Hardware Podcasts

HOORAE: Issa Rae

How I Built This · 26 Sept 2022 · 1h 20m

What this episode covers

Issa Rae, founder of HOORAE Media, explains how she transitioned from making low-budget college web series like 'Dorm Diaries' and 'The F Word' to creating the breakout hit 'Insecure'. She details the pivot to 'The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl', which utilized a Kickstarter campaign to fund production and attracted Pharrell Williams' support, leading to her HBO deal. Rae also discusses the painful failure of her earlier pitch 'I Hate L.A. Dudes' with Shonda Rhimes, which taught her the importance of maintaining a distinct creative voice against network notes.

Most relevant to

early-stage companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
HOORAE Media, Color Creative, HBO
Products
Insecure, The Mis-Adventures of Awkward Black Girl, Dorm Diaries, The F Word, I Hate L.A. Dudes
Tools
Kickstarter
Also
Shonda Rhimes, Pharrell Williams, Larry Wilmore

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