In this episode, Hilliard & guest co-host Saeed Crumpler sat down with one of our favorite repeating guests AARON RAHSAAN THOMAS, acclaimed TV, Film writer/producer/ creator/co-showrunner of S.W.A.T., who began his career on Soul Food, Saturday Night Lights, Numbers, CSI NY, Southland, Sleepy Hollow and The Get-Down to list a few! We talk about how Arron developed and pitched S.W.A.T., how writers can use certain techniques when pitching their projects to networks or PODS, pivoting while sho...
Apr 15, 2025•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 520
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host TV/Film writer Saeed Crumpler sat down with big bro Showrunner GLEN MAZZARA (Crash, Damien, The Walking Dead, Hawthorne, Extraction to list a few)! HIGHLIGHTS: The WGA's new TV Writers Leadership Training Program, what Glen's been up to since our last episode #93 back in 2016, how to handle Development, Pitching & Notes, protecting yourself when times are slow, writing for tone, breaking down the first day/week in the writers' room and almost 2 hou...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 519
In this episode, Hilliard and comedy writer Myles Warden sat down for a super fun conversation with Co-Executive Producer VINCENT BROWN. Vincent recently wrapped up as co-executive producer for the FOX animated series HOUSEBROKEN, starring Lisa Kudrow. Prior to that, he served as a Co-Executive Producer on Apple TV’s series LIFE BY ELLA, winner of the Humanitas Award, a WGA Award and the Emmy Award for writing. Vincent began as a teen theatre performer, moving behind the scenes after graduating ...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 27 min
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-hosts (actor/filmmaker) Shawn Carter Peterson and (actor/filmmaker) Iona Morris Jackson sat down with STACIE GREENWELL who plays the role of Detective Shawna D Lackner, one of the stars on the Amazon Prime hit series CROSS! Stacie’s journey from the courtroom to the camera is a testament to following one's true passion. After several years practicing law in Washington, D.C., Stacie realized her heart belonged to the world of performance. She made a bold mov...
Mar 24, 2025•1 hr 33 min•Ep. 517
In this episode, Hilliard and Writer on the Verge, Rich Scott, sit down for an impromptu conversation about writer, showrunner and executive meetings -- over talking, mentorship, perception, nurturing relationships, being ready for an opportunity, working with producers and friends, having a Rep that works for you, not against you and so much more! Our Motto: Keep it GAME all day!" For information, Merch (T-SHIRTS/HOODIES - BLACK, GREY & WHITE), all things Rant Room! www.Screenwritersrantroo...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 516
In this episode, Hilliard does his very first Bottle Episode by himself covering TV STAFFING MEETINGS! He talks about how it all works, the General, the Staffing Breakdowns, mandates, themes, mimicking your script to the pilot, the zoom interview, showing personality, welcome to the show, curiosity, talking about yourself, tell them why you love their script, how writing partners can shine in a meeting and so much more! This is a don’t miss episode y’all! Our Motto: "Keep it GAME all day!" For i...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 515
"CREATING CROSS" Hilliard and guest co-hosts actor/filmmaker Johnny Ray Gill and actor/filmmaker Denzel Whitaker chop it up in a dope, 2-part episode with showrunner BEN WATKINS, writer-creator of the NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series for Amazon’s new hit series CROSS. Ben talks about how he created and wrote the series CROSS on Amazon Prime and we go deep into the ins-and-outs of running a successful series, casting, writing, writers...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 514
On an all new episode, Hilliard and guest co-hosts actor/filmmaker Johnny Ray Gill and actor/filmmaker Denzel Whitaker chop it up in a dope, 2-part episode with showrunner BEN WATKINS, writer-creator of the NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series and Outstanding Drama Series for Amazon’s new hit series CROSS. We break down many of Ben's writing tips for screenwriters -- like his 3 phases of screenwriting, building leverage, pivoting, picking up tidbits, finding charact...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 513
In this episode, Hilliard and lil sis, actor/writer Dalila Ali Rajah sit down for a fun conversation about the do's and don'ts of submitting films to YOLONDA BRINKLEY creator of the long-running, and very popular DIVERSITY IN CANNES SHORT FILM SHOWCASE! Yolonda, the self-proclaimed global disruptor, is a full-service marketing communications practitioner specializing in event production and entertainment publicity. Fueled by passion, she is the creator of Diversity in Cannes, the independent glo...
Feb 03, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 512
In this super fun episode, Hilliard & guest co-host actor/writer/dir Denzel Whitaker sit down for an in-depth conversation with award-winning writer-dir-producer LISA FRANCE. If you ever had questions about how to become an Episodic Director, this might be the podcast for you! Lisa France is an entertainment vet with over 25+ years in the business as a writer, director and producer. She began her film and TV career from the ground up. PA, AD, set dec, camera operator, props, 2nd AD, driver, ...
Jan 27, 2025•2 hr 14 min•Ep. 511
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host (writers assnt CROSS on Prime) J.R. Zamora-Thal, sat down for an in-depth conversation with writer/producer JOSHUA GILBERT. He's a mid-level TV writer (Flash) -- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm4214168 -- and prior to staffing, did all the Writers' Office Assistant jobs: Writers' PA, Showrunner's Asst, Writers' Asst, and Script Coordinator (the gig he did the most). Josh says, "It occurred to me that if a YouTube video can teach someone to fix their sink, ...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 510
In this episode, Hilliard & guest-host writer/actor Dalila Ali Rajah sat down in a super fun, laugh-out-loud conversation with FRANCHESCA RAMSEY, actor, writer, producer and the creator/star of the award-winning series MTV Decoded! A former writer/correspondent for Comedy Central’s The Nightly Show with Larry Wilmore, her first book, "Well That Escalated Quickly" was nominated for an NAACP award and named one of Amazon’s best books of 2018. In 2021 she served as writer/co-producer on the iCa...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 39 min
In this episode, Hilliard & guest co-host Tracy Grant (Exec Producer on LACE on ALLBLK), sat down for an informative conversation about the ins-and-outs of finding opportunities for your screenwriting career with special guest JAMES MOORER (writer/producer/author/publisher behind the new company One Moorer Media and Management, that is dedicated to writers who specialize in turning their screenplays into IP or IP into screenplays! James is a sought-after speaker who inspires audiences with h...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 508
In this episode, Hilliard and writer Saeed Crumpler (Flatbush Misdemeanors, 1st Look at Sony), sat down for an in-depth conversation on how to look at your writing career as a Plan vs a Goal in order to succeed and finish the thing you so desperately want to write. We also spend time talking about a slew of other writer topics, like screenwriting vocabulary, flipping from TV to film writing and things to look out for, why screenwriters should write existing spec scripts before attacking a pilot,...
Dec 23, 2024•2 hr 7 min•Ep. 507
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host comedy writer Myles Warden sat down with Co-Executive Producer EVAN WAITE in a super dope conversation. Evan is not only a writer/producer on long-running hit series The Family Guy, but he’s written for show like (Inside Job, Fairfax Sunnyside, unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), several shows as well as The New Yorker and The Onion, so you know he’s not only funny, but a terrific writer. His perfectly timed book, "Life Wants You Dead: A Calm, Rational, and To...
Dec 16, 2024•1 hr 31 min
In this episode Hilliard and guest co-hosts Scott Foster & Brian Austin (Script Hop/The Gauntlet), sat down with OG screenwriters - SHANE BLACK (Lethal Weapon, Iron Man 3, A Long Kiss Goodnight) and JIM HERZFELD (Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers, The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story, etc) in a super dope conversation covering ELEMENTS OF CRAFT for screenwriters. So much wisdom dropped, so many laughs, so much fun y’all! We also spend some time talking about Script Hop where Shane, Jim and mysel...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 47 min•Ep. 505
The Screenwriters' Rant Room is off this week for the holidays - we'll be back next week!
Nov 25, 2024•3 min
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 favor...
Nov 18, 2024•2 hr 28 min•Ep. 542
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 Room! Screenwriter...
Nov 11, 2024•1 hr 59 min
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 fro...
Nov 04, 2024•1 hr 54 min
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 Cinem...
Sep 30, 2024•1 hr 54 min
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 most pr...
Sep 23, 2024•38 min
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.COM Nikhil 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, N...
Sep 16, 2024•1 hr 54 min
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 Reali...
Sep 09, 2024•2 hr 6 min
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 #1...
Sep 03, 2024•1 hr 50 min
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. Starring Wayne Brady, Sydn...
Aug 26, 2024•1 hr 41 min
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, “Yes, ...
Aug 12, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Season 20Ep. 495
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 GAME all ...
Aug 05, 2024•2 hr 1 min
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 for ...
Jul 29, 2024•1 hr 56 min
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 Motto...
Jul 22, 2024•1 hr 55 min
