Television Producer, Screenwriter, Chicago, Illinois
“Empowering Inspiration” are featured stories of accomplished women to inspire your own ambitions.
Photo by: John Rasimus/STAR MAX/IPx 2023 3/12/23 Shonda Rhimes at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on March 12, 2023 in Beverly Hills, California.
Where did she grow up as a child?
Growing up in Chicago’s Suburbs, Shonda was known to be an introvert and to have a love for storytelling. Even in high school, her background as a hospital volunteer, inspired her with her television content for hospital environments. As the youngest of six children, she made up outrageous stories about her family to her school friends. She often invented friends being the only black girl in her school. Rhimes ended up attending Dartmouth College and joined the Black Underground Theater Association. She then moved to California where she studied screenwriting and was ranked at the top of her class.
Pay attention to your passion so that you can live in your authentic purpose.
What are some amazing things she achieved in her career?
Shonda is dominating Netflix and has cooked up many projects such as Inventing Anna, which aired in 2022. It’s a scandalous story about Anna Sorokin conning her fabulous friends out of money on New York’s social scene. Rhimes also has a deal for Bridgerton, a drama following the Regency era of London’s social scene, which you can binge watch right now. Plus, more deals in the works and is smashing it!
Throughout her career, she achieved so many amazing and notable accomplishments including creating Shondaland, which operates as part of Hearst Digital Media Network. Under this deal, is where she received the opportunity to produce content solely for internet entertainment services.
Before her deal started with Netflix, she created some of the best award winning tv-series, including Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder, and Scandal.
What are some of the lesson’s you can learn from her?
Never give up. Hold on to that childhood dream you had at 10, 11 or even 12. Pay attention to your passion so that you can live in your authentic purpose.
What are some resources Smart Girl Brand recommends to someone who wants to be a television producer?
Industry Websites & Publications:
Hollywood Reporter: Provides news, interviews, and articles on television production trends and industry insights.
Deadline: Features breaking news, analysis, and interviews related to the television industry.
Variety: Covers the latest developments and trends in television production, including interviews with industry professionals.
Industry Organizations:
Producers Guild of America (PGA): A professional association that promotes and protects the interests of producers in the entertainment industry.
National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE): Provides networking opportunities, conferences, and resources for television professionals.
By exploring resources, if you are an aspiring television producer, you can gain valuable knowledge, insights, and connections to help kickstart their careers.
