Lena Waithe says Hollywood feels like "Walmart"

Actor, writer and producer Lena Waithe is questioning Hollywood's pursuit of mass-market entertainment as consolidation leaves creators with fewer places to sell original projects.Why it matters: Hollywood's retreat from the streaming-fueled content boom is forcing independent creators to rethink how they develop and distribute their work.What she's saying: Asked about the new Skydance-led Paramount, where she spent eight seasons making "The Chi" for Showtime, Waithe offered a blunt assessment of the entertainment industry."A lot of entertainment now feels like Walmart, feels like McDonald's," she said at Media Trends Live in New York City on Tuesday.Waithe said there are fewer places to pitch projects as Hollywood consolidates, and many studios have lost their distinctive identities."The question becomes: Who do you even pitch an idea to? Who was this idea good for? The truth is it's really just a bunch of shooting in the dark and seeing what sticks," she said.Zoom in: Waithe's own production company, Hillman Grad, has evolved into a smaller, boutique creative operation. Asked about the state of celebrity-led studios, following the recent sale of Hello Sunshine, Waithe said some …

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