John Hillcoat  is an Australian-Canadian film director, screenwriter, and music video director. Hillcoat was born in Queensland, Australia, and was raised in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. As a child, his paintings were featured in the Art Gallery of Hamilton. He attended Sir. John A. Macdonald Secondary School in Hamilton, Ontario, and was enrolled in the Special Art Program. He was active with the McMaster University Film Board most notably producing an animated short titled "The Finger".