Hilliard Guess' Screenwriters Rant Room

In Part 1 of this episode, Hilliard, Chris and lil' brother filmmaker Geno Brooks, sit down with the OG TV/FILM Executive Producer/Writer/Director CHARLES MURRAY and in Part One we talk about Mentorship, it's true meaning and how writers can find better usage of their time to maintain or build a screenwriting career! Check back in for PART 2 next week! 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 invest countless hours per week to deliver the actionable content that goes into this podcast. Connect with Us on Social Media: Chris Derrick on Twitter Lisa Bolekaja on Twitter Hilliard Guess on Twitter Geno Brooks on Twitter Charles Murray on Instagram The Screenwriters Rant Room on Facebook The Screenwriters Rant Room on Twitter --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/screenwriters-rant-room/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/screenwrite

Hilliard sat down with comedy writer/indie filmmaker/actor Amir Mo -- in a fun discussion about writing and producing comedy from outside the box, finding your voice and POV and being a BIPOC writer in Hollywood today. This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition/ Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, o

Hilliard and Chris sit down with writer/prod Evette Vargas (co-chair of the WGAW Latinx Committee) & writer/prod Jorge River (Vice-chair of the WGAW Latinx Committee) in an amazing discussion and praise of Latinx joy for Lin Minuel-Miranda and John Chu's latest hit film: "IN THE HEIGHTS" GO SEE THIS FILM!  This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-com

Hilliard had another dope one-on-one with Veteran Actor of Stage and Screen -- over 80 plays including working with the late August Wilson opposite the late Roscoe Lee Browne in the Los Angeles Premiere of Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone". Co-starred in the classic films, the hip hop comedy classic CB4 as the iconic 40 Dog opposite the late Charlie Murphy with Chris Rock, the classic action film "Con Air" opposite John Malkovich. Recurring on the Emmy award winning ER on NBC....and on and on! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic

In this episode, Hilliard has a one-on-one with comedy writer Aadip Desai (The Goldbergs, Sundance Advisor and more), and the two go IN on some of their favorite topics: SKA Music, Fellowships & Outlines. This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition/ Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Pat

In this super dope episode, Hilliard, Chris and Tracy Grant chop it up with big bro, Veteran Executive Producer P. Frank Williams. The Emmy and 8-time NAACP Image Award Winner, the man behind such shows as AMERICAN GANGSTER, UNSUNG, UNSUNG HOLLYWOOD, WU: THE STORY OF WU-TANG CLAN, WHO SHOT BIGGIE AND TUPAC, CELEBRITY CRIME FILES and so much more -- found out at www.PFrankWilliams.com This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https:

Hilliard & Chris talk with writer/director/professor Camille Tucker about her amazing trajectory -- growing up in Compton near the Black Cowboys, selling her first script to Robert De Niro, developing other projects with major studios and even tells the story of co-writing Lifetime’s hit TV movie, "The Clark Sisters: The First Ladies of Gospel," which debuted to 2.7MM viewers and has had over 13MM viewers to date! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care syst

Hilliard & Chris get together in person for the first time in over a year (after both being fully Vaccinated), and have an intense discussion about writing TV/Film in Hollywood and the affect and toll it takes on you, myths in the writers' room, working through depression, signs of it and so much more! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition/

Hilliard & Lisa chop it up with Rapper/Music Producer/Filmmaker Jack Spade and Rapper/Comedy Writer Saeed Crumpler about writing from afar, licensing their music and beats to Film/TV, working with artists, creating avenues for residual income and even The Nickelodeon Writing Program! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition/ Check out the Scree

Hilliard, Lisa & Chris talk with Jeanne Veillettte Bowerman (Executive Pipeline Media Group, Editor-in-Chief Pipeline Artists) and Matt Joseph Misetich (Senior Executive / Partner, Pipeline Media Group) about all of the amazing things they have going on for screenwriters, novelist, and artists on their newly launched PipelineArtists.com site! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finis

In this episode Hilliard and Lisa look back with actor Dwayne Barnes and the controversial role he played as a crack head in the hit film Menace II Society. Sparked by a  conversation that went viral on Deadline between Jay Baker agent at CAA and black Literary Manager Jewerl Keats Ross — disgustingly ties in Dwayne’s scenes in Menace — which Jay used against Jewerl with racial and homophobic undertones. The first Deadline article is from the Jewerl Ross: https://deadline.com/2021/03/caa-lit-agent-jay-baker-abrupt-exit-jewerl-keats-ross-menace-2-society-barry-jenkins-1234722958/ Dwayne’s Personal Letter to Deadline - his response to the whole controversy! https://deadline.com/2021/03/dwayne-barnes-menace-2-society-crack-addict-actor-guest-column-hollywood-controversy-1234724535/?fbclid=IwAR2UVd4XjT6AGPVaU5tuCCqO87NwmKw45Cp8qRUc-EUftbqIdjP2iOZAKHs This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcom

In this episode, Hilliard & Lisa chop it up with TV/Film Executive Donna-Marie Reid and Filmmaker/Creator of the Digital Series "QT" Tamieka Briscoe, about their amazing journeys, working in Hollywood as black, female content creators, utilizing ClubHouse to the fullest, building allies and so much more! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition

In this ep, Hilliard, Lisa and Chris talk about the many "assumptions" writers have in Hollywood - particularly with actor Shia LaBeouf who's been submitting his screenplays and placing in open screenwriting competitions (known for advancing Emerging Writers) over the past few years and the controversy the Writing Community and Social Media has around it! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tir

Hilliard has a one-on-one with actor-model-filmmaker and star of the Emmy Nominated TVOne Series about black love -- "TOUGH LOVE." Eric talks about his amazing journey from Detroit doing construction, to modeling on runways of NY Fashion Week, to moving to LA and acting in a hit TV series! You can find Eric on all Social Media @EricJordonTidwell This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-fi

Hilliard & Lisa talk with head writer BEN JOHNSON JR., about writers' rooms, features and shooting in South Africa. Ben is a multi-talented, business-minded filmmaker who is professional in his conduct, serious about mastering his craft and passionate about telling authentic, emotionally compelling African stories. This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script

This week Hilliard and Chris are joined by big bro, TV/Film director Carl Seaton to talk about the obstacles of directing episodic television during Covid. So much game dropped in this episode y'all! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition/ Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Pateron! Supp

Chris drops another bottle episode to talk about the 1 year anniversary of the COVID shutdown, the future of the movie industry, the importance of hustle, and writing outlines for TV episodes! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition/ Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screenwritersrr.com for information, merch, or our Pateron! Support

Hilliard and Chris are joined by Bianca Sams, TV writer and co-chair of the WGAW Committee of Black Writers to discuss “Black Bodies on Screen” with a look at the popular Think Tank Inclusion and Equity Factsheet that went out to the industry: research-driven one-pagers to help guide writers rooms, writers, and all content creators toward better representation in their stories! You can find the Inclusion and Equity Factsheet HERE: https://www.writeinclusion.org/factsheets?mc_cid=0a365949e7&mc_eid=f4fe056be4 This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gende

In this episode, Hilliard & Chris talk with Literary Manager/Producer Rachel Miller about her viral Twitter Thread that came out a few weeks ago listing some do's-and-don'ts that herself and showrunner uncovered while staffing their new Streamer thriller series which is a month into the writers' room!  This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competit

In this super fun episode, Hilliard, Chris & Lisa sat down over Skype with four amazing Emerging Writers on the come up: Keena Ferguson, Amadou Diallo, Danielle Nicki and Larry Solidarity. We literally drop two hours of nothing but industry game y'all! This episode is brought to you by The Finish Line Script Competition! They are here to help writers succeed - visit https://finishlinescriptcomp.com for more information! If you want to check out Finish Line Script Competition’s other competition: The Tirota/Finish Line SOCIAL IMPACT competition. The year 2 competition celebrates film and television scripts that seek to raise awareness and inspire change regarding urgent issues with critical relevance across our society now, such as racial, gender or economic inequality; climate change; drug addiction; the broken foster care system; gun violence and more. Link: https://finishlinescriptcomp.com/tirota-finish-line-social-impact-script-competition/ Check out the ScreenWriterRR website at www.screen