‘Scandal’ creator Shonda Rhimes brings ‘Year of Yes’ to Decatur
In 1994, television writer and executive producer Shonda Rhimes landed her first writing job as a researcher for the TBS documentary “Hank Aaron: Chasing the Dream,” which highlights the late Atlanta Braves right fielder, civil rights advocate and entrepreneur.
Rhimes, then a recent graduate of USC School of Cinematic Arts, was responsible for writing the script for the film. It won a Peabody Award the following year.
Rhimes told UATL she embraced the challenge, despite being initially intimidated to work on a project involving Aaron.
“I had no idea what I was doing, but I was excited by the possibility. It had to be perfect, and I was so scared of messing with his legacy. I just really wanted to do a good job,” Rhimes said.
Thirty-one years later, Rhimes — creator of scripted TV dramas “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Scandal” and “Bridgerton” — is once again sharing her road map to creativity and self-acceptance. She held a live conversation discussing her 2015 memoir, “Year of Yes: How to Dance It Out, Stand In the Sun and Be Your Own Person,” Thursday at First Baptist Church of Decatur.
The reissued book, which features seven new chapters, tells how the Emmy-winning Chicago native overcame insecurities and being introverted.
Rhimes said she struggled with impostor syndrome following the success of her early television shows.
“I had this ‘Who do you think you are?’ feeling inside and (was) afraid my company wouldn’t be successful. (With) every show I wrote, I was like ‘I’m going to get fired tomorrow,’ because in this business, you just don’t know,” Rhimes said.
“But watching it grow, with all of the small and bigger moves we’ve made, was me becoming more comfortable and confident in what I knew we could accomplish.”
Rhimes, 55, said she reissued the book for its 10th anniversary as an emotional and professional progress report.
“It’s a check-in after going back and reading the book again 10 years later. I realized I’m such a different person, but the rules still apply. I live a no regrets kind of life, and I can see where I’d let things go,” Rhimes said.
“You hit an age where you stop caring about certain things that really matter or bother you, because you don’t have the time, will or effort to listen to somebody’s opinion. I’m much more settled in my skin, power and my life.”
Rhimes was joined onstage by choreographer and director Debbie Allen. Allen joined “Grey’s Anatomy” as urologist and hospital lead Catherine Fox during its seventh season.
Allen has directing episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” since its sixth season.
The ladies laughed together and told stories about developing TV shows, along with marriage, raising children, playing golf and being Black women in Hollywood.
The CommUNITY ATL Choir performed an a cappella version of Bill Withers’ 1977 hit “Lovely Day.”
Rhimes praised Allen for her straightforward, extroverted candor.
“She’s such a truth-teller who’s always going to say exactly what she thinks, not mince words, ask the hard questions and be fun,” she said.
For two decades, Rhimes has led Shondaland, a film, television and digital media production company. She signed a multiyear content development deal for over $100 million with streamer Netflix in 2017.
The deal was renewed and expanded with gaming, virtual reality, branding and merchandising four years later.
Rhimes, who was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2017, wants “Year of Yes” to ignite diverse creatives to pursue their passion.
“I had no peers for a long time, and it’s a very lonely place to be. I want a thousand women and men of color behind me telling stories in different ways, across mediums and have a ton of peers,” she said.
The book is also her advice to encourage individuals to come out of their comfort zone.
“I hope it gives people a chance to really look at their lives, figure out what to be grateful for in all of this mess and maybe give them the courage to do something outward,” she said.
About the Author
Christopher A. Daniel is a Black Culture reporter for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He is an Atlanta-based, award-winning journalist, cultural critic and ethnomusicologist. He previously taught courses at Morehouse College, Clark Atlanta University and Georgia State University.
