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 WEBSITE: www.scr...
Jul 15, 2024•2 hr 36 min
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 Spec S...
Jul 08, 2024•1 hr 31 min
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: @HilliardGuess IG: @Screenwriter...
Jul 01, 2024•2 hr 17 min
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 more! Fo...
Jun 24, 2024•1 hr 32 min
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 – Screenwritersrantroom@gmail.com ...
Jun 17, 2024•54 sec
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 Apparel: Use 10...
Apr 15, 2024•2 min
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 fro...
Apr 02, 2024•1 hr 56 min
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 400-a...
Mar 25, 2024•1 hr 20 min
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 much m...
Mar 12, 2024•1 hr 35 min
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 wit...
Mar 04, 2024•1 hr 57 min
In this episode, Hilliard had a blast talking with a group of friends who are standup comics: DONALD LACY JR (writer, director, actor, comedian, radio talk show host and activist), JOEL BOYD (Just for Laughs New Faces of Comedy 2018, Drop the Mic, History of Swear Words - writer, actor, producer & director) and KIMBERLY ALLEN (writer on S1 & 2 of Kold x Windy, The Average American, Ticker and Nola to list a few), these talented hyphenates talk about their journey into standup, the indust...
Feb 26, 2024•1 hr 55 min
In this episode, Hilliard was joined by comedian/filmmaker NILES ABSTON and producer/literary manager KALA GUESS... ...we talk about their journeys to Hollywood, the ups-and-downs of struggling in Hollywood and pivoting careers to find your destiny! Niles talks about how he got staffed on the last season of Dave and Kala looks back on how she combined two passions. Producing and becoming a Literary Manager... Another One y'all! Follow us on Social: Hilliard Guess on X and all Social Me...
Feb 19, 2024•1 hr 7 min
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host, emerging filmmaker Jade Hunter Alexandriia, sat down for an in-depth conversation with writer/filmmaker KRISTINA THOMAS -- a rising talent in the documentary world, made her mark by winning a contest for $50,000 to direct a compelling TV pilot in New Orleans for MTV/Endemol. Transitioning through roles like script coordinator on acclaimed shows such as “Greenleaf,” “Lovecraft Country,” and “The Haunting of Bly Manor” (S2), Kristina's journey reached a...
Feb 12, 2024•1 hr 33 min
In this episode, Hilliard sat down with busy comedy/drama episodic director PRINCESS MONIQUE FILMZ (Grand Crew, The Godldbergs, Our Kind of People, Black-ish) and so many more. This amazing writer/author and co-chair of the DGA's African American Steering Committee, went through her amazing career and critical self discoveries like: moving to LA, writing/directing her award-winning short film, getting into the Disney Directors Program, her Lifetime movie, the10 year journey to becoming an episod...
Feb 06, 2024•1 hr 56 min
In this episode, Hilliard had a blast of conversation with actor/hyphenates KAREEM GRIMES (All American, S.W.A.T.), SHAWN CARTER PETERSON (Pitch Perfect 2, Pretty Freaking Scary), HANSFORD PRINCE (Babylon, Grey's Anatomy) and KIRK BOVILL (Vice, Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty)! We have an amazing cypher, covering these artists journeys as they each became actor/hyphenates (they do more than one skill) and the ups and downs of working in Hollywood -- from 20 years back -- to how the ...
Jan 29, 2024•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 479
In this episode, Hilliard sat chopped it up with three amazing black female actor hyphenates: Lanett Tachel (Angie's Cure, Pump), Joni Bovill (Bosch, Better Call Saul) & Aasha Davis (Friday Night Lights, South of Nowhere) -- in a hilarious discussion about their big breaks and what it's like to work in the industry with more than one title under your belt. Lots of fun gems, tips and tricks to help you sustain your career while constantly pivoting and being at the ready to recreate oneself at...
Jan 22, 2024•1 hr 16 min
In this episode, Hilliard & Exec Producer Tracy Grant sat down with the big homie - JEFF BYRD - who's currently Directing EP on Showtime's Emmy Nominated series YELLOWJACKETS! Jeff tells us his amazing journey starting back in Brooklyn NY, coming up under the Spike Lee camp and lessons learned from back then that he still utilizes on the set today. So many gems for all of you directors, a real front row seat into the life of a former music video director who worked his way up to become an Ep...
Jan 15, 2024•1 hr 48 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard sat down in a fun writers' cypher with Amadou Diallo (Billions), Rah Johnson ((Staff Writer), and Rene Rodriquez-Lopez (Manager of Content BET+). They talk about the differences writers should think about when setting their Plans and Goals in the New Year and a bunch of other hot topics in a podcast jam packed with industry game! SPONSORSHIPS: RoadMap Writers : Use ...
Dec 18, 2023•1 hr 42 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard sits down with super talented writers/actors Dalila Ali Rajah and Tristan J. Shuler for a fun, laugh out loud discussion about being Black and Queer in the industry as well as some of the trials and tribulations black creatives face in Hollywood and the entertainment industry! Tune in y'all! Subscribe, give us a 5 Star Rating & Review: iTunes, Apple Podcast, Spotify, Anchor and every...
Dec 11, 2023•1 hr 39 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In the episode, Hilliard & Chris sat down with the team behind the popular '2 Writers Talkin Shit' podcast. I'm talking about Writer/Producer Saeed Crumpler and Writer/Comedian Melanie "Mel" Maras. These two drop a ton of industry game y'all - from Mel's journey in the theater, to becoming a produced playwright, to relocating LA and selling a pilot to HBO and of course, Saeed's crazy journey of tenacity from Hi...
Dec 04, 2023•2 hr 11 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this ep, Hilliard chopped it up with two of the smartest, most talented young filmmakers currently out here doing BIG THANGS y'all! I'm talking about Zubin Anklesaria Head of Productions & Ryan Turner Head of Post Production at the amazing, award-winning ECHOBEND Pictures - a company known for their visuals and effects on films, post, music & publishing - who have worked on over 200 productions for some of...
Nov 27, 2023•1 hr 57 min
Support the show for $5/month In this episode, Hilliard & Chris sat down with big sis, Carole Kirshner - author, former executive, director of the WGAW Showrunner's Training Program, CBS Mentorship Program and all around Career Consultant! This is another don't miss episode for all of you aspiring and working writers out there. So much industry game dropped from one of the most respected people in the industry! Tune in, share, follow... SPONSORSHIPS: RoadMap Writers : Use RANTROOM23 (al...
Nov 13, 2023•1 hr 31 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE Hilliard and Tristan J. Shuler (of Roadmap Writers) sat down for an awesome episode with CO-EP Anglea Harvey - writer | producer | director | activist - who launched her entertainment writing career with a trans media experience for the pop culture smash Teen Wolf. That earned her a Webby Award and a spot in the show’s S3 writers' room. After a hundred episodes of Teen Wolf, Angela went on to serve as a writer/producer on...
Nov 07, 2023•1 hr 34 min
Hilliard announces a few things about the future of the podcast! Here goes a short list of dope industry podcast supported by the Rant Room: On The Page: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-page/id262077408 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/on-the-page/id262077408 Hollywood Confessional: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hollywood-confessional/id1628848064?i=1000630276175 Queer News: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/queer-news/id1595777135 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/po...
Oct 09, 2023•6 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard sat down with lil' sis, Strike Captain and Co-Executive Producer - Danielle Iman! They talked in depth about her incredible journey - being raised by strong ass women, growing up a nerd and track & field jock, navigating different worlds in college, becoming an editor at sports networks, her move to LA, USC life, her rise from writers PA to CO-EP on shows like (Swagger, Riverdale, PanHandle and...
Oct 02, 2023•1 hr 50 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard and Chris sat down with Showrunner Jeff Melvoin, the man who has produced hundreds of hours of network television and the genius behind the iconic WGAW Showrunner's Training Program. We talk about Jeff's amazing new book: RUNNING THE SHOW Television From the Inside. Jeff tells us about his long journey and early career, the starts and finishes of writing the book, the job of the showrunner, the Sho...
Sep 25, 2023•1 hr 43 min•Season 8Ep. 469
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard sat down with friends -- a group of four 2023 WGAW Board Candidates (Niceole Levy, Rob Forman, Jackie Penn & Leah Folta) -- discuss why they are running, the effect of mini-rooms on the community, BIPOC writers, moving up in the room, producing your episodes, education, staff writer script fees, WGA insurance and so much more! If you are a WGAW member, be sure to listen to this super fun episod...
Sep 16, 2023•1 hr 39 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode recorded a few weeks back, Hilliard & Chris sat down with TV/Film writer Rich Redlo, (Hilliard's new 'older' mentee - cuz he's always mentoring younger writers) and talked about a ton of useful writing topics like AI, elitism, writing short stories as an introduction to screenplays, the wisdom of older writers in the writers' room, the long game of surviving Hollywood and so much more! Check out the Scre...
Sep 04, 2023•1 hr 15 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard & Chris sit down with super awesome ALEX O'KEEFE y'all. Growing up, he was a community organizer for Obama, became a speechwriter for Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, a movement leader for The Green New Deal, and a staff writer on Season One of the hit series The Bear! We spend a lot of time talking about Alex's Campaign for WGAW Board of Directors and some of the hot topics that move h...
Aug 28, 2023•2 hr 13 min
Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE Hilliard & Chris met on zoom with talented writer, director, and producer David Shen Miller - and talked about his work on his amazing animated short film “The Cocoon,” which just screened and won Best Animated Short at the Arizona Film Festival! The film also premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival and continued its run at New York Cinefest. David’s films often explore themes of identity, paradox, and disil...
Aug 21, 2023•1 hr 47 min
