The Works of Shonda Rhimes, the first book in Bloomsbury's Screen Storytelling series, brings together a collection of essays that look critically at the works of this prominent female screenwriter of color whose work in television is well known, respected, and inclusive.
This is the first book-length study of Rhimes' work, despite her important imprint on television history, including stand-out shows and miniseries, including Grey's Anatomy, Bridgerton, Scandal, and Inventing Anna. Most of her television series include women of color in significant (if not central) roles, and all of her female protagonists are exquisitely complex, juggling ongoing complications between their personal and professional lives. Including essays written by film and television scholars, screenwriting practitioners, and screenwriting consultants, each chapter boasts about one of Rhimes' most significant television series. The contributors explore topics of interest to screenwriters and film scholars, such as Rhimes' model for writing and developing pilot scripts and limited series, as well as representation on screen, the development of female protagonists, the inclusion of LGBTQ characters, and colorblind casting. Since Rhimes has also created the Shondaland brand, several essays explore her business practices, within and beyond the television industry, and the ways in which she develops products under her name, expanding her reach beyond that of a typical showrunner.