Rose McIver on Directing Her First Episode of Ghosts and Embracing the Chaos Behind the Camera
After decades in front of the camera, actress Rose McIver has officially stepped behind it. The star of CBS’ Ghosts made her directorial debut during season four, marking a pivotal moment in her long-running television career.
From Child Actor to Director
“I’ve been on sets since I was 3,” McIver told The Hollywood Reporter. “Not in a creepy way—I still had a normal childhood. But I’ve always loved the organized chaos of production. There’s a real marriage of logistics and creativity.”
Her passion for storytelling and structured creativity eventually led her to pursue directing. Although McIver participated in the now-defunct Warner Bros. directing workshop during her iZombie days, her directorial dream didn’t fully materialize until now.
Lessons from Mentors and Set Experience
McIver credits mentors like Dan Etheridge, Maggie Kiley, and Ghosts pilot director Trent O’Donnell for helping her prepare. “By the time I sat in the director’s chair, I had a long list of questions answered already,” she explained.
Still, the biggest surprise came when she had to act and direct simultaneously. “It was a rude shock,” she laughed. “I needed a split brain — one half lost in the scene, and the other checking a mental shot list. It was more multitasking than I’d imagined.”
Filming Ghosts: A Technical Comedy Set
Despite its comedic tone, Ghosts is technically demanding. “There are ghost and ghost-less passes, so we don’t get much time to improvise. But if a joke doesn’t land, we do take time to rework it,” she said.
With 10 regular cast members and multiple effects-driven scenes, the pace is fast and demanding. “There’s a lot of dialogue, a lot of coverage,” McIver added. “It’s a full day’s work.”
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Behind-the-Scenes Fun (and Food Warnings)
McIver shared a funny lesson she learned early in her career: never eat too much during a food scene. “On iZombie, my co-star Rahul Kohli ate so much Chinese food in one take, he was sick by the end of the day. Rookie mistake,” she joked.
What’s Next for McIver and Ghosts?
Although Ghosts is known for cliffhangers, McIver and the cast are often kept in the dark. “We get tiny teases in our group chat,” she said, “but not much detail. We’re waiting just like the fans.”
During her hiatus, McIver is focused on parenting and learning French. “We’ve filmed in Montreal for four years. My French is still mostly coffee,” she laughed. “I want to wow the crew next season.”
Watch Ghosts Now
All seasons of Ghosts are available for streaming on Paramount+.
