EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT – Cat Lellie

If there’s one thing to know about Cat Lellie, it’s that she doesn’t do boring. From acting and casting to producing and winning ADDYs, she’s built a career fueled by creativity, persistence, and a little bit of movie magic.

She jumped into MJ in 2022, bringing her Charlotte film scene hustle to the Video & Broadcast team. Since then, she’s tackled everything from virtual production (which she swears is basically Dothraki) to creating content that actually sticks. Read all about our favorite girl boss below. 

How long have you been at Mills James?  
 
July 2022 was my grand entrance, which means I'm coming up on my 3-year anniversary! Time flies when you're creating cool stuff with cool people. 

What did your life look like before MJ?  

Oh boy, SO different. In fact, MJ is my first-ever corporate job! Before my '9-to-5 era,' I was deep in the 'freelance hustle era' in the Charlotte, NC film scene. My world revolved around acting in non-union commercials, dabbling in TV, and starring in short films. 

I also taught acting, ran my own business (Slate Your Name Studio), and was a board member of the Carolina Film Community for almost a decade. Through all of that, I fell in love with casting and the behind-the-scenes magic. That "Aha!" moment led me to pursue an MFA in Creative Producing at UNC School of the Arts. Fast forward through a pandemic, graduation, and my filmmaker boyfriend's grad school journey at Ohio University, and here I am—living my best Midwest life! 

What led you to a career in this industry?  
 
Blame Kevin McAllister. Seeing Home Alone made me think acting looked like the most fun ever. Then American Beauty (1999) blew my mind by making me notice the artistry behind filmmaking. And, well, I'm stubborn AF—once I fell in love with storytelling, there was no turning back. 

What is a project that you have worked on that sticks out to you?  

In 2014, I cast a project called Like Rats in a Trap, a short film depicting the true-life story of these miners who drowned when their mineshaft flooded in 1904. That one was significant because I realized how good it feels to connect people – I connected the writer and director to these amazing actors who could help bring their vision to life. On the flip side, I loved the feeling of procuring work for talent who I adamantly vouched for.  

What is your favorite part of being on the Video & Broadcast team?  

THE PEOPLE. We might be small, but we are mighty. Holly, my manager, is an absolute rockstar—she leads with heart, patience, and a lot of humor. 2024 threw some tough moments at our team, including personal losses, but we rallied around each other like family. And I mean it when I say we are pretty remarkable. 
 
Tell us about a professional success story that you’re proud of.  

Winning an ADDY for MJ Minute was a huge moment. It was the first project I pitched because virtual production was like a foreign language (seriously, it might as well have been Dothraki), and I wanted to make it digestible for clients. The whole experience—collaborating with different teams, learning, and creating something useful—was the real win. The ADDY? Just the cherry on top of the (cheese)cake. 
 
Describe an interesting hobby or pastime that you have.  

Let’s see... I played stand-up bass in school (didn’t realize how cool that was at the time), used to teach Tae Bo and kickbox cardio, and I am freakishly good at Jeopardy!—though I have no idea how my brain retains all that random knowledge. 
 
What are you looking forward to in your future?  

SO much! I just became a godmother to the cutest baby boy, and I can't wait to meet him. I'm saving up for a trip to Japan to visit my brother, sister-in-law, and niece. I just wrapped on Dark Matter (Apple TV+) and am hyped for Season 2 and the release of Happy Gilmore 2 in May. And professionally? I’m just excited to keep growing at MJ alongside these insanely talented people I get to call my work family.