Steven Canals

{{Infobox person | name = Steven Canals | image = Steven Canals being interviewed for Peabody in 2019.png | caption = Canals in 2019 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1980|9|14}} | education = Binghamton University {{small|(BA, MA)}}<br>University of California, Los Angeles {{small|(MFA)}} | occupation = Screenwriter, Producer | years_active = 2016–present | notable_works = ''Pose'' }} '''Steven Canals''' (born September 14, 1980)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://twitter.com/StevenCanals/status/1172916123060199424|title=My sister knows me so well!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!! Thanks @michelle_canals for my @DonutFriend pic.twitter.com/5BqStY81j7|last=Canals|first=Steven|date=2019-09-14|website=@StevenCanals|language=en|access-date=2020-02-23}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> is an American screenwriter and producer. He is best known for co-creating and executive-producing the FX television show ''Pose''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/steven-canals-profile|title='Pose' Co-Creator Steven Canals Spent Years Hiding. Now Everyone Can See Him|last=Kaplan|first=Ilana|website=GQ|date=26 June 2019|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>

== Early life and education == Canals grew up in the Housing Projects in Castle Hill, Bronx.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/fxs-pose-creator-on-his-difficult-journey-bringing-the-groundbreaking-trans-series-to-tv|title=FX's 'Pose' Creator on His Difficult Journey Bringing the Groundbreaking Trans Series to TV|last=Canals|first=Steven|date=2018-05-24|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=2020-01-24|language=en}}</ref> He began practicing filmmaking at the Youth Ministries for Peace and Justice after school program. He co-produced his first documentary about gang violence with other classmates when he was 15.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.binghamton.edu/news/story/2011/too-brown-too-black-too-queer-for-tv|title=Steven Canals says idea for Pose began at Binghamton - Binghamton News|last=Freund|first=Kelley|website=News - Binghamton University|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>

Canals graduated with a BA in cinema and MA in student affairs from Binghamton University in 2005 and 2008 respectively.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/2019/07/17/co-creator-emmy-nominated-pose-binghamton-university-alum/1753364001/|title=Steven Canals, co-creator of Emmy nominated 'Pose,' is a Binghamton University alum|last=Gilroy|first=Maggie|website=Pressconnects|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> Canals received his MFA in screenwriting from UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 2015.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":6" />

== Career == Prior to working in entertainment, Canals worked in university administration. He worked as an LGBT resource coordinator at SUNY-Cortland while completing his master's degree part time, where he was also residence hall director of Shea Hall and advisor to the university's gay-straight alliance for six years.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=https://sites.allegheny.edu/news/2011/06/30/allegheny-college-appoints-three-individuals-to-positions-focusing-on-diversity-and-inclusive-excellence/|title=Allegheny College Appoints Three Individuals to Positions Focusing on Diversity and Inclusive Excellence|website=Allegheny.edu|date=30 June 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.cortland.edu/news/detail.dot?id=742e37e2-79ad-4573-aad0-397b4fa066f9|title=Cortland in the news - SUNY Cortland|website=www2.cortland.edu|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> Allegheny College appointed Canals as associate director for gender and sexual orientation initiatives in June 2011.<ref name=":7" />

=== Entertainment === Canals was a staff writer on Freeform's ''Dead of Summer'' in 2016. His short film ''Afuera'' premiered at the LA Film Festival that same year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2019austinfilmfestivalconfe.sched.com/speaker/steven_canals.1zuosiwj|title=Steven Canals's schedule for 2019 Austin Film Festival & Conference|website=2019austinfilmfestivalconfe.sched.com|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>

Canals developed the pilot script for television show ''Pose'' while studying at UCLA in 2014.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> He was initially inspired by the story in ''Paris Is Burning.''<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.out.com/entertainment/2019/1/10/steven-canals-created-pose-and-hollywoods-best-kept-secret|title=Steven Canals Created 'Pose.' Still, He's Hollywood's Best-Kept Secret|date=2019-01-10|website=www.out.com|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> He however found it difficult to get the script developed as industry executives found the subject matter about LGBT people of color and ball culture to be "too niche".<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://remezcla.com/features/film/pose-interview-steven-canals/|title=Steven Canals on How Growing Up as a Queer Afro-Latino in 1980s Bronx Prepared Him to Write 'Pose'|date=2019-06-18|website=Remezcla|language=en-US|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> Ryan Murphy, co-creator of ''Glee'' and ''American Horror Story'', would later come on as a producer in 2016, along with his producing partner Brad Falchuk.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/pose-film-review-ryan-murphy-ballroom-drama-movie-video-a8829691.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/pose-film-review-ryan-murphy-ballroom-drama-movie-video-a8829691.html |archive-date=2022-05-25 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=With the largest cast of trans actors in history, Ryan Murphy's Pose is a strut in the right direction|date=2019-03-21|website=The Independent|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref> The first season premiered in June 2018 on FX.<ref name=":3" /> The show is noted to have the largest transgender cast in television history.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" />

He was named a "writer to watch" by ''Variety'' in 2018.<ref name=":5" />

Canals signed an overall deal with 20th Century Fox Television in January 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2020/tv/news/pose-co-creator-steven-canals-20th-century-fox-tv-overall-deal-1203474185/|title='Pose' Co-Creator Steven Canals Inks Overall Deal With 20th Century Fox TV|last=Thorne|first=Will|date=2020-01-21|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-01-24}}</ref>

== Personal life == Canals is openly queer.<ref name=":1" />

He is of African American and Puerto Rican heritage.<ref name=":1" />

== Filmography == {| class="wikitable" ! rowspan="2" | Year ! rowspan="2" | Title ! colspan="3" | Credited as ! rowspan="2" | Notes |- ! Director ! Writer ! Producer |- | 2016 | ''Dead of Summer'' | {{no}} | {{yes}} | {{no}} | Co-wrote "The Devil Inside" with Richard Naing |- | 2018–2021 | ''Pose'' | {{yes}} | {{yes}} | {{yes|Executive}} | Co-creator, directed 5 episodes and wrote 15 |- | 2022 | ''Love, Victor'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | Episode: "The Setup" |- | rowspan="2" |2023 | ''Class of '09'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 2 episodes |- | ''Neon'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 2 episodes |- | rowspan="2" |2024 | ''American Sports Story'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | 2 episodes |- | ''The Sex Lives of College Girls'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | Episode: "Halloween & Oat Milk" |- | 2025 | ''Doctor Odyssey'' | {{yes}} | {{no}} | {{no}} | Episode: "Spring Break" |}

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canals, Steven}} Category:Binghamton University alumni Category:UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television alumni Category:Screenwriters from New York (state) Category:American LGBTQ writers Category:LGBTQ television producers Category:African-American LGBTQ writers Category:LGBTQ people from New York (state) Category:Hispanic and Latino American LGBTQ people Category:1980 births Category:Living people Category:American people of Puerto Rican descent Category:American queer men Category:Queer screenwriters