still playing Sam, the mansion’s ever-rational ghost whisperer. In an interview with Deadline, she opened up about her experience directing while acting, the challenges she faced, and how her training at the Warner Bros. directing workshop helped prepare her for the fast-paced reality of television.
McIver on Balancing Acting & Directing
Directing while starring in an episode required some creative problem-solving. McIver often relied on her stand-in (also named Sam, coincidentally) to help line up shots before stepping in to perform. She also leaned heavily on the show’s Director of Photography, Michelle, and First Assistant Director, Matt, to keep things running smoothly.
“The harder part,” McIver admitted, “was juggling the mental checklist that comes with directing while still remembering my lines and delivering the performance.” At the end of each day, she said, “my brain felt like it was short-circuiting.”
Fortunately, the familiarity and camaraderie among the Ghosts cast and crew helped ease the challenge. “We all know each other so well, and we have a shorthand in communication that made it easier,” she said, crediting her co-stars for their support.
Lessons from the Warner Bros. Directing Workshop
McIver previously attended the Warner Bros. directing workshop, a 13-week course designed to prepare industry professionals for the unpredictable nature of TV directing. Though she didn’t get the chance to direct an episode of iZombie, where she was originally hoping to make her debut, the experience gave her a strong foundation in handling last-minute production challenges.
Each week, the class simulated real-world directing problems, such as unexpected schedule changes or sudden limitations on shooting angles. “One week, they’d say, ‘Okay, one of your actors has to leave at 6 p.m. How are you going to restructure your plan?’” McIver recalled. Learning to adapt on the fly was crucial, as real-life sets rarely run according to plan.
Despite having been on sets since she was two years old, McIver emphasized how different it is to be the one “calling the shots.” But after this episode, she’s more confident than ever in her directing future.
What’s Next on Ghosts?
With her directorial debut behind her, McIver teased what’s ahead for the series—including next week’s much-anticipated reveal of why Isaac (Brandon Scott Jones) holds such a long-standing grudge against Alexander Hamilton. Fans won’t want to miss it!
