Our favorite 'Awkward Black Girl' Issa Rae is on a roll dishing out project after project. Not only is she working on an HBO series, and starring in a few webseries, she's also producing and curating content on her YouTube channel.


The latest project she's behind is entitled "Black Actress," and falls right in line with an issue that hits close to home for African-American actresses and creatives trying to make it in Hollywood. The webseries, created, written by and starring actress Andrea Lewis, features cameos and commentary from the likes of Tatyana Ali, Naturi Naughton, Essence Atkins, and Jenifer Lewis.


"My channel started off with 'Awkward Black Girl' but I always wanted to be a curator of great content, so when I saw "Black Actress" it was just like 'wow this story is hilarious.' I know so many women that have gone through this as an actress," said Rae.


The mockumentary style series centers around “Kori Bailey,” played by Lewis, as she "struggles with the pursuit of getting her big break."


You may recognize Andrea Lewis from her role as "Hazel" on the hit show "Degrassi: The Next Generation." Since then, Lewis has appeared in guest and recurring roles on the Syfy network and CTV and is set to appear in BET's upcoming TV movie "A Very Larry Christmas."


"I grew up in the acting industry and I'd yet to have an experience on a set where I didn't feel like 'the black girl' whether it was the way a script was written or how the cast/producers/director interacted with me," Lewis said in an email to The Huffington Post.


"I just wanted to explain to people that 'I'm just like you!' I'm vulnerable, I have dreams, I'm pursuing a tough career, I have a passion, I have an opinion, sometimes I make mistakes, I'm a person."


To fund her project, Lewis launched an IndieGoGo campaign in March and successfully raised the $20,000 needed. The first official trailer debuted earlier this week on Issa Rae's YouTube channel. In addition to Rae, Tatyana Ali is on board as a producer and one of the many stars making a cameo appearance.


"We're in a great time as an artist or creative person because you don't have to wait for anyone to give you the 'ok' to do something you want," Lewis tells us as she explains her motivation for launching this project. "So I let go of my doubt and I put one foot in front of the other and now I'm here."


The role of diversity in television and film along with the stereotypical roles often portrayed by black actresses has fostered a host of discussions and debates, particularly in light of the success of projects with African-American females in lead roles.


But women in the industry are raising awareness about the issue. Tony award-winning actress Viola Davis has gone as far as saying we're in "crisis mode" in terms of the roles that are available to black women.


Kerry Washington, whose role as Olivia Pope marks the first time a black woman has played a lead role on a primetime network drama since Diahann Carroll in 1968, echoed that sentiment.


“I’d never seen a woman like this on television before,” she said during an interview with The New York Times.


“And I wasn’t even thinking about race or the fact that I’d never seen an African-American woman as the lead of her own network show, but I knew that this smart, sophisticated, powerful and vulnerable woman was a tremendous opportunity.”




The series premieres on November 5th 2013 on Issa Rae's Youtube channel. Until then, you can watch the trailer above.







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  • Queen Latifah


    Queen Latifah attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Queen Latifah


    Queen Latifah attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • The Actresses From 'Girlfriends' Pose With The Show's Creator


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: (L-R) Actress Jill Marie Jones, producer Mara Brock Akil, actress Persia White, actress Tracee Ellis Ross and actress Golden Brooks attend Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Keke Palmer


    Keke Palmer attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Keke Palmer


    Keke Palmer attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Keke Palmer


    Keke Palmer attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Nia Long


    Nia Long attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Tatyana Ali


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Actress Tatyana Ali attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Tatyana Ali


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Actress Tatyana Ali attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Michelle Williams


    Michelle Williams attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Eve


    Eve attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • La La Anthony


    La La Anthony attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Amber Riley


    Amber Riley attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Jennifer Hudson


    Jennifer Hudson attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Jennifer Hudson


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Actress/singer Jennifer Hudson attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Kelly Rowland


    Kelly Rowland attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Kelly Rowland


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Singer Kelly Rowland attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Venus Williams


    Venus Williams attends BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Ja Rule, Aisha Atkins


    Ja Rule and his wife Aisha Atkins attend BET Network's Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Ty-Licia Hooker


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Ty-Licia Hooker attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Ameena Matthews


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Ameena Matthews attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Jill Marie Jones


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Actress Jill Marie Jones attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Erica Ash


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Actress Erica Ash attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Soledad O'Brien


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Journalist Soledad O'Brien attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Po Johnson


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Po Johnson attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Shaun Ross


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Model Shaun Ross attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Alice Smith


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Singer Alice Smith attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Venus Williams


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Tennis player Venus Williams attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Brooklyn Wright


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Brooklyn Wright attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Sanya Richards-Ross


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Track and Field athlete Sanya Richards-Ross attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Eden Duncan Smith, Amanda Troya and Nicolette Pierini from the cast of Annie


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Actors Eden Duncan Smith, Amanda Troya and Nicolette Pierini from the cast of Annie attend Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Penwah


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Actress Penwah attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Luke James


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Singer Luke James attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Luke James


    NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 26: Singer Luke James attends Black Girls Rock! 2013 at New Jersey Performing Arts Center on October 26, 2013 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Gilbert Carrasquillo/FilmMagic)




  • Marian Wright Edelman


    Marian Wright Edelman attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Mara Block Akil


    Mara Block Akil attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Mara Block Akil


    Mara Block Akil attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP) LICENSERM




  • Nia Long


    Nia Long attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Nia Long


    Nia Long attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Eve


    Eve attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Eve


    Eve attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Misty Copeland


    Misty Copeland attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Misty Copeland


    Misty Copeland attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Michelle Williams


    Michelle Williams attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Michelle Williams


    Michelle Williams attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Ja Rule and his wife Aisha


    Ja Rule and his wife Aisha Atkins attend BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Ja Rule and his wife Aisha Atkins


    Ja Rule and his wife Aisha Atkins attend BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Amber Riley


    Amber Riley attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Amber Riley


    Amber Riley attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Beverly Bond


    Beverly Bond attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)




  • Beverly Bond


    Beverly Bond attends BET Networks' Black Girls Rock! on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2013 in Newark, N.J. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP)