Shonda Rhimes On Raising The Next Generation Of Showrunners | TIME

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Published 2015-12-01

Few people have changed the face of television over the last decade more than showrunner Shonda Rhimes. The creator of Grey's Anatomy and Scandal and executive producer of How to Get Away With Murder has developed a stable of shows in which black women fill leading roles and equal weight is given to characters who are'”as Oprah put it in her 2013 TIME 100 tribute to Rhimes'”'gay, straight, single, divorced, lost, searching. ' And these stories are far from niche offerings'”growing audiences and the Television Academy alike continue to prove their universal appeal. Rhimes grew up in a household where creativity was a virtue, with a mother who took her storytelling seriously from the moment she began spinning yarns. When she broke out with the wildly successful Grey's Anatomy in 2005, she found a cadre of women in Hollywood eager to help cultivate her future in the industry. Rather than meeting with competition, she says, 'The women that I have met in this town have always been really embracing. ' When asked how we might continue to build a television landscape that more closely reflects the diversity of the real world, Rhimes' answer is simple. 'It's who is telling the stories,' she says, 'because the people telling the stories are the people deciding who you see onscreen, they're the people who are deciding who are in the writers rooms, they're the people deciding on the crew. ' The onus, she says, is on her and her colleagues to raise a generation of showrunners to fill those screens, those writers rooms and those crews with storytellers who reflect the full range of human experience.
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Shonda Rhimes On Raising The Next Generation Of Showrunners | TIME
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All Comments (21)

@tomorrowsforecast1799 7 years ago

The hug between Taraji and Viola was so genuine and real! I loved it!
@stylecollective-qt9um 7 years ago

That hug was EVERYTHING.
@ethanchen5278 4 years ago

I really just wanna give a shout out to Shonda because of how to get away with murder, I got into law school and I'm still continuing watching the show to remind myself why I decided to get into law
@egeehaque9016 3 years ago

That early support from her mother is beautiful. I love hearing stories where black parents nurture their child's creativity without question.
@sophiacastano7501 8 years ago

Shonda, one day I will make you proud. THAT I promise is on my bucket list.
@iamtvblake 3 years ago

This just made me believe I could be a showrunner! So encouraging and enlightening. Thank you Shonda for all you do behind the scenes to represent us! 😘😍😘😍😘😍❤❤❤❤💋💋💋💋😇😇😇😇
@rh3aa996 4 years ago

SUPPORT YOUR KIDS CREATIVITY!
@josephmicheal2778 6 years ago

I really like this person. Nothing but respect
@luckyshaz413 4 years ago

I'm gonna go ahead and say she's my favourite producer
@shortmocha2005 5 years ago

She’s my hero. Shonda is my absolute hero
@chrismcbride2032 7 years ago

I am working toward being a showrunner! Thank you for being a great inspiration Shonda!
@MJ-tz1je 5 years ago

Ellen’s just like, hey!
@qamarmaawiya3211 7 years ago

shonda is beautiful.
@BSMART18 8 years ago

I love this so much...
@cm1600 5 years ago

I hope one day I am able to tell Miss Shonda Rhimes to her face, just how much she inspired me, and encouraged me, at this time in my life. When I struggle to believe in myself. Her words are so powerful and encouraging. ❤️
@summerprice6651 4 years ago

I love all her shows she’s so good at what she does until the end of the shows but no shade🤣
@bedshaped85 6 years ago

I ❤ Shonda!
@lukresnzoua1283 3 years ago

Powerful woman, shonda the boss 💪💪💪💪💪💪
@majormajor7827 3 years ago

So so positive. I love you black queens
@kathylong8345 3 years ago

Looking and Praying for Many More GREAT TV SHOWS N 2022!!! ANOTHER SHONDRA YEAR PLEASE!