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Director Jason Willis Talks ‘Catnip’

“Catnip is a vitamin for the brain — a groovy way to expand your mind,” whines one of the feline film stars of “Catnip: Egress to Oblivion,” a mockumentary short by first-time director Jason Willis. The film — currently making the rounds at festivals both large and small (Sundance, AFI, and more) — was created all in good (but well-researched) fun and completed in less than three weeks. 

Willis modeled “Catnip” after the fanatical drug education films prevalent in public schools during the 1970’s. “I was actually featured in one when I was young,” says Willis, contemplating the origins of his fondness for the genre. “And I decided that I wanted to make a parody of them — but some people are actually taking it really seriously, like ‘I’m never giving my cat the stuff again!’”

Catnip lovers, fear not — we confirmed its harmlessness with Willis himself. Get a big kick out of the short, and then get your feline friends some tasty green.

— Sky Dylan-Robbins

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