Today we’d like to introduce you to Maggie Mock.
Maggie, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Writing has always been my way to figure out the world. If I’m overwhelmed, I make lists. If I’m inspired, I map things out on paper. If I’m angry, I vent it out in emails I never plan to send (but sometimes send). There’s just something so cathartic about summarizing life’s chaos in neatly organized sentences.
When I went to college, I thought that if I wanted to write for a living, I had to study journalism. So my first semester, I signed up for Journalism 101 – and, just for fun, a film class. It only took me a few weeks to realize it was way more fun to write about movies than it was to cover student council meetings. By the start of my second semester, I was all-in on a film degree.
After earning my B.A. in Film Studies from Emory University, I set out to gain as many experiences in production as possible. I started on the network side, creating documentary and interstitial content for Turner Classic Movies.
There, I also got my first taste of the commerce of film, learning how to market “old” movies to modern audiences, using popular music and stylized recreations. I then moved to New York, where I essentially went through production “boot camp,” working on a variety of reality TV shows, entertainment documentaries, and branded web content. I did live productions, worked with moody celebrities, and learned more about gear and permits than I ever wanted to know.
After the birth of my first son, my husband and I were looking to escape the city and eventually landed in Atlanta. I started working at Crazy Legs in 2011 and now serve as Director of Crime and Scripted Programming. The impact of telling stories visually, the ability to not only tell but *show* the emotion of a particular moment in time, is what continues to fuel my obsession with film and television to this day.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Right out of college, I was fortunate to get what most would consider a “dream job,” working for one of the top media companies in the country. It really was as smooth a road as you can get, and one from which many people enjoy 30+ year careers. But it all felt too safe and predictable. I didn’t want to be repackaging the work of film’s pioneers at a network – I wanted to be making some work of my own! So I packed my bags and went to New York with no clue what I was going to do once I got there. There wasn’t a second I ever believed it wouldn’t work out. I networked and cold-called and worked every connection I’d ever made. Soon, I landed my first job on a show, that led to my next job, and then the next.
Just when I started to hit my freelance groove, I got pregnant with my first child. The struggle to keep up the momentum of my career while also being a present and involved wife and parent is something I continue to juggle to this day. I’ve spent countless days in the office with a sick kid on the couch wearing headphones, and many-a-school meeting sending work emails from the back row. But it’s never boring. I’m always learning and growing and reassessing. The moment the road smooths out again, I know I’ll be searching for the next challenge – because the struggle is what makes it fun!
We’d love to hear more about your business.
In 2011, my husband’s work brought us to Atlanta for what I believed would be a three-month stay. I figured he’d film his reality show, I’d catch up with some old friends, then we’d be onto the next adventure in a new city. But as it happened, one of the friends I reached out to was Tom Cappello, whose production company Crazy Legs Productions was just starting to take off. He asked me to come work with him on their first Travel Channel series and has been keeping me busy ever since.
When I joined CLP, we only had a handful of employees. Now, seven years later, we have 31 staff employees and work with dozens of freelancers to produce a variety of reality, branded, sports, and crime programming. Currently, as head of our crime division, I oversee our four Investigation Discovery series, striving to create an authentic and emotional look into the lives of people who have been through some of life’s most harrowing experiences. At the same time, I am always working to improve on our cinematic approach to writing and recreations, with the goal to move the company into fully-scripted projects in the coming year.
The toughest part of the job is walking that fine line between art and commerce. But I’m grateful to be growing with a company that doesn’t put a ceiling on creativity. To work with like-minded people who love telling real stories, with heart and morality, is such a joy. Every day, I come to work inspired and excited to see what we can do next.
What were you like growing up?
I’ve always been a social person, but never had a defined “group.” I played sports but was also in the marching band, went to parties but spent as many nights at home. I grew up in a small town in South Georgia and even though I managed to walk out of it without an accent, I think the trait I relate to most is being Southern. I like manners and small talk, pimento cheese, and watching rainstorms on my front porch.
As a kid, I loved books like Harriet the Spy and Nancy Drew, so I guess it’s not surprising I chose a career where I observe the world and take notes. I’m still fascinated by life and how we choose to live it, still searching for new ways to think and feel and see.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1429 Fairmont Avenue NW, Suite C Atlanta, GA 30318
- Website: http://www.crazylegsproductions.com
- Phone: 404-891-0199
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clpstorytellers/
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