In this BONUS ep - Hilliard sat down with FIA PERERA writer-director-producer of the new coming-of-age feature film he produced with Ryan Lacen, Janice Bergere and Tyler Musikanth on Cape Cod called MERMAID ! We talked all about producing the film from script-to-screen: development, rewrites, shooting the POC short film first, financing the feature film outside the box, crewing up a diverse crew, casting, using your resources to gain production value, production, post and so much more! Apple pod...
Mar 09, 2026•1 hr 15 min
In this episode, writer-producer Hilliard Guess and guest co-host actor-writer-prod-dir Dalila Ali Rajah sit down for an educational conversation (we do talk a bit of politics in this one - FYI), with actor/writer/coach and 2026 NAACP Image Award nominee ADAM DAVENPORT , recognized in the Outstanding Literary Work – Journalism category for his essay examining Audra McDonald’s 2025 Tony Awards performance of “Rose’s Turn.” The piece reframes the performance as a landmark cultural moment - serving...
Mar 02, 2026•1 hr 48 min•Ep. 549
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host TV/Film writer Saeed Crumpler sit down with actor/writer/director/producer JOHNNY RAY GILL who is currently starring as Bobby Trey on Amazon's hit series CROSS ! We talk about his role on Cross and his incredible relationship with showrunner Ben Watkins , working with the cast and crew, making choices as an actor, writing and directing award-winning films, his new music/art project, the types of films he's passionate about, research and rabbit holes, a...
Feb 23, 2026•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 548
In the spirit of GORDON PARK and PAUL ROBESON, J. David Shanks prides himself on being the contemporary renaissance man. He’s a writer, producer, and actor with aspirations of adding to his hyphenated list of industry skill sets, Director for feature films and television series. David is a graduate of the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. He received his MFA in Producing for Film, Television, and New Media from the world-renowned Peter Stark Producing Program. His wri...
Feb 16, 2026•2 hr 27 min•Ep. 547
In this episode Hilliard sits down in a super informative conversation with writer, producer, author, publisher, manager James “Uncle James” Moorer and TV/Film writer, playwright, actor Lekethia Dalcoe to talk about writing our favorite genres and why, writing hybrid Horror, Sci-fi, Supernatural and Action, why genre is important to us, rules of the world and how they work, themes in genre films and tv and so much more! Another don’t miss episode y’all! 💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writ...
Feb 09, 2026•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 546
HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-hosts (award-winning playwright, tv writer, actress) Lekethia Dalcoe and (tv/film writer, actor) Rich Scott sit down for a hilarious conversation talking about “some” of our favorite Oscar picks and why we love them, as well as how we use “theme” in our writing, getting in where we fit in, and so much more! 💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from work...
Feb 01, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Season 14Ep. 545
In this episode, Hilliard talks to five awesome, diverse, talented TV writers from the popular MENTORSHIP MATTERS WRITERS PROGRAM: Rich Scott, Renee Cunningham, Stephen Nolly, Mahalia Latortue-Pridgett and Joshua B. Kazemi! Tune in and listen to these amazing writers journeys. HIGHLIGHTS: The current climate in Hollywood and how to maneuver it, writing genre and comedy, how to pitch yourself, the writers' room, the future of Hollywood and so much more. 💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writi...
Jan 26, 2026•1 hr 34 min•Season 14Ep. 544
In this episode , Hilliard and guest co-host episodic dir/producer Lisa France sat down with Brendan Foley series creator, writer, executive producer of the hit series SHERLOCK AND DAUGHTER on CW/HBO! Some highlights: We talked about this journey as a journalist and writer, the differences between working in the UK/Europe as a series creator and working in America, working on smaller budgets and how to get the biggest bang, co-productions, writing crime and who-done-its, creating Sherlock and Da...
Jan 19, 2026•1 hr 41 min•Season 14Ep. 543
In this 2026 premiere episode -- Hilliard sits down with some of his favorite Fans and Mentees of the podcast — writer’s -- Dijorn & Trinea Moss, Rich Scott, Rich Redlo, Minquell Ramone, Jade Hunter Alexandriia, Brooke Baltimore, Anich D’Jae, Jacques Buckingham and Aaron Beauchamp. We had a laugh out loud, impactful discussion, rotating guests, talking about the difficult year of 2025, everyone's plans to do differently in 2026, TV staffing, the writers’ room, development, fellowships, craft...
Jan 12, 2026•2 hr 17 min•Season 14Ep. 542
In this season finale, end of the year episode, Hilliard's joined by close friends award-winning director/producer Carl Seaton , TV/Film writer Saeed Crumpler and Executive Producer Tracy Grant to talk about their plans and goals in the New Year and ways writers and filmmakers can think outside the box to grow their careers, businesses and health by making the best kinds of lifestyle changes for themselves! 💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and st...
Dec 15, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 541
In this ep, Hilliard interviews director/producer TREY HALEY the President/Partner at Tri Destined Studios where he is responsible for the implementation of all productions within the company. Toward the end of the ep, Kareem Grimes actor/star on the hit series ALL AMERICAN dropped in to hang with us to give Trey his flowers. Trey, a passionate filmmaker with a diverse breadth and sensibility, has directed and produced a variety of genres. He serves as one of the Executive Producers and the Lead...
Dec 08, 2025•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 540
In this episode, Hilliard and actor/writer/activist Dalila Ali Rajah sit down for a fun conversation with writer/activists Katie Mathewson & Y. Shireen Razack to talk about their amazing journey up the rung as TV writers and their activism on (TTIE) and diversity committees at the WGAW! KATIE MATHEWSON Katie Mathewson is an Emmy-nominated and Peabody Award-winning screenwriter/producer who has been working with her writing partner, Tanner Bean, for over a decade. The duo got their start on F...
Nov 18, 2025•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 539
In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host writer/director Gregg Simon sat down for almost two hours with DANIEL PEARLE Executive Producer of Netflix's number one thriller called THE BEAST IN ME starring Claire Daines and Matthew Rhys. Daniel Pearle is an American playwright and screenwriter. His plays have been produced and developed at Lincoln Center Theater, London’s Old Vic, The Vineyard, Ars Nova, and at regional theaters around the country. His play A Kid Like Jake premiered in a sold-out ...
Nov 13, 2025•1 hr 54 min•Ep. 538
PLEASE EXCUSE THE SOUND Step inside the Micheaux Film Festival and the real writers’ room panel! In this unfiltered, pull-no-punches live podcast taping, veteran writer/producer Hilliard Guess (Deadly Class, CROSS: After Hours) and award-winning actor/director Denzel Whitaker ( Black Panther, Great Debaters) , and his acclaimed short film Brand New (ALLBLK / AMC) team up to expose the truth behind the Hollywood curtain. From navigating writers’ rooms and producing on sets to surviving the indust...
Nov 03, 2025•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 537
In this episode - Hilliard, TV/Film writer SAEED CRUMPLER, and comedy/drama writer RICH SCOTT talk about how the global economic downturn could affect the entertainment industry, and what writers can do to protect themselves financially and creatively. What You’ll Learn: How and why artists fight back by starting their own labels and production companies Survival is Key "Make Money Sexy Again" What should Emerging writers write in 2026 Being a Tastemaker AI and how to writers can work with it Ch...
Oct 27, 2025•2 hr 15 min•Ep. 536
In this prerecorded episode, Hilliard and writer/artist Minquell Ramone sat down for an in-depth (Bonus episode) covering how screenwriters can better utilize the screenwritersrantroom.com website (resources, archives, merch and more) and also where to subscribe to our new YouTube page/channel and how you can get some game while supporting the show at the same time. Another dope episode y'all. This one is full of game and wisdom and is a must listen to podcast! SUBSCRIBE - like, follow, share &a...
Oct 20, 2025•52 min•Ep. 535
In this episode, Hilliard sat down for a nothing but game episode with big sis, FELICIA D. HENDERSON — an accomplished, award-winning showrunner, writer, director, producer, educator, and activist, with over twenty-five years of film, television, theater, and comic book content credits! Felicia created Showtime’s Emmy Award-nominated, three-time NAACP Image Award-winning series, SOUL FOOD, television’s first successful African American drama, and last year, through her production company, WaterW...
Oct 15, 2025•40 min•Ep. 534
In this episode, Hilliard and co-host writer/prod/author James Moorer sit down with incomparable TV/Film writer/producer AKELA COOPER! There's almost two hours worth of game dropped and the last 30 mins of this super fun conversation was opened up to a group of writers sitting in the audience so that they could “Ask Us Anything!” Akela Cooper wrote M3GAN, produced by Universal, Blumhouse and James Wan/Atomic Monster and Akela is a credited writer on THE NUN 2 for New Line/Atomic Monster and wrot...
Oct 12, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 533
In this Season Finale episode, Hilliard sits down with actor/writer/prod/director NOEL BRAHAM - co-founder of the hit MICHEAUX FILM FESTIVAL now in its 7th year and killing the game on the circuit! HIGHLIGHTS: The Power of “YET," lessons from his family growing up, becoming an actor, climbing many mountains, becoming a filmmaker and producing a Webseries and daytime Emmy-nominated short films, the power of community, co-founding and producing the Micheaux Film Festival and so much more! Noel is ...
Sep 02, 2025•1 hr 40 min
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host TV comedy writer Myles Warden sat down in a super fun conversation with icon comedy/drama writer SARA FINNEY JOHNSON (co-creator on the ICONIC television series’ Moesha and The Parkers) and who has worked on many one hour dramas (Queen Sugar, Games People Play, etc) that make her invaluable in the room, on set, and in production! HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in Los Angeles, working as a PA to writer during the Norman Lear hey-day, coming up in the writers’ r...
Aug 26, 2025•1 hr 13 min
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host Tristan J. Shuler sat down for a 2-hour, in-depth, hilarious conversation with R. K. RUSSELL, Out NFL Player, activist, poet and author of the amazing new book THE YARDS BETWEEN US! HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in Buffalo, Dallas racism and culture, Football at Purdue, the emotional NFL Draft and signing with the Dallas Cowboys, his traumatic experience in NY, meeting his partner Corey and finding love, coming out the press and his mother, life after footbal...
Aug 19, 2025•2 hr 16 min
In this episode, Hilliard sits down for an in-depth, over 2-hour conversation with SELWYN SEYFU HINDS Showrunner/Creator of WASHINGTON BLACK the new hit series on HULU! HIGHLIGHTS: The Source Magazine in the late 90s and the climate of Hip-Hop, going from Guyana to Brooklyn in the height of Classic Rap, the night Biggy Smalls died, his college years at Princeton, becoming an author, moving to LA to write screenplays, pitching tips and how he and his team cast and produced Washington Black and so...
Aug 11, 2025•2 hr 33 min•Ep. 529
In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host filmmaker/cinematographer (nephew) William M. Barclay sit down with Icon, Emmy-winning director/producer PARIS BARCLAY. HIGHLIGHTS: Paris’ Revival of his musical LETTERS FROM NAM, indie film and its importance today, using resources around you, Paris’ start directing music videos, pivoting to directing episodic TV, interview questions for directors, working with writer/producers, shortlists and its importance, set etiquette, directing Dahmer, Paris’ upc...
Jul 29, 2025•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 528
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host actor/filmmaker Denzel Whitaker (Black Panther, The Great Debaters) sit down for an in-depth, hilarious conversation with episodic director/producer KEN WHITTINGHAM, the man behind directing over 350 episodes of comedy television! Highlights: Ken’s rise from PA to Stage Manager in multi-cam comedies, Marla Gibbs giving him his first Story By credit on the hit series 227, landing his first directing gig on Malcolm & Eddie, directing single camera sh...
Jul 21, 2025•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 527
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host, tv/film writer Saeed Crumpler recorded a "LIVE" Screenwriters' Rant Room podcast at the Bravemaker film festival in Redwood City, California! HILLIARD GUESS With credits on Deadly Class (SYFY), showrunner on the award-winning digital series TICKER, Exec Producer on Amazon’s CROSS: AFTER HOURS, and the upcoming coming-of-age film MERMAID!, Hilliard Guess knows what it really takes to make it in Hollywood. graces the cover of the esteemed iTunes book "T...
Jul 18, 2025•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 526
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host, writer/producer Dwain Worrell sit down for a super fun conversation with Co-Executive Producer CHRIS RAFFERTY (THE FLASH, COBRA KAI & LUCIFER)! Chris has been a lifelong artist in many different fields. He grew up an illustrator with dreams of drawing comic books. Made short films while earning a film degree at UC Santa Barbara. Spent time on stage acting and in front of cameras doing improv. All while earning a living in a decade-plus career as a...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 57 min•Ep. 525
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host writer/dir/prod Fia Perera sit down for a 2 hour, in-depth conversation with writer/director/executive producer ERIC DEAN SEATON! Highlights: Working his way up as an AD, getting his first episodic directors gig, sustaining a long career, directors get hired for what you've already done, creating a graphic novel an producing the award-winning short, fake it til you make it and we open it up to a room full of filmmakers who "ASK US ANYTHING!" More about...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 49 min•Ep. 524
In this episode, Hilliard and Queer guest co-hosts writer/producer Deonte Staats, actor/filmmaker Dalila Ali Rajah and writer/content creator Skylar Ezell sit down in a super fun, engaging, 2-hour episode chopped full of game. Some topics: Highlighting people in our culture, anti-fem insults, "it’s just a phase," acceptance of being Out, a Platinum Gay, Shout Out to Patrick-Ian Polk and the new Noah’s Arc Film, centering Queer characters in your work, where to find inspiration for characters, wh...
Jun 23, 2025•2 hr 17 min•Ep. 523
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host writer/producer Deonte Staats sit down for a two hour, nothing but game conversation with Showrunner/Co-Creator of the new MAX hit series DUSTER! Highlights: LaToya’s time in the Warner Bros Writers Workshop, the Overall Deal and how it works, the John Wells system, creating the show Duster, casting, staffing the room, the importance of what’s on the page and we later open it up for a super fun Q&A with a group of Emerging Writers who were in the b...
Jun 16, 2025•2 hr 1 min
In this Season Finale episode, Hilliard and guest co-host, comedy writer Myles Warden sat down for a super fun, 2-hour episode with CO-EXECUTIVE PRODUCER STACEY EVANS MORGAN! We talk about Stacey’s amazing journey from assistant to co-ep, challenges as a writer, investing in yourself, opening doors for yourself, saying yes to opportunities, producing outside of scripted TV, speaking gigs, being the sexy writer in Hollywood, traditional staffing season, having an entrepreneurial spirit, working a...
Apr 28, 2025•2 hr 10 min•Ep. 512
