Episode 36 - Rishi Rajani - President at Hillman Grad Productions
"I do think loyalty to producers is a smart thing. If they are with you through your scrappy $200,000 production, you definitely want them by your side for the $5 million production, $30 million production, and $150 million production.”
-Rishi Rajani
Rishi Rajani is a voracious book reader and creator of protest art. He is President of Film/TV at Hillman Grad Productions, Lena Waithe’s production company.
Born in London and raised in Upstate NY and Portland, Oregon, Rishi discovered his love for producing while studying at NYU.
He got his start as an intern at 20th Century Fox's book to film division. Realizing that he needed to be in LA to actually become a producer, he packed up and landed in the mailroom at UTA.
He admits that while the assistant path is challenging, it is one he recommends since it’s an apprenticeship.
By 2018, he became President of Hillman Grad and they have been breaking ground together ever since. He was an Executive Producer on the shows BOOMERANG and TWENTIES, produced the Sundance award winning film THE 40 YEAR OLD VERSION, and continues to manage Hillman Grad’s ever-growing slate of films, TV shows, podcasts, commercials, and music videos.
While inclusion and diversity are a focus of every studio and production company mandate these days, few are practicing what they preach.
Rishi, Lena, Alex Philips and the Hillman Grad team are invested in changing the narrative by giving new filmmakers a voice and creating content that pushes culture forward.
This week, we chat why creating protest art matters, how to level up, and our mutual optimism that the Black Lives Matter movement will bring drastic and tangible changes to our world.
Oh, and an exclusive! He also reveals the title of his memoir whenever he gets around to writing it: BROWN BOY LEARNS A LOT OF THINGS: THE LIFE STORY.
Can’t wait to hear what you think of this week’s episode!