Issa Rae evolved her online persona from the "awkward Black girl" into a media powerhouse, creating multiple hit series along the way. Now, she’s using her success to inspire and uplift the next generation of creators, guiding them as they carve out their own paths in the industry.
(Michael Loccisano, Getty Images.)
Issa Rae’s latest partnership is a full circle moment. The “Insecure” creator, who got her start by creating her own lane — and community — on the internet, is helping up-and-coming creators do the same.
ColorCreative, the management company co-founded by Rae and led by CEO Talitha Watkins, has partnered with Tubi to launch Stubio, a program that gives five creative teams the opportunity to develop their debut projects, which will premiere on the streaming service. ColorCreative will mentor the creators, and Tubi will fund their productions.
“To be able to participate in a pipeline for the next generation of creators to have a fast track into this industry is all that I’m about,” Rae told HuffPost. “And to be able to also mentor these creatives on their journey, in an organized, cohesive way to produce something tangible, is also what I’m about.”
“Sometimes mentorship can feel like ‘Oh, I don’t get to see the results,’ or ‘It’s a lot of advice and I don’t know if it’s really helping,’” Rae expressed. “But I get to also see the fruits of their labor in real time. And they get to have something that they can say that they worked on that gets to see the light of day via Tubi. That’s the most important thing, a platform for their work.”
Nicole Parlapiano, Tubi's chief marketing officer, emphasized that having Issa Rae and ColorCreative involved is highly impactful, especially considering Rae’s breakthrough into the industry with her award-winning web series The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl.
Check out episode 1 of Issa Rae's web series below! :
“It’s not that other people haven’t done it, but she’s the most prominent and most prolific,” Parlapiano said. “I think the sad thing is that there haven’t been many Issa's since. It’s happening very rarely at this point, and it feels like it should have been more of a watershed moment for more of these digital creators to be able to get an HBO deal and make something, but it hasn’t exactly worked out that way.”
Tubi has greenlit four exciting new projects from emerging creators. These include a docuseries capturing rapper Lady London as she creates her debut album, a feature film inspired by Kelon Campbell’s viral TikTok character Terri Joe, a workplace comedy set in a diner from Grant Gibbs, Ashley Gill, and Robin Jordan, and a comedy special showcasing fresh stand-up talent, featuring Cris Sosa, Daniela Mora, and Grant Moore. The fifth project spot will go to one of 14 applicants, with the final selection based on achieving 15,000 audience engagements on Tubi’s platform. #stubios
“I am deeply passionate about creating pathways to sustainable careers into Hollywood for creatives of diverse backgrounds. We at ColorCreative are thrilled to see Tubi taking this important and bold step, and we’re excited to support and guide Stubios creatives on their first long-form projects," Rae said previously.”
Known for its ad-supported, free content, Tubi has 80 million users and has established itself as a hub for independent Black artists to shine. Nicole Parlapiano, Tubi’s Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized the platform’s unique business model, which differs from paid streamers such as Netflix and Hulu, allowing for more innovative approaches to content and creators.
Issa Rae acknowledged the challenges creators face in today’s saturated market but believes Stubios will help spotlight their work. In addition to her work with Tubi, Issa Rae is working on various personal projects, including a buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA, which will be released in theaters on Jan. 24.
She continues to build her empire, creating a legacy that will endure beyond her lifetime.
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