The Screenwriters' Rant Room is off this week for the holidays - we'll be back next week! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/screenwriters-rant-room/support

In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host actor/filmmaker Johnny Ray Gill (CROSS) sit down in a 2 1/2 hour conversation with actor/filmmaker ALONA TAL (CROSS) for an in-depth conversation about working as talent in Hollywood, and the ins-and-outs of the journey to landing series regular roles on TV. We also talk about how Alona landed her role on Ben Watkins' CROSS series (which just premiered its entire season on Amazon Prime on November 14th), and Alona and Johnny Ray gave some of their...

In this episode Hilliard & writer (1st Look at Sony) Saeed Crumpler spend two solid hours talkin all kinds of writer shit for y'all to soak up game. A don't miss episode for anyone interested in writing for TV/Film. Also, if you have plans to direct your first film or short, this is the episode for you. Lots of gems to help you on your journey! Sitting in as guest co-host this week is dramedy writer Rich Redlo. For information, Merch (T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant...

In this new season premiere episode, Hilliard and guest co-host (actor/filmmaker) Shawn Carter Peterson sat down with JOHNNY RAY GILL - a critically acclaimed actor, filmmaker, rapper, poet and activist. He just finished filming seasons one and two of "CROSS" created by Ben Watkins, Amazon Prime's new psychological thriller based on the best-selling book series Alex Cross by James Patterson. Gill stars opposite Aldis Hodge and Ryan Eggold as Bobby Trey, a deadly, cunning ex-DC police officer...

In the final episode of the season, Hilliard and guest co-host, veteran actor/writer TONY WINTERS sat down for a 2 hour conversation with award-winning writer/director of the new hit film - Searchlight Pictures THE SUPREMES AT EARL’S ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT - TINA MABRY (also Mississippi Damned, “Queen of the South”, “Pose”, "Queen Sugar", "Women of the Movement", "Insecure") to list a few! A native of Tupelo, Mississippi, Tina Mabry graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of...

In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host (actor/writer) DALILA ALI RAJAH were joined by lil sis, Emmy-winning writer, producer, performer LENA WAITHE! Lena created the hit series THE CHI which set a new record with Season 6 as the most-streamed season the series has ever seen! Lena Waithe, and led by CEO, Rishi Rajani. Since its inception, Hillman Grad has grown to include five divisions across TV/Film, Books, Podcasts, Branded Content and Mentorship–quickly rising to become one of the...

In this episode, Hilliard & guest co-host Zimran Jacob sit down to chop it up with writer/producer NIKHIL S. JAYARAM in a two hour, nothing-but-game episode for all of you writers dying to get staffed on a TV series!We talk about Nikhil's new book THE TV WRITERS HIDDEN PATH:TVWRITERSHIDDENPATH.COMNikhil is a screenwriter for television and film. Rising from Staff Writer to Producer, he’s written on hit TV series including the Emmy-nominated STAR TREK: PRODIGY for Paramount+/Nickelodeon,...

In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host (writer & teamster) Ric Davis sat down in a laugh-out-loud episode with actor/writer/comedian WILLIE MACC!Willie Macc has over 100 million views of his standup and comedy videos across all social media platforms. He is one of the stars from the hit BET show College Hill: Virgin Island. Willie Macc is sold his pilot “My Flipping Familys” on HGTV where he and his brother buy and flip homes around St. Louis. Willie Macc has become one of the few...

In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-hosts Dijorn & Trinea Moss sit down for a super entertaining conversation with. Literary Manager Zack Zucker from Bellevue Productions. It is a kickass, two hour podcast where we peppered Zack with writer/filmmaker questions and he dropped nothing but industry game! About Zack:Prior to joining Bellevue, Zack worked at Google, United Talent Agency, and Twentieth Century Fox. He also produced independently.On the feature side, his clients have placed...

In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host actor, writer producer (Angie's Cure) sit down for a hilarious conversation about being a multihypenate filmmaker in today's climate in Hollywood.Since 1999, Marcus has appeared in over 90 TV shows, films and commercials including notable roles on Frasier, The Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Black-ish. As a writer, Marcus’ first romantic comedy feature "The List" was broadcast as an ABC Family original movie in 2007. StarringWayne Brady,...

In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host (writer on Amazon’s upcoming CROSS) MEAGAN DAINE sit down with Executive Producer AIYANA WHITE (CROSS, THE GREATEST, LUCIFER, LA BREA, TINY PRETTY THINGS to list a few) for a super fun, educational episode that drops nothing but GAME!We talk about Aiyana’s amazing journey from staff writer to EP, selling pilots, working and growing confidence in the writers room, having your “why”, having a family and sustaining a career, producing your episode,...

In this episode, Hilliard & guest co-host, dramedy writer Rich Redlo sat down with Executive Producer TAWNYA BENAVIDES BHATTACHARYA (A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, GINNY & GEORGIA, BEL AIR, MY LIFE WITH THE WALTER BOYS AND FOUNDER SCRIPT ANATOMY. This is another super fun episode with tons of great behind-the-curtain information and lessons for emerging and working writers! Discount: WRITERSRANT24 code for $50.00 off any August 2024 feature or TV writing class! Our Motto: "We keep it...

In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host (writer/professor) MICHELLE AMOR sit down with super talented writer/filmmaker PERES OWINO, Nominated this year for a Creative Arts Emmy, she co-wrote Netflix’s “African Queens – Njinga,” which was nominated for more Daytime/Creative Arts Emmys than any other program. It was also nominated for a Buzzie Award from the World Congress of Science & Factual Producers. Owino also co-wrote the subsequent Netflix global hit, “Queen Cleopatra” nominated...

Have you ever thought about Animation and how it works for screenwriters? In this episode, Hilliard chopped it up with Head Writer’s BEAU DEMAYO (MARVEL’S X-MEN 97) and BRANDON EASTON (TRANSFORMERS: WFC-SIEGE), going in deep about working in Animation, the ups-and-downs, staffing a writers’ rooms, writing for historic comic book characters, working with your line producer and execs, dealing with notes (good and bad), being a POC in a leading position in Hollywood and soooooo much more! Our...

Are you considering giving up on your Hollywood Dream? In this episode, we talk with TV Writer's Zimran Jacob and Naiem Bouier about their journeys to Hollywood and the crazy things that make a writer want to pack up and move back home or the things you've learned that make you realize how much more creative and affective you could be if you said "F-Hollywood, I'm gonna be my own boss!" A super fun conversation for all of you to dig into! Our Motto:"We keep it GAME all day!" NEW...

In this episode, Hilliard does a super fun, high energy podcast with Writer’s on the Verge - DIJORN & TRINEA MOSS (Paramount Writers Mentoring Program) and MYLES WARDEN (Act Your Age) that we just know all of your writers will enjoy. If you have any burning questions about how to break into TV, how to fill out your application for writing programs, preparing for staffing and so much more! Be sure to check out the grid that Myles and writer Jackie Penn created for emerging writers with...

In this episode, Hilliard and TV Writer Saeed Crumpler spend over 2 solid hours answering Emerging Screenwriter Questions that came in from Twitter and Social Media! These two drop nothing but industry game, giving clear examples from their own personal experiences whether writing, developing or producing TV or Film.Do not miss this episode y'all! FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE, LIKE, AND 5-STAR REVIEWS!⁠OUR MOTTO:"We keep it GAME all day!" FOLLOW ON ALL SOCIAL MEDIA: @HilliardGuess⁠⁠⁠⁠IG:...

In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host writer/casting dir Scotty Mullen sat down for a super fun interview with 'lil sis, creator/executive producer Diarra Kilpatrick & executive producer Miles Orion Feldsott of the new BET+ hit series "DIARRA FROM DETROIT!" This is one of those don't-miss episodes y'all. We get real crafty in this one and learn of their amazing journey from idea to selling the show, casting, hiring and staffing the writers' room, dealing with notes and so much...

In this promo clip, Hilliard gets us ready for the new season as we celebrate “10 YEARS OF GAME", what’s coming up on the podcast and some of the new, fun and exciting things we can look forward to!   Our Motto:   "We keep it GAME all day!"   Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on X and all social media:   @HilliardGuess⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom   WE ARE OPEN TO SPONSORSHIPS AND COLLABORATIONS WITH RIGHT MINDED INDIVIDUALS AND BRANDS. Contact...

The Screenwriters Rant Room is taking a 6 week break while Hilliard is away working on a big TV project. Expect us back in mid-May or early June. If you NEED your Rant Room fix, check out the archives - there's almost 500 episodes to enjoy! SHARE, SUBSCRIBE, PROMOTE!  Our Motto: "We keep it GAME all day!" Follow ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on X and all Social Media: @HilliardGuess⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo...

In this episode, Hilliard and Tristan J. Shuler from Road Map Writers sat down in a hilarious and engaging episode that is packed full of game. Our guest this week is little bro, Scotty Mullen, an award-winning writer known for his work with Syfy, Lionsgate, Lifetime, and Tubi. He is also an accomplished casting director and writing mentor. After getting his feet wet writing on the pop-culture juggernaut "Sharknado" franchise, Scotty's storytelling skills have evolved into writing everything...

In this episode, Hilliard and Rene Rodriguez-Lopez (Development Exec at BET+), sat down for a fun, inspiring conversation with Literary Manager ZADOC ANGELL who began his career as a TV Literary Agent at Paradigm, where he worked for seven years. Transitioning to Literary Management 2010, Zadoc joined forces with manager Dave Brown and grew a team of literary managers which they brought with them to Echo Lake in 2013. Angell's journey to Hollywood is not a conventional one. Growing up on a...

In this episode, Hilliard and actor/filmmaker Dalila Ali Rajah sit down and have an amazing conversation with ROSALIND Y. JACKSON - DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT/PRODUCER EDMONDS ENTERTAINMENT". We talk about her journey into Hollywood, working her way up through film school, becoming an assistant at Edmonds Ent and working her way up to DOD/Producer, being a hands on producer in reality TV and scripted, structuring your screenplay, do's and don'ts when submitting to production companies and so...

In this episode, Hilliard & lil bro actor/filmmaker Denzel Whitaker (BlackPanther, The Great Debaters), sit down for a fun interview with VERVE LITERARY AGENT - DAVINA HEFFLIN. We talk about her amazing journey growing up in the East Coast, writing and filmmaking in college, making her way up on the desk at the Gersh Agency, the love of your first client, becoming a full-time agent, handling the agent/writer relationship, how to attract a rep, do's and don'ts, pitching, aligning yourself...