How did Shonda Reims become the most powerful woman on television?

Tomorrow (Friday) will air on Netflix the new period series “Bridgerton”, which deals with the romantic intrigues among high society in London of the early 19th century. But anyone expecting a restrained and tie-dyed historical drama will be surprised, to say the least, because “Bridgerton” comes from the creator of Shonda-Land – the production company of Shonda Reims. And that means the series, based on the popular novels of American author Julia Quinn (Julie Pottinger’s pen name), is aimed at completely different districts.

“‘Downton Mansion’ meets ‘Desperate Housewives,'” she was described in The Oprah Magazine, which should give you an idea of ​​her character. And we’ll add “One Who Knows” here, too, because the plot of “Bridgerton” is narrated by a mysterious aristocrat, in the voice of the legendary Julie Andrews (“The Sound of Music”), who knows all the little and dirty secrets of her class.

On the other hand, to find out more about what awaits you, you may also need the body of Reims’ work as a creator and producer. It is not for nothing that her name appears in the letters of Kiddush Livna on the Bridgetton communicators and trailers, although the series was created by another, Chris Van Dawson (who worked with Reims on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal” as producer and writer). Shonda Reims and Shonda-Land have long been not only names but also titles, ones that carry with them the stylistic characteristics of the one who has made herself an empire of content.

For the past 15 years, since “Grey’s Anatomy” aired, Reims has made Shonda Land a real brand – but not just as a creator, but also as a producer. During this time, Reims managed to create three series (“Gray”, the spin-off “Private Clinic” and “Scandal”), and produced a host of others, including “The Killer’s Guide” and “Station 19” (also a “Gray” spin-off “). And like Ryan Murphy, another super-producer who turned himself into a brand (and like Reims, he also signed a long-term contract with Netflix), her fingerprint is evident in all of them.

Almost all of Reims’ series take place in an intense professional setting; Her protagonists are charismatic, sharp and complex idealists, and specifically her protagonists – strong and uncompromising women. The plots are feverish, romantic and melodramatic, and the dialogues witty and lightning fast. Like Murphy, Reims is drawn to the sensational and extreme, and like him, she also knows how to wrap and present the works that come out of her hands in a wonderfully polished and polished manner, designing a completely addictive final product. But the dubious title “Guilty Pleasure” that often accompanies her works – and which Murphy, who receives similar “compliments” from time to time in his more campy works – Reims is not so fond of. “It’s so annoying,” she said in an interview with Salon, “it’s like saying the series is a piece of junk, but I can’t stop watching it.”

The truth is that the new one, “Bridgerton”, looks a little different in the landscape of Shonda-Land – both because it is a period drama that takes place in England, and also because its protagonists are not doctors, firefighters, aggressive political fixers or shrewd lawyers, but wealthy aristocrats. vacant. In other words, the emphasis in “Bridgerton” is on the romantic drama.

But aside from the lack of a distinctly professional environment, you can be sure that Reims’ DNA is rife in every frame of her, and not just at the ethnically diverse cast level, another element that characterizes her work. Reims has already included the recipe to perfection, and there is no reason to change it now – certainly not in her first work under the huge contract with Netflix ($ 100 million for four years, according to reports), the one that should become a hit and justify her move there from her warm and loving home in a decade and a half Recent, ABC Network. Under the new contract, it was recently reported that Reims is working on 12 new projects for Netflix. “Bridgerton” is the first of them to hit the screen.

Whoever is looking for the recipe that made Reims who she is, needs little more than to review her history – and specifically, the influence of her parents on her, as well as the influence of the mentor she found for herself at an early stage. Reims, 50, was born in Chicago to Vera and Eli, both administrators in the education system. Her mother graduated from college while raising Shonda and her five brothers and sisters, and later completed a doctorate. Her father, who holds a degree in business administration, became the director of technology and communications at the prestigious University of Southern California (USC).

When Reims started working in the industry, while still in college, she found another source of inspiration: Deborah Martin Chase, a true film and television producer and pioneer – Chase is the first African-American producer to sign a production contract with one of the big studios (Disney) , As well as the first to produce a film that grossed more than $ 100 million at the box office (“The Princess Diaries”). Reims started working for Chase as an intern, and later got her first big chances from the veteran producer, who set herself the goal of promoting women in the industry. “Debra Martin Chase gave me an amazing example,” Reims tweeted in 2019, “she helped me get my first job as an assistant, then hired me to write my first multi-budget studio film. And along the way she pushed me, challenged Me and taught me about the industry. ”

That studio film was “Crossroads” starring Britney Spears in her first film role, and despite the unpopular reviews, the film ended with a handsome profit. Reims also collaborated with Chase on “Princess Diaries 2” which she wrote. Then, when Reims broke out with “Grey’s Anatomy” on ABC, they parted ways. But the point is that the lessons Reims learned from her parents and mentor are the ones most responsible for her success. And the most important lesson is “Do not give up.”

Reims knew failures. Quite a few of them, in fact. The series “Off the Map”, which deals with doctors stationed in a remote village in the South American jungle, was canceled after one season, as well as the period drama “Still Star-Crossed”. “Catch”, the comedic thriller produced by Reims starring Miriam Ainos (” “The Killing”) and Peter Krause (“Deep in the Ground”), won a similar fate after only two seasons and despite favorable reviews. But Reims continued on her path, imbued with faith in herself and her abilities, towards further conquests.

“I’m smart, I’m talented, I take advantage of the opportunities that come my way, and I work really, really hard,” she wrote in her autobiographical book, Year of Yes. “Don’t call me lucky – call me Badass.” And this is what she is, in the end – Badass, a tough, focused and goal-oriented creator, who marks a goal and puts it on with everything she has. And the most impressive thing about Reims is that she did it her way, even if along the way she came across a variety of glass ceilings resulting from being a black woman, in an industry notorious for the homogeneity of her seniors. One by one, these ceilings were smashed. Today, Reims is one of the most powerful women in the American television industry, and is estimated to have amassed a fortune of about $ 140 million.

And Heigl was not the only one: neither was the relationship between Sandra or, one of the prominent stars of “Gray,” and between Reims and not always a genre in roses, as she recounted or in an interview with “Variety.” Reims also reportedly quarreled with Tim Daley, the star of “Private Clinic,” and eventually even cut his character from the series. Beyond that, even at the net professional level, her lack of sentimental approach has left some players very hurt by her conduct. After filming the pilot episode of “Private Clinic,” Reims replaced actress Marin Dungeon with actress Audra McDonald, a move Dungeon only discovered after it was performed. A similar fate befell actress Britney Oldford, who was fired by Reims from the legal drama “For the Benefit of the Whole” moments after the pilot was filmed and replaced by actress Brit Robertson. Actress Bethany Joy Lenz, who was supposed to star in Reims ‘”Catcher,” did not even make the pilot, and was fired after the series’ official cast was announced in 2016.

There are more and more stories, but they can all be summed up like this: When it comes to work, its series and its brand – Reims insists on absolute control. Emotions, insults and a stained reputation do not really move her. This is her way, or the way to another place. Even stars like Patrick Dempsey, McDremy from Gray, are not immune. In 2015, after 11 seasons, Dempsey announced he would step down. According to his announcement, the move was made because he wanted to spend more time with his family, but according to stubborn rumors circulating, he was fired by Reims because he had an affair with a young intern in the set.

Even in her private life Reims does it her way. In 2002 she adopted her first daughter, and in 2012 she adopted another girl. In 2013, she gave birth to a biological child, through a surrogate mother. And what about a husband? Reims is not interested, thank you. In an interview with Oprah Winfrey she said: “I love having spouses, I love going out on dates. But I don’t want a husband in my house.” She got this enlightenment when she went out with someone for a while, as she told in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, and realized that she was not really interested in marriage. “We’re all so conditioned to want it, and I felt something was wrong with me. But once I told it to my family, it was fantastic. Now when someone asks me if I want it, I answer, ‘No, I’m looking for a friend, not a husband.’ “.

And here’s the whole point: Shonda Reims knows exactly what she wants, and does not feel the need to apologize for it. This is the key to her immense success, as well as her creative code – Reims provides her viewers with the content she would like to watch for herself, as she has said many times over the years. This ethos, coupled with endless diligence, the mental strength required to overcome obstacles and obstacles and the shining example of the distances provided by her parents and Deborah Martin Chase, the producer who believed in her, made her a leading force in the American television industry, a role model and icon of the black community. The new “Bridgerton” is another stone on its endless journey to the summit, as people like Reims never stop marching – even if they have already reached their destination.