Check Out Maggie Cannan’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Cannan.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born in New York and came to LA with my family when I was four. Though I grew up thinking I was an “East Coast kid” that image was quickly shattered when I moved to Boston to attend Emerson College and discovered I can’t live in climates below 60 degrees. Though I went to high school (Los Angeles County High School for the Arts) to study theater, I eventually got tired of fighting for roles and decided I wanted to write my own which led me to Emerson to study screenwriting. At Emerson, I embraced my love for comedy writing and performing sketches. Both my parents were performers, so I think I got the acting and writing itch from them.

After college, I came back to LA and started working as an assistant at Stoopid Buddy Stoodios for Matt Senreich, one of the co-creators of Robot Chicken. I eventually worked my way up to becoming a Staff Writer on Robot Chicken. My work on the series was nominated for an Emmy Award in 2021.

In the meantime, I’ve been writing and developing my own scripts, both animated and live-action and performing improv and stand-up. Oh, and watching countless amounts of reality TV (Bravo is my religion). In terms of my other passions. I became obsessed with making cheeseboards during the pandemic and dream of starting a cheese-related side hustle at some point. During one spell of unemployment, I did look into becoming a cheesemonger — turns out it takes a lot of studying and science knowledge — SO writing it is!

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest struggles I’ve faced as a young writer is the lack of room for lower-level staffers in rooms. With the rise of mini writer’s rooms, there isn’t the room there once was for younger writers to get their second or third credits. I’ve only technically staffed on Robot Chicken and have been trying to get back in a room as a staff writer since then. Due to the state of the industry, I’ve had to repeat support staff levels and take other odd jobs to get by (lol, I found out I was nominated for an Emmy while working a shift at Madewell– the cognitive dissonance was wild). And I know I’m not alone in this. There are countless talented writers who are facing the same struggle. I really hope that the current Writers Strike leads to change in this area and creates a path for younger writers to further their careers.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a comedian and TV writer. I love to create wacky worlds with fun ensemble casts. I’d say my “brand” (because everyone needs one of those these days) of writing is “fart jokes with heart” — there’s a lot of slapstick gags and some gross-out humor in my work, but at the core there’s always a set of heartwarming characters to relate to.

Right now, I co-host a show called Sad Funny with my friend and collaborator, Lilliana Winkworth. It’s a comedy variety show about the things that make you sad! Each month we welcome new performers to take the stage and showcase material related to anxiety, therapy, trauma — y’know, the fun stuff. Lol. But! What I love most about the show is that the theme is about finding the light and funny within the sad moments in life. It’s been a wonderful space to bring together comedians that we love and experiment with new material. It’s every 4th Friday of the month at 7pm at Oeno Vino in Atwater Village, and it’s Free! You should come!

Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
I think one thing I wish I knew is that it’s okay to take breaks when you’re not feeling the creative inspiration. I’m someone who writes best when inspired — I truly wish I could write every day, but a lot of the time when I try to do that, it feels like pulling teeth. I feel best creatively when I give myself the time and space to enjoy writing and creating. I feel like a lot of writers (myself included) can dread doing the thing that we love — writing! So it’s best to create a space where writing is positive so you can get the most out of it.

Also, I’d say as advice — don’t feel like you need to take EVERY note you’re given. When I was first starting out, I was quick to take every note I’d get on a script as fact. But as you get more confident in your writing, you’re able to notice when you want to fight for something. If a note you get totally goes against what you’re going for with a script, I think you should go with your gut.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @magzstagram, @sadfunnyshow
• Twitter: @magzstagram

Image Credits
Credit for all photos BUT one of me/mom at Emmys and black&white photo: Zack Arch