Reflecting on her career, Lena Waithe says, “I think about legacy a lot.” The writer-producer-actor, whose body of work includes creating Showtime drama The Chi and BET’s Twenties, has been on a steady upward trajectory since winning a primetime Emmy Award in 2017 for outstanding writing on Netflix’s Master of None. But for Waithe, success raised questions about where she was headed. “I didn’t know what I was actually trying to build. I wanted to have real agency over my career, but it was also not just about me, it’s about who I can work with.”
Together with Rishi Rajani, a studio exec who honed his skills at 20th Century Fox, UTA, Paradigm, and Studio 8, Waithe has created a multi-platform entertainment company that accomplishes both. At Hillman Grad Productions, Waithe and Rishi develop projects that often go against the industry grain, while also hiring up-and-coming talent...
Together with Rishi Rajani, a studio exec who honed his skills at 20th Century Fox, UTA, Paradigm, and Studio 8, Waithe has created a multi-platform entertainment company that accomplishes both. At Hillman Grad Productions, Waithe and Rishi develop projects that often go against the industry grain, while also hiring up-and-coming talent...
- 5/19/2024
- by Carita Rizzo
- Deadline Film + TV
Mumbai, Feb 15 (Ians) Love being in the air, we all having had our share of Valentine’s Day, it is the perfect time to delve deeper into the numerous aspects of love, creatively at that.
And who can be better that Karan Johar with his Dharmatic Productions team giving us a cute collection of stories (‘storiyaan’) suffused with the different flavours of six romantic liaisons from different parts of the country.
Released on Amazon Prime Video, ‘Love Storiyaan’ has endearing tales of unusual love blossoming in small and metropolitan cities, involving ordinary people — well, mostly. Dedicated to everyone who has ever loved, lost and was bold enough to fall in love again, the episodes feature inspired stories from Priya Ramani, Niloufer Venkatraman and Samar Halarnkar’s popular Instagram handle #IndiaLoveProject.
An anthology of six short films, this is as diverse as it can get. The construct is deliberately an attempt...
And who can be better that Karan Johar with his Dharmatic Productions team giving us a cute collection of stories (‘storiyaan’) suffused with the different flavours of six romantic liaisons from different parts of the country.
Released on Amazon Prime Video, ‘Love Storiyaan’ has endearing tales of unusual love blossoming in small and metropolitan cities, involving ordinary people — well, mostly. Dedicated to everyone who has ever loved, lost and was bold enough to fall in love again, the episodes feature inspired stories from Priya Ramani, Niloufer Venkatraman and Samar Halarnkar’s popular Instagram handle #IndiaLoveProject.
An anthology of six short films, this is as diverse as it can get. The construct is deliberately an attempt...
- 2/15/2024
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
It’s hard today to remember just how many people watched Mary Tyler Moore during her peak half-hour network comedy era, first with “The Dick Van Dyke Show”, then “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”. That Emmy-lauded newsroom sitcom reached 30 million homes, with some 100 million tuning in every Saturday night to watch Moore embody that rare thing on television: a single career woman who was not defined by the men in her life. At the time, this was radical.
Given that those millions were watching Moore back in the 60s and 70s, and later with Nick at Nite reruns, it’s no surprise that many people who did not grow up with Moore do not know her at all. Maybe they’d seen the iconic hat toss or heard a reference in a Weezer song (“Buddy Holly”).
That was the level of knowledge for the Harlem-born TV cinematographer-turned-documentary director James Adolphus,...
Given that those millions were watching Moore back in the 60s and 70s, and later with Nick at Nite reruns, it’s no surprise that many people who did not grow up with Moore do not know her at all. Maybe they’d seen the iconic hat toss or heard a reference in a Weezer song (“Buddy Holly”).
That was the level of knowledge for the Harlem-born TV cinematographer-turned-documentary director James Adolphus,...
- 8/21/2023
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
A version of this story about Lena Waithe and “Being Mary Tyler Moore” first appeared in the Down to the Wire: Comedy/Variety/Reality/Nonfiction issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
You’d expect people like James L. Brooks and Rob Reiner to be involved in a documentary about actress and producer Mary Tyler Moore, a TV pioneer who died in 2017 at the age of 80 — and they are part of the HBO documentary “Being Mary Tyler Moore.” But so are Lena Waithe, the Emmy-winning writer, producer and actress whose work includes the TV series “The Chi” and “Master of None” and the films “Queen & Slim” and “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” and Rishi Rajani, the CEO of Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions.
Neither of them was born when “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” went off the air in 1977, and Rajani knew virtually nothing of Moore when Waithe signed on to produce the documentary,...
You’d expect people like James L. Brooks and Rob Reiner to be involved in a documentary about actress and producer Mary Tyler Moore, a TV pioneer who died in 2017 at the age of 80 — and they are part of the HBO documentary “Being Mary Tyler Moore.” But so are Lena Waithe, the Emmy-winning writer, producer and actress whose work includes the TV series “The Chi” and “Master of None” and the films “Queen & Slim” and “The Forty-Year-Old Version,” and Rishi Rajani, the CEO of Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions.
Neither of them was born when “The Mary Tyler Moore Show” went off the air in 1977, and Rajani knew virtually nothing of Moore when Waithe signed on to produce the documentary,...
- 8/17/2023
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
Chennai, Aug 10 (Ians) Tamil megastar Rajinikanth’s latest movie, ‘Jailer’ is emerging as a blockbuster as fans are elated with his performance as well as the young director Nelson Dileepkumar. The movie produced by Kalanidhi Maran under the banner of Sun films is being screened in 900 theaters across Tamil Nadu.
R. Pradeep Kumar, a software engineer from Kerala settled in Chennai, while speaking to Ians said: “Rajani is marvelous and so is Mohanlal, the Malayalam super star who is playing a cameo in the movie. Can’t describe about the making of the movie and Nelson has proved once again that he is an indispensable presence in Tamil film world.”
The movie has a huge pre-review and fans were even conducting ‘moun vrat’ (vow of silence) at certain pockets of Tamil Nadu including Madurai and Tiruchi for the success of the movie.
Prabhu Pandian, an active member of Rajani fan...
R. Pradeep Kumar, a software engineer from Kerala settled in Chennai, while speaking to Ians said: “Rajani is marvelous and so is Mohanlal, the Malayalam super star who is playing a cameo in the movie. Can’t describe about the making of the movie and Nelson has proved once again that he is an indispensable presence in Tamil film world.”
The movie has a huge pre-review and fans were even conducting ‘moun vrat’ (vow of silence) at certain pockets of Tamil Nadu including Madurai and Tiruchi for the success of the movie.
Prabhu Pandian, an active member of Rajani fan...
- 8/10/2023
- by Agency News Desk
- GlamSham
Zdf Studios has secured the global distribution rights (excluding India) for “Colonies in Conflict,” a feature-length documentary that examines the perilous existence of wild bees in a fast-changing Indian landscape. Last year, the film was a finalist at the Jackson Wild Media Awards and won the best independent production award at Rotterdam’s Wildlife Film Festival.
“Colonies in Conflict,” which is directed and written by Rajani Mani, focuses on the threat to honeybees. These prolific pollinators are a keystone species that props up the ecological arc on which the survival of several species, including humans, depend. Human action is causing pollinator declines all over the world spelling disaster to nutritional security and the biodiversity of our ecosystems.
Mani gives a first-person account of how expanding cities are wiping out native bee populations. She discovers that we have very little time to reverse the catastrophe we started, but every species stopped...
“Colonies in Conflict,” which is directed and written by Rajani Mani, focuses on the threat to honeybees. These prolific pollinators are a keystone species that props up the ecological arc on which the survival of several species, including humans, depend. Human action is causing pollinator declines all over the world spelling disaster to nutritional security and the biodiversity of our ecosystems.
Mani gives a first-person account of how expanding cities are wiping out native bee populations. She discovers that we have very little time to reverse the catastrophe we started, but every species stopped...
- 4/17/2023
- by Leo Barraclough
- Variety Film + TV
At Variety’s 10 Producers to Watch panel, held March 31 at the Sun Valley Film Festival, the first order of business was defining what it means to be a producer, a title — and a role — that encapsulates a number of responsibilities on a film.
“The way that I describe it is you’ve got to know a little bit about a lot of things in filmmaking,” said Rachael Fung, whose film “Fremont” later won best narrative film in the festival’s One in a Million category, recognizing features made for less than $1 million. “You’ve got to be able to understand and talk to every single person that touches the film at every single stage. And also it’s about finding those directors and filmmakers and understanding their vision and figuring out the best way to get that to screen.”
“There are practical things like getting money for the movie, casting,...
“The way that I describe it is you’ve got to know a little bit about a lot of things in filmmaking,” said Rachael Fung, whose film “Fremont” later won best narrative film in the festival’s One in a Million category, recognizing features made for less than $1 million. “You’ve got to be able to understand and talk to every single person that touches the film at every single stage. And also it’s about finding those directors and filmmakers and understanding their vision and figuring out the best way to get that to screen.”
“There are practical things like getting money for the movie, casting,...
- 4/5/2023
- by Todd Gilchrist
- Variety Film + TV
How Two Sundance-Winning Films Forecast the Future for Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Production Company
Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad has much to celebrate in just the first few months of the new year: with two films, “A Thousand and One” and “Kokomo City” winning big at Sundance; the family film “Chang Can Dunk” launching March 10 on Disney+ ; a documentary about Mary Tyler Moore premiering at SXSW; and a sixth season of “The Chi” on the way.
The company, founded by the actor, producer and Emmy-winning writer in 2015, is at a pinnacle moment, but it’s also just getting started.
“Here’s the really interesting part about the next three months, it’s not like we snapped our fingers and got here,” Hillman Grad CEO Rishi Rajani says, as he and Waithe joined Variety for a discussion over Zoom following the announcement of their Sundance wins. “This next three months is the culmination of the last few years of what Hillman Grad has built.”
He...
The company, founded by the actor, producer and Emmy-winning writer in 2015, is at a pinnacle moment, but it’s also just getting started.
“Here’s the really interesting part about the next three months, it’s not like we snapped our fingers and got here,” Hillman Grad CEO Rishi Rajani says, as he and Waithe joined Variety for a discussion over Zoom following the announcement of their Sundance wins. “This next three months is the culmination of the last few years of what Hillman Grad has built.”
He...
- 2/3/2023
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
ReviewPradeep Sastry’s well-intentioned film moves away from snazzy headlines and big money to show you the grit it takes to succeed.Subha J RaoScreengrab: YouTube/ Rajani Thursday StoriesWe regularly read about yet another startup getting a mammoth fresh round of funding, of how venture capitalists and angel investors help make or break ideas, and of home-grown unicorns… Startups are also often the butt of jokes and memes, and Bengaluru even more so, being the hometown of so many of those. But do we pause to think of those who keep trying and never make it? Or of the sheer backbreaking labour and ideation involved in a startup? Pradeep Sastry tries to do just that with Made in Bengaluru, a three-hour ode to the city he so loves. That love is apparent in every frame — it has probably been a while since you’ve seen on screen the garden city...
- 12/30/2022
- by LakshmiP
- The News Minute
Lena Waithe’s Hillman Grad Productions and Pharrell Williams’ i am Other have partnered on a new series for HBO Max.
The half-hour, single-camera comedy, titled “Rollin,’” is in development under Hillman Grad’s overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.
According to the official logline, the series centers on “an easily corruptible newbie skater and her ragtag rink crew who find drive and deliverance on the hardwood at an Atl skating rink known for its good music, food, vibes and stellar stunts. They soon discover that walking away from your past is easier said than done — but as all skaters learn, when you fall down, you must get back up.”
Calaya Michelle Stallworth will write and executive produce the series, which is in the script development stage.
Waithe and Hillman Grad CEO Rishi Rajani are on board the project as executive producers, alongside Naomi Funabashi, the company’s president of film and TV.
The half-hour, single-camera comedy, titled “Rollin,’” is in development under Hillman Grad’s overall deal with Warner Bros. Television Group.
According to the official logline, the series centers on “an easily corruptible newbie skater and her ragtag rink crew who find drive and deliverance on the hardwood at an Atl skating rink known for its good music, food, vibes and stellar stunts. They soon discover that walking away from your past is easier said than done — but as all skaters learn, when you fall down, you must get back up.”
Calaya Michelle Stallworth will write and executive produce the series, which is in the script development stage.
Waithe and Hillman Grad CEO Rishi Rajani are on board the project as executive producers, alongside Naomi Funabashi, the company’s president of film and TV.
- 9/21/2022
- by Angelique Jackson
- Variety Film + TV
A 30-year-old housewife from Durgapur, West Bengal, Rajani Mishra impressed superstar Amitabh Bachchan with her inspiring conversation and her strong will to fulfill her dreams.
While taking the hotseat on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 14’, she tells the host Big B about herself and how she got married at the age of 17 and completed her graduation, post-graduation and B.Ed with the support of her husband and her in-laws and right now, she is pursuing a PhD.
She said: “Dreams are need to be knitted like a sweater, they take time but one day they are achieved.”
Later, she talks about taking care of her two kids and her mother-in-law, who is not keeping well. But despite facing all the odds she managed to continue her education and that became the reason she reached ‘Kbc 14’. She asserts: “Till I am not broken, I will not leave.”
Rajani also shares how her prize...
While taking the hotseat on ‘Kaun Banega Crorepati 14’, she tells the host Big B about herself and how she got married at the age of 17 and completed her graduation, post-graduation and B.Ed with the support of her husband and her in-laws and right now, she is pursuing a PhD.
She said: “Dreams are need to be knitted like a sweater, they take time but one day they are achieved.”
Later, she talks about taking care of her two kids and her mother-in-law, who is not keeping well. But despite facing all the odds she managed to continue her education and that became the reason she reached ‘Kbc 14’. She asserts: “Till I am not broken, I will not leave.”
Rajani also shares how her prize...
- 9/8/2022
- by Glamsham Bureau
- GlamSham
The Salon is doing the heavy lifting when it comes to elevating South Asian talent in the entertainment industry and to do that, they have selected the participants for the inaugural Salon Mentorship Program. Led by Disney’s Reena Singh, Hillman Grad’s Rishi Rajani, Writ Large manager Bash Naran, actor/comedian Nik Dodani (Atypical), and actor/producer Vinny Chhibber (The Red Line), the program has revealed its 23 mentors and mentees.
The individuals participating in The Salon Mentorship Program were selected from a nationwide pool of over 850 candidates recruited through an open application. After a thorough review and interview process, the finalists were paired with a mentor in one of five tracks: writing, acting, producing, directing, or executive leadership. The mentees will work closely with their respective mentors over the course of one year to identify areas of growth, discuss strategy, and expand opportunities. Mentees will also have exclusive access...
The individuals participating in The Salon Mentorship Program were selected from a nationwide pool of over 850 candidates recruited through an open application. After a thorough review and interview process, the finalists were paired with a mentor in one of five tracks: writing, acting, producing, directing, or executive leadership. The mentees will work closely with their respective mentors over the course of one year to identify areas of growth, discuss strategy, and expand opportunities. Mentees will also have exclusive access...
- 3/10/2021
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
In a historic elevation for BET, media personality B. Scott has been named star and executive producer of a new program — becoming the network’s first trans non-binary talent in those roles.
B. Scott will host the official after-show for Lena Waithe’s “Twenties,” BET’s hit series steeped in queer Black narratives.
“Twenties the After Show” will see the host touch on key themes from each episode in conversation with a lineup of guests. The after-show will begin production in the coming months and air as a companion to the series’ second season.
“At BET, we aim to be a home for all Black people, and we have a duty to ensure everyone is able to see themselves fully reflected in quality content,” said BET President Scott Mills. “The success of ‘Twenties’ is part of our evolution of inclusivity on all of our platforms and productions, and we are always seeking to do more.
B. Scott will host the official after-show for Lena Waithe’s “Twenties,” BET’s hit series steeped in queer Black narratives.
“Twenties the After Show” will see the host touch on key themes from each episode in conversation with a lineup of guests. The after-show will begin production in the coming months and air as a companion to the series’ second season.
“At BET, we aim to be a home for all Black people, and we have a duty to ensure everyone is able to see themselves fully reflected in quality content,” said BET President Scott Mills. “The success of ‘Twenties’ is part of our evolution of inclusivity on all of our platforms and productions, and we are always seeking to do more.
- 3/9/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Agra, Jan 31 (Ians) While young cricketers like T Natarajan, Shardul Thakur, Shubman Gill, Washington Sundar, Navdeep Saini and Mohammed Siraj get SUVs for their stellar performance in Australia, medal-winning wrestlers may have to split a buffalo.
With more physical strength probably needed to pin down opponents on a wrestling mat than to hurl a 156 gram cricket ball, it makes sense to gift wrestlers an endless supply of protein. But when the buffalo to be awarded is one and winners are many, the authorities can be caught in a bind like the Wrestling Federation of India (Wfi) was on Sunday.
"On the final day of the National Women Wrestling Championships in Agra, a local sports enthusiast expressed his desire to give buffalo worth Rs 1.5 lakh to the best athlete of the event; this was announced by Wfi chief (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) on the public address system," Dronacharya Awardee Mahavir Prasad told Ians.
With more physical strength probably needed to pin down opponents on a wrestling mat than to hurl a 156 gram cricket ball, it makes sense to gift wrestlers an endless supply of protein. But when the buffalo to be awarded is one and winners are many, the authorities can be caught in a bind like the Wrestling Federation of India (Wfi) was on Sunday.
"On the final day of the National Women Wrestling Championships in Agra, a local sports enthusiast expressed his desire to give buffalo worth Rs 1.5 lakh to the best athlete of the event; this was announced by Wfi chief (Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh) on the public address system," Dronacharya Awardee Mahavir Prasad told Ians.
- 1/31/2021
- by IANS
- GlamSham
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