Arts & Entertainment, Writing
Collaborating With Like-Minded Creatives
Lesson time 09:57 min
Issa suggests ways to lean on the expertise of creatives around you, particularly in a writers' room full of diverse voices and ideas.
Students give MasterClass an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars
Topics include: Writers' Room: Curating A Diversity of Voices · Working With Actors
Preview
[MUSIC PLAYING] - Collaboration and the ability to collaborate, I think is the most important skill set you can hone. I think I've become a better writer, a better creator, a better leader because of collaboration, because I'm willing to-- to learn and admit what I don't know and be confident in what I do know and recognize what I bring to the table. That just fosters a great work environment. And it fosters the best product that you can create. I remember embracing the mindset that if you do it by yourself, that is the credit, that is the reward. And everybody respects people who do it all themselves. And I think I embraced that to a fault, where I was just, like, it has to be me. It has to be all me. It has to be my writing. It has to be this. And then I think over time, I realized I'm-- I'm only so much by myself. And even with "Awkward Black Girl," the two web series before that was just kind of all me. And it was for fun. And "Awkward Black Girl" was, too. But it was-- it was when people started approaching me, of saying, can I help you because it seems like you need help? Or I'm trying to act, too. Can I be in it? That's when I was just, like, yeah. And the more I started accepting people's help, the more I realized, oh this is becoming significantly better. And you know, I'm so thankful to have them around. And I-- I started appreciating collaboration on a different level. I think the most important thing that you can do is tap into who is around you to create what you want to create. I think that there's a misconception that you constantly have to aspire to be mentored by people who have already done it, or to work with people who are more experienced. I'm a firm believer to meet people where they are and build with them. You're not going to reach a piece of this industry successfully without collaborating. Every facet of this industry has some sort of collaboration, whether you're getting notes, whether you're working with an art director, whether you're writing an entire season of something. There's always going to be collaboration. And you have to understand that, yes, it's your-- it can be your vision. And in some instances, it is under your control. But there are certain aspects that you have to let go. You have to let people be good at their jobs. You have to understand and trust people to know what they're talking about in areas that you don't. And your job is to just be confident in what you know and confident in the story that you're telling, confident in your vision. But just because you're confident doesn't mean that you need to control every single aspect of it. For those who don't know, most shows on television are created by someone or some people. And then, in order to keep the show going, to create the entire season, there's a writers' room. So some of your favorite shows may have been created by one or two people, but are written by multiple writers. And the writers' room is one of my favorite,...
About the Instructor
The Emmy-nominated star and creator of the award-winning HBO series Insecure is here to show you how it’s done. Issa Rae uses her signature do-it-yourself ethos, humor, and voice to offer writers and creators of all types the motivation and tools they’ll need on their journey. Issa shares how she has navigated Hollywood while Black and inspires you to reach your creative dreams and never take no for an answer.
Featured MasterClass Instructor
Issa Rae
Emmy-nominated writer, actor, and producer Issa Rae teaches you how to bring your creative vision to life.
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