Our favorite awkward Black girl Issa Rae is taking diversity head-on. Rae, who is best known for her popular HBO series “Insecure,” is among the new class of Black female creatives who are shifting the playing field.
We all know that there is a major lack of diversity and representation on screen, and it remains a prevalent issue for marginalized communities. There has been a slight increase in the amount of diversity we see on screen thanks to Black writers, directors and producers. We have to thank Kenya Barris, Shonda Rhimes, Mara Brock Akil, and others for pushing the needle, but there is still more work to be done.
Rae is staying true to her promise to provide opportunities for new and diverse creatives to have a seat at the table. She just signed a multiyear production deal with Columbia Pictures to do just that.
The pact is between the major production company and her very own, ColorCreative, which was founded in 2015. Participants will be selected to be a part of the program that will provide mentorship through their studio diversity initiative. Writers will have the opportunity to work one-on-one with Rae to shape and develop their ideas.
“All of the projects we are working on are fresh and promising, and we can’t wait to continue the work,” Rae said. “We hope to set a precedent and inspire the industry at large to invest in undiscovered talent, original IP, and fresh stories and perspectives.”
Sanford Panitch, president of Columbia Pictures, shared his excitement about the new deal as well. According to Variety, Panitch said in a statement, “Issa is a force of nature and a magnet for talented people. We couldn’t be more excited to join her in her mission to pave the way for fresh and authentic voices.”
Participants of the program will be announced in spring 2019.
