When Lena Waithe made history at last year’s Emmy Awards she used her time at the podium to recognize her “LGBTQIA family.” “I see each and every one of you,” the “Master of None” scribe and actress emphasized. “The things that make us different — those are superpowers. Every day when you walk out the door and put on your imaginary cape and go out there and conquer the world, because the world would not be as beautiful as it is if we weren’t in it.” Now “The Chi” creator is set to help build a more inclusive media industry where underrepresented voices are heard. She’s teaming up with “financing and production company Sight Unseen Pictures in an effort to develop and finance independent projects that identify and champion emerging voices currently underserved in the marketplace,” Hollywood’s Black Renaissance reports.
“All of us at Sight Unseen are thrilled to be partnering with the exceptionally talented Lena Waithe,” said Sight Unseen co-founders Julia Lebedev, Eddie Vaisman, and Oren Moverman. “We share the same goal of championing fresh, new, and interesting stories and Lena embodies that unique perspective. We aim to continue to elevate talented writers and directors who tell stories that push cultural and social boundaries.”
Waithe added, “I’m so excited to be partnering with such a forward thinking production company like Sight Unseen. My mission is to help introduce the industry to new and exciting voices, while putting money in those writers’ pockets.”
Last September Waithe became the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing. She took home the honor for the “Thanksgiving” episode of “Master of None,” which saw her character Denise gradually coming out to her family over the course of decades. Her new Showtime series, “The Chi,” debuted in January was recently renewed for a second season. The Chicago-set drama’s first season follows the interconnected lives of individuals linked by the discovery of a body. The former “Bones” writer also has a new show in development at TBS, “Twenties.” The comedy centers on a queer woman and her two BFFS.
