Hilliard Guess' Screenwriters Rant Room

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-acre dairy farm in rural upstate New York, Zadoc and his sister Amy were integral to his parents' family-run business. The son of a minister and a local politician, Angell pursued his academic and creative endeavors to Harvard University, where he graduated in 2003 with a Bachelor's Degree in Visual & Environmental Studies: Film. In addition to being a full-time manager, Angell has taught classes in pilot writing at UCLA. He lives in Redondo Beach with his husband Sean, a high school English teacher, and

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 more!Follow:@WordygirlEnt@Dalilaalirajah Our Motto:"We keep it GAME all day!"Follow us on Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on X and all Social Media @HilliardGuess⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our guests on Instagram @Blackmouf @Jade.alexandriiaSPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 10 % off code: WOOHOOsrrScreenwriters Rant Room WEBSITE at www.screenwritersrantroom.com COMING SOON - for information, merch (t-shirts/hoodies), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours pe

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 with good work, genre blends that move her, writers over 50 who have something to offer a writers' room and so much more!Our Motto:"We keep it GAME all day!"#ScreenwritersRantRoomFollow us on Socials:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on X and all Social Media @HilliardGuess⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow our guests on Instagram @Blackmouf @Jade.alexandriia, and @Screenwritersrantroom SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 10 % off code: WOOHOOsrrScreenwriters Rant Room WEBSITE at www

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 industry, the ups-and-downs in today's climate for black comics on and off camera, pivoting post the WGA strike and so much more! A ton of game dropped in this one y'all! Our Motto: "We keep it GAME all day!" Follow us on Socials: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on X and all Social Media @HilliardGuess⁠⁠⁠ Follow our guests on Instagram @donaldlacyjr, @therealjoelboyd, and @writeongirl SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 10 % off code: WOOHOOsrr Screenwriters Rant R

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 Media @HilliardGuess⁠⁠ Kala on Instagram Niles on Instagram SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 10 % off code: WOOHOOsrr Screenwriters Rant Room website at www.screenwritersrantroom.com COMING SOON - for information, merch (t-shirts/hoodies), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. We appreciate your support! Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/screenwriters-rant-room/mess

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 pivotal moment when her feature script, "WORTH IT," garnered well-deserved recognition as a semi-finalist in prestigious competitions like Women in Film/The Black List and BET's Project Cre8 Feature.She has lent her expertise to scripted comedy podcasts like "YES WE CANNABIS" and "STRANDED" for Broadway Video. A former mentee in Women in Film Mentorship Program for directors and Amy Aniobe's TRIBE, Kristina recently finished Film Independent's Project Involve fellowship as

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 episodic director, shadowing on the set and so much more. A ton of industry game in this one for any of you filmmakers who dream of succeeding as a filmmaker and network TV director. Be sure to purchase Princess Monique's book: "Hood to Hollywood: How to Be Discovered & Discover Yourself" Follow us on Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on X and all Social Media @HilliardGuess Princess on X: @PrincessFilmz www.princessfilmz.com Princess' assistant: X: @CreativeK IG: @CreativeK2 SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 culture has changed today! Lots of important game dropped y'all. A don't miss episode! Follow us on your Socials: IG: @KareemGrimes @ShawnTheMaestro @HansfordPrinceactorwriter @KirkBovill SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use 10 % off code: WOOHOOsrr ScreenWriterRantRoom website at www.screenwritersrantroom.com COMING SOON - for information, merch (t-shirts), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. We app

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 all times.So much game dropped y'all! SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code WOOHOOsrr ScreenWriterRantRoom website at www.screenwritersrantroom.com COMING SOON - for information, merch (t-shirts), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. We appreciate your support! Follow us on Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on X⁠, IG and all SM. @Aashadavis on Instagram @Lanett_tachel on Instagram @Jonibovill on Instagr

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 Episodic TV Director. We go deep into thow to apply yourself when you're a guest director and the ins-and-outs of the directing producer on a series!Another don't miss episode! SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code WOOHOOsrr Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch (t-shirts), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. We appreciate your support! Follow us on Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hill

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 RANTROOM23 (all caps) for 10% off any and everything ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code WOOHOOsrr Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch (t-shirts), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. We appreciate your support! Follow us on Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chris Derrick on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/screenwriters

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 everywhere you find podcasts. SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠RoadMap Writers⁠⁠⁠⁠: Use RANTROOM23 (all caps) for 10% off any and everything ⁠⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠⁠ Use code WOOHOOsrr Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch (t-shirts), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. We appreciate your support! Follow us on Social: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Chris Derrick on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Follow @Da

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 Hip Hop artist in the Bay Area to TV writer in LA writing on Showtime's Flatbush Misdemeanors and soon afterwards, his current Sony Overall Deal! This is a fun, don't miss episode packed with tips and tricks for all levels of screenwriting. SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠RoadMap Writers⁠⁠⁠: Use RANTROOM23 (all caps) for 10% off any and everything ⁠⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠⁠ Use code WOOHOOsrr Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch (t-shirts)

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 the top music artists in the business, including feature films, documentaries and commercials! These two drop so much game on how they built a multi-million dollar company from idea to execution!Echobend's latest film: "ME, MYSELF & THE VOID" is out right now and killing it on the festival circuit! SPONSORSHIPS:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠RoadMap Writers⁠⁠: Use RANTROOM23 (all caps) for 10% off any and everything ⁠⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠⁠ Use code WOOHOOsrr Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwriters

Support the show for $1/month⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE⁠ 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 (all caps) for 10% off any and everything ⁠WooHoo Apparel:⁠ Use code WOOHOOsrr Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch (t-shirts), or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. We appreciate your support! Follow us on Social: ⁠⁠Chris Derrick on Twitter⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Hilliard Guess on Twitter⁠⁠ Carole on Twitter and Website Send in a voice message: https://podca

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 Salvation (CBS), Station 19 (ABC), and American Horror Story (FX) among others. Angela is proud to serve on the Board of Directors for CARE Action, the political advocacy arm of a global anti-poverty agency. She also serves on the Board for the Writer’s Guild of America’s PAC and as co-chair of the Think Tank for Inclusion and Equity (TTIE), a consortium of TV writers dedicated to expanding the voice and reach of historically excluded peoples in the entertainment industry!Another don't miss episode y'

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/podcast/queer-news/id1595777135 2 Writers Talkin Shit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2-writers-talking-shit/id1671253747 (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/2-writers-talking-shit/id1671253747 Women of Color Unite Podcast: https://spotify.link/vzYIMtWQJDb (https://spotify.link/vzYIMtWQJDb --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/screenwriters-rant-room/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/screenwriters-rant-room/support

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 Pretty Little Liars; Original Sin) and so much more industry game for y'all! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. Follow us on Social: Chris Derrick on Twitter Hilliard Guess on Twitter Danielle on Instagram and Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/screenwriters-rant-room/message Support this podc

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 SRTP, staffing, producing in the UK vs the US, six rules of making a TV writer, preproduction, post production and so much more. Buy his book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Rowman.com, or wherever books are sold! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. Follow us on Social: Chris Derrick on Twitter Hilliard Guess on Twitter Jeff on Instagram ---

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 episode and to vote for your favorite candidates! Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Patreon! We invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. Follow us on Social: Chris Derrick on Twitter Hilliard Guess on Twitter Nicole on Twitter and Instagram Rob on Twitter and Instagram Jackie on Twitter and Instagram Leah on Twitter and Instagram --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scree