Issa Rae transformed her online presence from an “awkward Black girl” to a media mogul with several hit series.
Now, she’s channeling her success into empowering the next generation of creators, helping them forge their own paths in the industry.
As shared in a press release, the award-winning actress, writer, and producer’s management firm, ColorCreative, which promotes women and minority talent, has partnered with Tubi to launch Stubios.
The program will help five creative teams develop debut projects that will premiere on the streaming platform. ColorCreative will provide mentorship, while Tubi will fund the productions, according to TubeFilter.
“I am deeply passionate about creating pathways to sustainable careers into Hollywood for creatives of diverse backgrounds,” Issa Rae previously said in a statement. “We at ColorCreative are thrilled to see Tubi taking this important and bold step, and we’re excited to support and guide Stubios creatives on their first long-form projects.”
Tubi has already approved four projects, including a docuseries featuring rapper Lady London as she records her debut album and a feature film inspired by Kelon Campbell’s viral TikTok character, Terri Joe. The fifth slot will be awarded to a creator from a pool of 14 applicants, with the winner being the one who garners 15,000 engagements on the streaming platform.
Known for its ad-supported, free content, Tubi has 80 million users and has established itself as a hub for independent Black artists to shine. Nicole Parlapiano, Tubi’s Chief Marketing Officer, emphasized the platform’s unique business model, which differs from paid streamers such as Netflix and Hulu, allowing for more innovative approaches to content and creators.
“It’s not that other people haven’t done it, but she’s the most prominent and most prolific,” Parlapiano commented on the collaboration with Issa Rae, HuffPost reported. “I think the sad thing is that there haven’t been many Issas since. It’s happening very rarely at this point, and it feels like it should have been more of a watershed moment for more of these digital creators to be able to get an HBO deal and make something, but it hasn’t exactly worked out that way.”
Rae is known for blending personal narratives with broader social themes. As reported by Huffpost, after gaining popularity with her web series “The Misadventures of an Awkward Black Girl,” which premiered 13 years ago, she redefined representation on television with “Insecure,” the HBO series that ran for five seasons from 2016 to 2021 and explored the complexities of modern Black life and relationships.
Issa Rae acknowledged the challenges creators face in today’s saturated market but believes Stubios will help spotlight their work.
“This is a clear example of taking risks,” she told HuffPost. “And financing and putting money in the future of storytellers as opposed to the stale, I think, kind of safe, boring version of mining IP down to its fricking nubs.”
HuffPost reported that, in addition to her work with Tubi, Issa Rae is working on various personal projects, including a buddy comedy starring Keke Palmer and SZA, which will be released in theaters on Jan. 24.
She is continuously expanding her empire, creating a legacy that surpasses her life.
As previously reported by AFROTECH™, she self-funded Ensemble, a company that connects brands with Black and brown creators. The company’s ultimate mission is to help close the pay gap between creators of color and their white counterparts.
As a member of the ownership group for the U.S. SailGP racing team, she played a key role in the team’s largest acquisition in its history, according to AFROTECH™.
Additionally, she introduced Viarae Prosecco, a sparkling white wine available at Target, as AFROTECH™ previously reported in 2023. Plus, we also shared that she co-founded the haircare brand Sienna Naturals.
Issa Rae — who has her own media company, Hoorae — also plans to open a studio in Inglewood, CA, to support other creators.
“We have the investors; it’s just about locking in on that land,” Issa Rae said of the project, AFROTECH™ shared in February 2024. “When I tell you we’re ready, we’re ready. … I have my little stake in this limited plot of land, and I’m gonna make sure that I bring in as many people to live on it as possible. So until we run out of opportunities, they’ll be good.”