Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you Rant Room Heads across the globe... In this episode, Hilliard, Chris, Lynelle and Juan Pablo Arias Munoz (Breakthrough Artist at BMP) talk about our favorite end of the year films and TV shows, directing shorts and episodic TV and some of our plans and goals for 2023! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Patreon ! Support the show via the Patreon link . Remember support is love! We invest c...
Dec 26, 2022•2 hr 5 min
In this episode, Hilliard sat down with alumni - women from the 2023 Fox Writers Incubator Initiative Program: Drama writers Michelle Lesley Johnson, Nicole Jones-Dion and comedy writers Allison Jackson (shout out to HaJ who wasn't able to make it)... We talk about the groups different journeys to the program, how the initiative works: the submissions, the personal letter, staffing on shows, script coordinators duties and its importance of growth to becoming a future showrunner and so much more!...
Dec 19, 2022•1 hr 33 min
In this episode, Hilliard chats with the award-winning documentary filmmaker behind films like "Black and Missing" on HBO and has just dropped her new film "Lowndes County and the Road to Black Power" which is streaming on Apple, Amazon and soon on Peacock! We talk about making and producing documentary films, elements needed to get the best bang and production value, making the pivot to scripted and the hurdles you have to overcome to reinvent yourself in another genre and so much more! Check o...
Dec 12, 2022•52 min
In this episode, Hilliard and emerging writer/dir Anthony Alyassyi sit down with lovely and beautiful writer/director/filmmaker Aitch Alberto who recently finished writing on DUSTER, a 1970s-set crime drama series from J.J. Abrams and LaToya Morgan for HBO Max and Warner Brothers TV. She also served as a writer on AppleTV+'s critically acclaimed anthology series LITTLE AMERICA from Alan Yang, Kumail Nanjiani, and Emily V. Gordon. Aitch has adapted for film and directed the award-winning young ad...
Dec 05, 2022•1 hr 3 min
In this episode, Hilliard chopped it up with Blue Monday Productions – Breakthrough Artist Award Alumni -- Umar White and Kobie Kiambu. These two writer/filmmakers hail from D.C and Maryland and are following their dreams on their journey to become showrunners. We go deep into their intense media backgrounds, meeting at college, making films, Umar becoming an editor -- Kobie working his way up in post, and their desire to relocate to Hollywood and follow their passion. We go into how Umar moved ...
Nov 21, 2022•1 hr 15 min
In this episode, Hilliard sat down with indie writer/producer Craig T. Williams while he's on his short trip to LA from NY -- they chopped it up about his journey, growing up in the Bronx New York, traveling the world, landing roles in indie films, producing over a hundred projects, using unorthodox methods of fundraising, hitting the festival circuit, realizing that sometimes you can make too many short films, selling yourself in showrunner meetings, building relationships on Clubhouse and so m...
Nov 14, 2022•1 hr 38 min
In this episode, Hilliard and Chris & Alex Derrick sat down with actor-writer-director Keith Powell (TOOFER on 30 Rock) to talk about his crazy journey growing up in Philly with a house filled with women, to acting/directing in theater in NY, to landing his career job on hit series 30 Rock for 7 years, to directing at least one short film a year and his amazing pivot to directing episodic television (Interview With a Vampire, Dickinson, A Holiday in Harlem etc) while continuing to land actin...
Nov 07, 2022•1 hr 44 min
In this ep Hilliard sat down with big bro, writer-producer-author Gary Goldstein to talk about the making of his new book "The Mother I Never Had" which is currently at #4 on Kindle and #6 on Paperback Amazon.com! We also talk about tips on writing MOW's (Hallmark and Lifetime) sustaining a long, successful career writing popular Holiday Films and Romantic Comedies that play on networks where writers can earn a nice living! We talk about adapting his plays playwright and ways to pivot later in y...
Oct 31, 2022•1 hr 11 min
In this episode, Hilliard sat down with writing team and married couple -- Dijorn Moss & Trinea Moss! We talked about their journey thus far, living in the Bay Area, their hilarious "movie meet", locating to LA and becoming a writing team, submitting to programs, writing specs and pilots, writing genre, studying with the some of the greats, their writers’ group “Scribes 4 Fries”, mentorship with super dope EP Niceole Levi and so much more! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwr...
Oct 24, 2022•1 hr 25 min
In this episode, Hilliard & Chris sit down with Alex Derrick and Clarlin “M.A.C.A” Clark. Yes, that’s right! Chris’ younger brother, a filmmaker and cinematographer in his own right! Alex and M.A.C.A. discuss their most recent collaboration - TWO TO TANGO , a horror short, that you can see on YouTube! This episode is full of insights on how to have a successful collaboration with producing low-budget projects to extend your brand and developing content outside of the Hollywood system as a me...
Oct 17, 2022•1 hr 34 min
In this episode, Hilliard sat down with Brazilian Filmmakers Eduardo Gomez, Octavio Mendes and Filipe "Pipo" Gontijo - who were introduced to him by mega producer Mauricio Meta of Wise Entertainment. We talk about the current state of film and filmmaking in Brazil, their success and the types of stories they love to tell, the difficulty shooting there, Latin production obstacles, shooting Latin TV, crossing over to America and so much more. Another don't miss episode y'all! Check out BdeVaca's w...
Oct 10, 2022•1 hr 47 min
In this episode, Hilliard & Chris sit down with lil' bro, actor/director/editor/filmmaker and all around hyphenate - Denzel Whitaker - known for such films as Black Panther, The Great Debaters and U Shoot Videos? We go deep into Denzel's super dope journey from child actor to reinventing himself as a grown up and pivoting to a filmmaker who can create work for himself by utilizing all the great resources around him. This episode is full of industry game y'all. It's truly one of those you wil...
Oct 03, 2022•2 hr 5 min
In this dope episode, Hilliard & Chris (along with Emerging Writers LaMonte Edwards and Jerry Jerome), have a super fun conversation with big sis, Executive Producer Niceole Levy, talking about her amazing new book: THE WRITERS' ROOM SURVIVAL GUIDE" - dropping October 4, 2022 on ( AMAZON , BOOKSHOP ). We go deep into some of our favorite chapters and passages including: Post Production, Knowing who's in your Room, Navigating Land Mines, Top Loading the Room, Room Lingo and Glossary, Pitching...
Sep 26, 2022•2 hr 33 min
In this episode, Hilliard does a one on one with big bro, Showrunner, Executive Producer, Playwrite and Author Chuck Rose. We catch up with Chuck and talk about what he's been up to the past few years since his last appearance on the podcast including: developing series for studios and networks during Covid, pitching on zoom, producing international series - and Chuck's new website (ChuckRoseProductions.com) where he gives back to the community by helping writers to develop their pitches/decks/s...
Sep 19, 2022•54 min
Hilliard & Chris sit down with Christopher J. Moore, writer of the high octane thriller "End of The Road," currently the number one film on Netflix and starring Queen Latifah, Ludacris and Beau Bridges! There is a ton of game dropped in this one y'all. Chris' journey, growing up in the hard streets of LA, playing football in college, his pivot to film school, writing a novel that sold over 140,000 units while writing spec scripts, landing in the writers' room of Meet the Browns, writing for ...
Sep 12, 2022•1 hr 43 min
In this episode, Hilliard does a one-on-one with with his old friend from the 80s club days in San Francisco - the man who can do it all - celebrity choreographer, dancer, producer, actor and creative director ROSERO. They talk about Rosero's amazing journey from Club Dancer to Video Star, to Choreographer and Creative Director on some of our favorite films, Tours and TV shows: Step Up, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Honey 2, Garfield, Rio, Family Reunion, The Neighborhood, The Upshaws, Legendary, Cal...
Sep 05, 2022•1 hr 49 min
In our latest episode, Hilliard sat down with some of his favorite black male writers on the rise: Amadou Diallo (Story Editor Billions), Saeed Crumbler (Sony Development Deal) and Rah Johnson (a sci-fi Series we can't reveal yet). Each of these super talented brotha's talk about the first times they staffed, following the rules, getting the bump to Story Editor, continuing to write your own projects, your super power in the room, building your tribe, dealing with egos, staying supportive and so...
Aug 29, 2022•1 hr 59 min
In this episode, Hilliard, Chris, Lynelle and writer/producer Jorge Rivera go IN - ranting about a bunch of fun topics for writers and creatives: development, Bat Girl, Lynelle's new crowdfunding project "Hatchback", Latino projects, staffing tips, BIPOC execs and so much more! Lynelle's project: Supportourstory.com/hatchback Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Patreon ! Support the show via the Patreon link . Remember support is love! W...
Aug 22, 2022•1 hr 52 min
In this episode, Hilliard, Chris and emerging writer Nage Gibson-Thomson sit down with CHAS - Staffwriter on Freeform's hit series GROWN-ISH! We get deep into Chas' background -- growing up in the Bay Area, becoming a popular SLAM poet on the national touring circuit, being the only guy to have written on the staff of Issa Rae's Awkward Black Girl, inside tips to how Chas got into the the ABC Disney Writing Fellowship and how he staffed on Grown-ish. There a lot of gems of knowledge in this one ...
Aug 15, 2022•2 hr 3 min
In this episode, Hilliard talks with first time Staff Writers, Tiffany Beacham, Josh Meyers and Jordan Dumbroff -- from the new AllBlk Network series SEND HELP --dropping on August 11, 2022 -- from the artistic minds of Co-Showrunners Mike Gauyo & Jean Elie (you can hear their journeys on ep 414). This podcast is full of game for all of you writers who desire to work in their first writers' rooms and also gives tons of tips and tricks to help to prepare you for the next gig! A special Shout ...
Aug 08, 2022•1 hr 53 min
In this episode Hilliard and Chris have a super inspiring conversation with Mike Gauyo & Jean Elie, the co-showrunners on the new dramedy SEND HELP on the popular @watchallblk Network! We talk about (you can hear Mike's story on ep 369) Jean's journey, his rise to the top of the call sheet and how these two, strong, black Haitian writer/producer/actor/filmmakers came together to produce a series that is loosely based on the hilarious and dramatic stories that were inspired by Jean's life. Tu...
Aug 01, 2022•1 hr 44 min
In this episode, Hilliard sat down with lil' sis, Emerging Writer Natasha M. Hall to talk about her amazing journey: growing up as a Caribbean girl in Brooklyn, being bullied by mean girls and fighting back with her smarts, dedicating herself to school and her multi-degrees, receiving a scholarship to Vancouver to study Film and Screenwriting, The Cosby Fellowship in LA, working in Post Production at HBO, The CBS WMP Program, being the 2020 AMC Austin FF Winner, finding her true voice after the ...
Jul 25, 2022•1 hr 15 min
In this episode, Hilliard, Chris and Tracy talk a little about the Covid outbursts in California and then jump into the innerworkings of writers' room for a serialized series or stand alone. The three writers compare notes from different kinds of rooms they've been in over the years and give tricks of the trade for aspiring and pros to help add to their arsenal. In the end, they shift to must read (Audible) Will Smith book WILL (we're not at all condoning what happened at the Oscars), but having...
Jul 18, 2022•1 hr 36 min
In this episode, Hilliard sits down with lil' bro, artist, songwriter, producer Donald DeP Paige to talk about his amazing journey: growing up Houston as the Pastor's son, finding his voice while singing and producing for church choirs, being kicked out his house as a teenager and becoming independent, setting his sites on being a Triple Threat, fatherhood at a young age, signing a record deal and moving to DC and NY to join a popular R&B group, performing on 106 & Park, being replaced i...
Jul 11, 2022•1 hr 53 min
In this episode, Hilliard, Chris and Lynelle chop it up , ranting about many interests for writers and filmmakers: the writers’ room, why old films and scripts matter for your growth, understanding when to put a script down and move on, making your own projects with tips on ways to gain production value and so much more! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Pateron ! Support the show via the Patreon link . Remember support is love! We inv...
Jul 04, 2022•1 hr 37 min
In this episode, Hilliard does a one-on-one with good friend and big bro, Showrunner Mark Blutman (Boy Meets World, Girl Meets World, Ghostwriter, etc). The two chop it up - ranting about the current state of writers' rooms, reinventing yourself, working from outside of Hollywood, bullet proof writing tips, producing TV and so much more! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Pateron ! Support the show via the Patreon link . Remember suppor...
Jun 20, 2022•1 hr 4 min
In this episode Hilliard has a super fun, 2 hour conversation with executive producer Mickey Fisher (one of the nicest, most giving guys we know) who created/developed such shows as EXTANT, REVERIE and wrote/produced on the series JACK RYAN, MARS and THE STRAIN! We talk about Mickey's long 20 year journey to becoming one of those Hollywood overnight success stories we all hear about. Mickey goes deep into lessons learned on his way up, working and struggling in theater as an actor and playwright...
Jun 13, 2022•2 hr 18 min
In this episode, Hilliard and Emerging sci-fi/comedy writer Skyler Ezell sit down for a hilarious, two hour discussion about being black, gay writers in Hollywood and their own personal ways they have learned to adapt, progress, network, find cool places to write, get more involved in the LGBTQ+ community and later talk about the new climate of Showrunner's and so much more... At the end of the episode, Hilliard finally reveals his new gig as Director of Development with one of the top Showrunne...
Jun 06, 2022•2 hr 27 min
In this episode, Hilliard, Lynelle and Tracy chop it up with writer and former TV executive, Kelly Edwards to talk about her rise from assistant to casting, to executive, to producer… and then, years later, how she reinvented herself as a screenwriter after hiding this secret for decades. A few months into 2020, Kelly sat down and wrote the amazing book THE EXECUTIVE CHAIR - A Writers Guide to TV Series Development and soon after, staffed on the Fox series Our Kind of People with Showrunner Kari...
May 23, 2022•1 hr 40 min
In this episode, Hilliard and Executive Producer Tracy Grant chop it up with lil' sis, writer/filmmaker Kimberly Allen about her amazing journey from Detroit to LA, working odd jobs that later came to play in her writing, building relationships at The Organization of Black Screenwriters, creating content, being your own boss and finally, staffing on the new, upcoming series "KOLD x WINDY" on the AllBlk Network! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merc...
May 16, 2022•1 hr 24 min
