After graduation, Rhimes found herself an unemployed scriptwriter in Hollywood. In order to eat, Rhimes worked at a variety of day jobs, including as an office administrator, and then as a counselor at a job center that taught mentally ill and homeless people job skills.
Shonda’s First Big Break:
During this period, Rhimes also worked as research director on the 1995 Peabody Award-winning documentary, Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream. Rhimes then made her directorial debut in 1998 with the short film Blossoms and Veils starring Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jeffrey Wright. A feature script Rhimes wrote was eventually purchased by New Line Cinema and the engine powering her Hollywood career was just getting cranked up.
But Rhimes’ biggest break came when she was commissioned to write the acclaimed 1999 HBO movie Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. It earned a cadre of awards for its star, Halle Berry. and made Rhimes a known commodity in behind-the-scene Hollywood, particularly as a talented screenwriter. 
