Wyatt Nash – Like Cats and Dogs

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) I am about to premiere the movie Like Cats and Dogs on Hallmark Channel. I filmed “Dear White People” through the Fall and Winter for Netflix. That comes out on April 28^th. I’m pretty excited to have two projects come out so close together.

Q) Please tell us the premise for Like Cats and Dogs and about your character Spencer.

A) Two very different people from very different walks of life are thrust together because of certain circumstances. It’s about how different circumstances effect each of them. Laura and Spencer are the main characters. Lara (Cassidy Gifford) is very spirited, artistic and open. She’s trying to find her way and then Spencer is a very meticulous by the book head down kind of guy. He’s not one to spot and smell the roses every once in a while. These two people find themselves double booked at an Airbnb together where they have to live together for two weeks. That being the case, they are prone to driving each other crazy with their different habits and the different hours they keep. On top of that, I have a cat and Lara has a dog. Cats and dogs don’t always get along and it’s throwing these two together in this Airbnb and then seeing what happens for two weeks.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

A) I thought it would be a lot of fun. I read the script and knew that Cassidy would be attached. We have mutual friends and I heard nothing, but good things about her. It fit my schedule and I had never worked with animals before. That seemed like a plus. I have really been enjoying doing comedy so I felt like a romantic comedy would be right in my alley. It is one of the more fun shoots that I have had.

Q) They old adage is never to work with kids and animals. What was it like shooting with the cat and dog?

A) [laughs] Billy the dog was about the most attractive or handsome dog I’ve ever seen. He was so cute and very well behaved. So, everyone fell in love with Billy. My cat, Ewok, was a little bit of a different story. He liked being in front of the camera, I will say that. I wouldn’t necessarily call him a scene stealer. [laughs] But both animals were very well trained. Sometimes they would hit their marks and then we’d have to do it over because I missed a line or something. They did a great job. At the end of the day we had everything we needed to do to get the shot. I’d do it again! I’d work with animals again. They were fun!

Q) What did you find challenging about filming?

A) I would say the animals. [laughs] I just talked them up, but working with Cassidy was great. I loved the director, Ron [Oliver], so it was great working with him. I liked playing Spencer because he is kind of a nerd and I don’t get to do that too often. Everything was really, really fun. I really enjoyed all of it. Sometimes the animals took a while. It took a few take to warm up to what they had to do, but like I said at the end of the day they were great.

Q) What were some of your most memorable moments from shooting Like Cats and Dogs?

A) There was one moment when I had to walk out holding the cat and he started to walk up my arm. He wasn’t happy that take. So, I kind of ended up doing an awkward dance trying to say my lines while trying to look like a normal human who happened to have a cat crawling all over him. But it was fun! One of the more fun scenes had a lot of extras at a party and then the cat and the dog got out. I am chasing the cat and Lara is chasing the dog and we end up running into each other. Just trying to get all the moving pieces together was a lot of fun.

Q) Was there a piece of advice or suggestion that director Ron Oliver gave while filming that you took to heart?

A) Ron was just so great to work with. He kept things very light and very fun. I just really appreciated his directing style. I hadn’t worked with somebody like him before. Just his ability to keep it light and fun, but then come in and speak to us and help us understand exactly where we needed to go and do…He was just a joy to work with. He was great! I really enjoyed it.

Q) What makes the movie such a good fit for the Hallmark Channel?

A) I think Cassidy, Ron and I are just really invested in the movie. Ron practically wrote the thing and Cassidy did an amazing job. She just gave me so much to work with and the fact that we cared so much. It’s about two people overcoming differences and growing to love each other. I think it is just a great fit and a lot of fun. It’s extremely friendly and really funny. I think people are very much going to enjoy the film.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you will be receiving to the movie?

A) Oh yeah! It’s always kind of fun doing live tweeting while you’re watching a show. [laughs] A lot of times it is interesting because people will point out something that I might not have thought of before and the things that people say they like or dislike that I might not have necessarily seen in the beginning. It’s always interesting seeing what people respond to, but I always enjoy that for sure.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure fans know about Like Cats and Dogs?

A) We just had so much fun filming! I just ask them to come along for the ride and enjoy the film because we had a ton of fun making it and I know they will have a ton of fun watching it.