On My Radar: Maegan Houang

What is the most creative advertising idea you’ve seen recently?

My favourite advertisement I’ve seen lately is the commercial Andrew Thomas Huang directed for Viktor & Rolf, starring FKA Twigs. The cinematography and production design encapsulate the wondrous, fantastical beauty I always find so present within Andy’s work.

What website(s) do you use most regularly? 

Besides social media, the New York Times and the LA Times. I frequent David Bordwell’s blog, Observations on Film Art. His blog is a great way for me to exercise my academic brain muscles and continue to think about cinema in a new way.

What’s the most recent piece of tech that you’ve bought? 

A few months ago, I purchased a Garmin Forerunner watch to inspire me to run.

What product could you not live without?

It’s simple, but my laptop. I don’t think I’d enjoy writing as much if I had to do it exclusively by hand.

What’s the best film you’ve seen over the last year?

Everything Everywhere All At Once. But given that I have a 'Thanks!' credit, I’m probably biased.

What film do you think everyone should have seen?

This answer would probably change on a daily basis, but today I believe everyone should watch The Passion of Joan of Arc, by Carl Theodor Dreyer. There’s no film with better use of lighting, mise-en-scene and music to provoke emotion.

What’s your preferred social media platform?

I despise them all, but am currently most addicted to TikTok.

What’s your favourite TV show?

Tough question, but I’ll have to go with a tie between Mad Men and The Sopranos. Both shows had some of the best character writing ever seen on television, in addition to having some truly cinematic moments. In terms of shows currently running, I would have to go with The Crown.

What’s your favourite podcast?

I’m not a huge podcast listener, but I enjoy Behind the Bastards and Revisionist History.

What show/exhibition has most inspired you recently?

I loved Mitra Jouhari’s Horny Little Show, at the Elysian, which happens every month in Los Angeles. Like the best comedy, it was not only hilarious but also deeply affecting and truthful. I also saw Ohyung perform at SXSW and it was incredible. Their new album, Imagine Naked!, is one of my favourite albums in the past year.

If you could only listen to one music artist from now on, who would it be?

I would choose Franz Schubert. He has an immense oeuvre, and I love chamber music and piano trios.

If there was one thing you could change about the advertising industry, what would it be?

Music video directors are some of the hardest working, scrappiest filmmakers working today. Often saddled with little to no resources, a lot of music video directors make the impossible happen for artists. I wish more people would recognise how our dogged determination translates into commercials and long form content.