How Lena Waithe Sells Her Stories Without Selling Her Soul | Idea Generation

In 1991 a 7-year-old girl on Chicago’s South Side had an idea. Inspired by the stories she heard from her grandmother and mother, Lena Waithe decided she wanted to see the lives of herself and her family and neighbors depicted on television. Moving to Los Angeles in her early twenties, Waithe worked her way up through the television business, eventually winning an Emmy for her writing, creating The Chi, a beloved series loosely based on her own life, and launching her own production company, Hillman Grad. And despite facing sharp criticism for her distinct creative vision, Waithe remains committed to shaping her legacy her way. …and it all started with one idea. Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 2:10 - Growing Up / 3 Generation House 4:05 - Working at Blockbuster / Hoop Dreams 7:15 - Navigating Changing Audience Behavior 10:49 - Early Days as an Assistant in Hollywood 12:19 - Master of None “Thanksgiving” Episode 17:00 - Dealing With Scrutiny That Comes With Fame 22:42 - Does Culture Influence Creation? 26:05 - The Chi / Keeping it Fresh 7 Seasons In 32:10 - Finding Inspiration Today 35:50 - Future Aspirations / Leaving a Legacy Subscribe to Complex on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Complex Check out more of Complex here: http://www.complex.com https://twitter.com/Complex https://www.facebook.com/complex http://instagram.com/complex COMPLEX is a community of creators and curators, armed with the Internet, committed to surfacing and sharing the voices and conversations that define our new America. Our videos exemplify convergence culture, exploring topics that include music, sneakers, style, sports, and pop culture through original shows and Complex News segments. Featuring your favorite celebrities, authoritative commentary, and a unique voice, our videos make culture pop.