In 2018, Lena Waithe, an Emmy winning writer and actor from Chicago, founded Hillman Grad, a film and television development and production company. With the help of Rishi Rajani, Hillman Grad would go on to become a force in the entertainment industry by offering unique perspectives, focusing on marginalized storytellers, and giving a platform to diverse voices across all mediums.

The company experienced rapid success securing deals and landing projects at Showtime, Netflix, Disney, Amazon, and many more. But as with any young company, success and scaling can lead to mismanagement and to setbacks, and Hillman Grad was no exception. On this week's episode of Idea Generation's All Angles, we talk with founder Lena Waithe, CEO Rishi Rajani, as well as VP of Operations, Justin Riley, and President of TV and Film, Naomi Funabashi, to get the complete story on how they built Hillman Grad into one of the most successful young production companies in Hollywood.

In 2018, Lena Waithe, an Emmy winning writer and actor from Chicago, founded Hillman Grad, a film and television development and production company. With the help of Rishi Rajani, Hillman Grad would go on to become a force in the entertainment industry by offering unique perspectives, focusing on marginalized storytellers, and giving a platform to diverse voices across all mediums. The company experienced rapid success securing deals and landing projects at Showtime, Netflix, Disney, Amazon, and many more. But as with any young company, success and scaling can lead to mismanagement and to setbacks, and Hillman Grad was no exception. On this week's episode of Idea Generation's All Angles, we talk with founder Lena Waithe, CEO Rishi Rajani, as well as VP of Operations, Justin Riley, and President of TV and Film, Naomi Funabashi, to get the complete story on how they built Hillman Grad into one of the most successful young production companies in Hollywood.

“IDEA GENERATION's All Angles” is a twelve-episode co-produced series highlighting brands from the fashion, food, media and music industries that shape and define today’s culture. Hosted by former Complex Chief Content Officer and founder of IDEA GENERATION—an independent media brand dedicated to the education and inspiration of tomorrow's creative entrepreneurs, whose eponymous interview show airs weekly on Bloomberg's linear cable channel—Noah Callahan-Bever, the unscripted series steps behind the curtain and talks with a variety of company leaders to uncover the crucial role that team chemistry plays in the making of the most popular culture-creating brands today.

“IDEA GENERATION's All Angles” is a twelve-episode co-produced series highlighting brands from the fashion, food, media and music industries that shape and define today’s culture. Hosted by former Complex Chief Content Officer and founder of IDEA GENERATION—an independent media brand dedicated to the education and inspiration of tomorrow's creative entrepreneurs, whose eponymous interview show airs weekly on Bloomberg's linear cable channel—Noah Callahan-Bever, the unscripted series steps behind the curtain and talks with a variety of company leaders to uncover the crucial role that team chemistry plays in the making of the most popular culture-creating brands today.

IDEA GENERATION's All Angles

IDEA GENERATION’s All Angles

Hillman Grad: Inside Lena Waithe's Powerhouse Fim & Television Production Company

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/ed5c77dd-fd0a-4911-b284-b05200ee97fd/transcript

In 1996, Adrian Moeller and Patrick Elasik published the first issue of Mass Appeal Magazine.



In the nearly three decades that followed, Mass Appeal would grow from an underground graffiti zine into a culture-defining multi-faceted entertainment brand with a hand in everything from digital content, to music distribution, to full-length documentaries and much, much more.



However, the rise of Mass Appeal has been anything but straightforward. From barely legal circulation schemes and bankruptcy to a shocking death in the family, the brand has endured extraordinary challenges and still, through it all, risen like a Phoenix. On this week's episode of All Angles, we talk to co-founder Adrian Moeller, Creative Director Sacha Jenkins, as well as current CEO Peter Bittenbender and rap legend / partner Nas, to hear the tale of two Mass Appeals, and understand how a brand can rise, fall, and rise again, thanks to an ensemble cast of elite like-minded culture creators

In 1996, Adrian Moeller and Patrick Elasik published the first issue of Mass Appeal Magazine.
 
In the nearly three decades that followed, Mass Appeal would grow from an underground graffiti zine into a culture-defining multi-faceted entertainment brand with a hand in everything from digital content, to music distribution, to full-length documentaries and much, much more.
 
However, the rise of Mass Appeal has been anything but straightforward. From barely legal circulation schemes and bankruptcy to a shocking death in the family, the brand has endured extraordinary challenges and still, through it all, risen like a Phoenix. On this week's episode of All Angles, we talk to co-founder Adrian Moeller, Creative Director Sacha Jenkins, as well as current CEO Peter Bittenbender and rap legend / partner Nas, to hear the tale of two Mass Appeals, and understand how a brand can rise, fall, and rise again, thanks to an ensemble cast of elite like-minded culture creators

Mass Appeal: How a Graffiti Zine Turned Entertainment Brand Changed Media

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/62b226cd-18a9-4ccc-8c11-b075011e9cd2/transcript

In 2002, accomplished SUPREME creative director Brendon Babenzien took his first swing at entrepreneurship and launched NOAH, a menswear brand born at the intersection of nautical living and skate culture. However, despite critical acclaim and downtown cool, the brand barely made it a few seasons before Brendon was forced to put NOAH on the backburner, and resume his role at Supreme. 

After a decade at the house James Jebbia built, in which he helped take SUPREME from a skate shop in soho to a global brand, Brendon decided it was time to revisit NOAH, and with the help of then new wife Estelle Bailey-Babenzien, he relaunched the brand in 2015 to industry fanfare.

In the 8 years since, NOAH has grown slowly and steadily while maintaining the core philosophical commitments that animate Brendon and Estelle. NOAH is a beacon of hope in menswear and fashion, exalting virtuous values like sustainability, quality over quantity, and forward-leaning but timeless designs.

On this week's episode of All Angles, we talk to founders Brendon and Estelle, as well as Brand Energy Director Johnny Knapp, to hear the full story of NOAH, and find out how the little shop on the corner of Mulberry street in lower Manhattan became an industry thought leader and global brand. 

In 2002, accomplished SUPREME creative director Brendon Babenzien took his first swing at entrepreneurship and launched NOAH, a menswear brand born at the intersection of nautical living and skate culture. However, despite critical acclaim and downtown cool, the brand barely made it a few seasons before Brendon was forced to put NOAH on the backburner, and resume his role at Supreme. After a decade at the house James Jebbia built, in which he helped take SUPREME from a skate shop in soho to a global brand, Brendon decided it was time to revisit NOAH, and with the help of then new wife Estelle Bailey-Babenzien, he relaunched the brand in 2015 to industry fanfare. In the 8 years since, NOAH has grown slowly and steadily while maintaining the core philosophical commitments that animate Brendon and Estelle. NOAH is a beacon of hope in menswear and fashion, exalting virtuous values like sustainability, quality over quantity, and forward-leaning but timeless designs. On this week's episode of All Angles, we talk to founders Brendon and Estelle, as well as Brand Energy Director Johnny Knapp, to hear the full story of NOAH, and find out how the little shop on the corner of Mulberry street in lower Manhattan became an industry thought leader and global brand.

NOAH CLOTHING: How a Former SUPREME Creative Director and an Interior Designer Built Their Own Menswear World

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7b9f40ec-76ea-4ce7-9312-b06f0003051a/transcript

In 2017, Raynell Steward, more commonly known by her social handle Supa Cent, launched The Crayon Case, a cosmetic kit for amateur makeup artists featuring bright, playful colors. 

In the ensuing 5 years, The Crayon Case would explode into a $50 million business, thanks to confluence of their innovative marketing approach, their vocal and hilarious founder, and a rock solid team of crafty individuals with unique professional experience—including time with the illustrious New Orleans record label, No Limit. But as with any company that enjoys rapid growth, mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and the Crayon Case would be forced to navigate uncharted waters. 

On this week's episode of All Angles, we talked to founder Supa Cent, business manager Russell Baker, and marketing director Iona Norris, to hear how together they built one of hottest makeup brands on the market.

In 2017, Raynell Steward, more commonly known by her social handle Supa Cent, launched The Crayon Case, a cosmetic kit for amateur makeup artists featuring bright, playful colors. In the ensuing 5 years, The Crayon Case would explode into a $50 million business, thanks to confluence of their innovative marketing approach, their vocal and hilarious founder, and a rock solid team of crafty individuals with unique professional experience—including time with the illustrious New Orleans record label, No Limit. But as with any company that enjoys rapid growth, mistakes were made, lessons were learned, and the Crayon Case would be forced to navigate uncharted waters. On this week's episode of All Angles, we talked to founder Supa Cent, business manager Russell Baker, and marketing director Iona Norris, to hear how together they built one of hottest makeup brands on the market.

The Crayon Case: How Social Media Star Supa Cent Built a $50 Million Cosmetics Brand

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7b57baaf-9935-487c-9d68-b0680068cf50/transcript

Hillman Grad: Inside Lena Waithe's Powerhouse Fim & Television Production Company

IDEA GENERATION's All Angles

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