‘Pose’ Producers on the Driving Force Behind the Show

By Tiarra Mukherjee Apr 08, 2019

Deadline held its fourth annual The Contenders Emmys panels at Paramount Studios on Sunday (April 7), which showcased shows it deems on the verge of winning Emmy Awards.

A buzzed-about moment featured Steven Canals, co-creator of the barrier-breaking FX hit “Pose,” who  described the show’s inception: “It really came from, as someone who previously in another life worked in higher education, assessing the television landscape and asking myself that question, ‘Who are we not seeing represented on television?’” Deadline reported. “We weren’t seeing Black and Brown people who also happen to be queer and trans.”  

“Pose” explores the juxtaposition of several segments of life and society in New York: ball culture, the rise of the luxury Trump-era universe and the downtown social and literary scenes. It’s also the first series to feature a largely transgender series-regular cast, and has the largest LGBTQ cast ever for a scripted show. 

Canals was joined by writers and producers from the show, including Janet Mock, the first openly trans woman of color to write and direct for television. “What’s so special about ‘Pose’ and the team [the producers] assembled is that they brought on people who live the experience.” Mock said. “If you give people a seat at the table, if you empower them to use their voices and experiences, then that is more than enough.”