Maegan Houang joins Mad Cow Films

The newest addition to Mad Cow Films' roster is Los Angeles-based writer, director and editor Maegan Houang.

The director has worked on music videos with global artists including Mitski, Vagabon, Hana Vu and Skylar Spence to create promos that, says Mad Cow, "often scratch the itch in the darkest corners of your imagination through suspenseful, haunting narratives". 

Raised in Michigan, Houang followed her passion for filmmaking to Los Angeles where she has directed a body of work in television, music videos and short films. Her short In Full Bloom, which premiered in 2019, is described as “a combination of surreal storytelling and impressive visual effects” with “a strange narrative that's rooted in simplicity”. This encapsulates Houang's filmmaking style, which often focuses on the complexities of the Asian-American experience. 

The film was shown at more than 30 film festivals around the world, such as Atlanta Film Festival, London Short Film Festival, Female Filmmakers Berlin, Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and the Breakthroughs Film Festival in Toronto. Houang has also directed two episodes of HBO’s absurd and surreal comedy series Three Busy Debras, which aired in April 2022.

“I fell in love with the transportive quality of cinema watching Hong Kong movies with my dad," says Houang. "I cherished how films transported us to another time and place, exposing me to new perspectives and experiences from our small town in Michigan. What I find inspiring about commercials is the ability to create the very same feeling or idea in a mere 30 seconds.”

Outside of directing, Houang co-produces The Sympathizer (HBO) whilst also writing Nekrokosm (A24) for director Panos Cosmatos. She also served as a story editor on Shōgun (FX), a staff writer on season two of Counterpart (Starz/MRC), and also co-wrote Jamojaya, directed by Justin Chon.

“We’re excited to have signed Maegan and to showcase her talent to the UK market," said Emma Yardley, Head of New Business at Mad Cow Films. "She offers a creativity and coolness that’s drenched in haunting beauty, shock and awe. The unforgettable quality of her work is inspiring and I hope that our clients feel the same way.”