HOLLYWOOD WEEKLY ENTERTAINMENT SPOTLIGHT
Beyond the Spotlight: How Black Creatives Can Build Their Own Opportunities
Tyler Perry, Issa Rae, and Quinta Brunson demonstrate the value of creating work before a major opportunity arrives.
By Hollywood Weekly Magazine
When people imagine an entertainment career, they often picture an actor on a movie screen or a singer performing before a crowded arena. But every performance depends on people whose names audiences may never recognize.
Someone writes the script, records the sound, creates the costumes, manages the schedule, and edits the footage.
For Black creatives considering their place in entertainment, those roles deserve attention. A useful starting question is: “What can I contribute to a production—and what can I create myself?”
The experiences of three major Black stars offer examples. Their paths were different, but each developed original work that helped demonstrate their abilities.
Tyler Perry: Building an audience through theater
Before his film and television success, Tyler Perry developed his storytelling through stage productions. His first play, I Know I’ve Been Changed, dates to 1992. His official biography describes years of financial hardship and persistence before the production found success in 1998. Theater became a foundation for his later work in film and television.
For an aspiring creative, the lesson is practical: a stage production can be a place to develop writing, performance, production skills, and relationships with an audience. Perry’s experience also shows that creating something and finding an audience can take years.
Issa Rae: Turning a web series into a calling card
Issa Rae created and starred in The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, which launched on YouTube in 2011. The series helped introduce audiences to her distinctive voice before she co-created and starred in HBO’s Insecure.
Her experience illustrates how a self-produced project can become a portfolio people actually watch. Rather than simply describing the stories she wanted to tell, Rae made work that demonstrated her writing, humor, and performance.
Quinta Brunson: Developing comedy through short videos
Before Abbott Elementary, Quinta Brunson gained attention through her self-produced Instagram series, Girl Who Has Never Been on a Nice Date. She also developed her career producing and appearing in videos at BuzzFeed. She went on to create, write, executive-produce, and star in Abbott Elementary.
Her early work shows how short projects can give a creator room to develop characters, comic timing, and storytelling. A brief video can still provide a clear example of someone’s creative abilities.
Discover the work that fits you
These examples do not mean every aspiring creative must become an actor or produce a television series.
Entertainment combines artistic, technical, and organizational skills. Someone who enjoys clothing could explore costume design or wardrobe work. A careful organizer might enjoy coordinating schedules, locations, and equipment. Photography, audio recording, graphic design, and bookkeeping can also connect to creative productions.
Before paying for training, talk with someone doing the work. Ask about a typical day, the skills they use, and how they found their first assignment.
Start with your local creative community
Hollywood can be a destination without being your starting point.
Community theaters, independent filmmakers, musicians, and arts organizations can provide places to meet collaborators and develop work. A theater may need promotional photographs. A musician may need a performance video. A filmmaker may need help organizing a shoot.
Clarify payment, responsibilities, deadlines, credit, and portfolio permissions before beginning an assignment.
Build evidence of your ability
Choose a few strong examples of your work and explain your contribution. An editor might assemble a short reel. A costume designer could photograph original designs. A writer could prepare a polished scene.
If a project involved several people, identify what you personally created or managed. An honest portfolio gives potential collaborators something concrete to evaluate.
This week, choose one role, practice one relevant skill, and create one example. Then introduce yourself to one local person or organization connected to that work.
Perry, Rae, and Brunson built very different careers. What readers can take from their beginnings is a manageable first step: make something that shows what you can do.
Hollywood Weekly Magazine has covered entertainment since 2001. Discover more at hollywoodweeklymagazine.com.