Hilliard Guess' Screenwriters Rant Room

BONUS EP!In its inaugural year, Anthology IO Short Film Festival is not holding back any punches. With its premiere event in Los Angeles on March 28th, 2026. THE TV WRITERS’ HUSTLE: ROOMS, PITCHES & STAFFINGBreaking into television isn’t just about writing a great script — it’s about understanding the hustle behind the scenes. In this candid panel, working TV/Film writers (Hilliard Guess, Tash Gray, Saeed Crumpler and Chris Derrick) pull back the curtain on how the business really works: from developing and pitching shows, to navigating the writers’ room and landing that coveted staff job. Expect real talk, practical advice, and insider gems on how today’s writers break in, level up, and survive the ever-changing world of television. Whether you’re an emerging writer or a veteran on the grind, this conversation will give you the game you need to move your career forward!⁠https://www.studioio.la/anthology-io⁠DETAILS:Date: Saturday, MARCH 28th, 2026Venue: Solotech Studios @ The Eastman Kodak Building in Hol

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 podcasts: https://bit.ly/4ulzqnhThere is so much game and tips for filmmakers dying to make their own feature film with a story that's burning deep inside!@mermaidfeaturefilm written and directed by Fia Perera @pererapictures is heading to its WORLD PREMIERE at @cinequestorg CINEQUEST Film Festival 

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 as an act of protest, reclamation, and artistic defiance within the lineage of Black women reshaping American performance. The nomination is a full-circle moment for Davenport, as the NAACP was the first organization to recognize his writing when he was in high school. He can speak to the nomination as well as his broader career as a multidisciplinary artist working across acting, writing, directing, producing, casting, and education. A Chicago native and Yale graduate, Davenport is a member of SAG-AFTRA, BAFTA, the Eu

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, adding nuance to characters and so much more!Another don’t miss episode y’all!Audio: https://bit.ly/4qHUEJb

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 writing credits include NBC’s SHADES OF BLUE, FOX Television’s SHOTS FIRED, SHOWTIME’s THE CHI and the critically acclaimed NETFLIX SERIES SEVEN SECONDS where his episode, MATTERS OF LIFE AND DEATH won the 2019 NAACP IMAGE AWARD for Outstanding Writing in a Television Drama.Presently, David is working under an overall deal with AMC Network. He is currently the Executive Producer/ Co-Showrunner for the AMC SERIES 61st STREET and EP on CROSS S2 & S3.Another don’t miss episode y’all!

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!

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTHIn 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!

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.

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 Daughter, producing TV series and so much more!

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 tips and so much more.

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!

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 Director for the following TV Shows:-The hit Crime Drama ‘Carl Webers The Family Business’ who's cast includes Ernie Hudson, Valarie Pettiford, Darrin DeWitt Henson, Tami Roman and Javicia Leslie, recently wrapped its sixth season on BET+ and is currently streaming. Seasons 1-4 streamed on Netflix where the show climbed as high as #6 on its first two weeks on the platform.Season 6 recently landed #1 on Amazon Primes subscription shows.-The Family Business: New Orleans’ which is a spinoff of the 'The Family Busin

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 MATHEWSONKatie 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 Fox’s PITCH, but since then, their credits have included Marvel Studios’ HAWKEYE, Amazon’s JURY DUTY, and Showtime’s DEXTER prequel. Katie and Tanner are currently Co-Executive Producers on Season 2 of DEXTER: RESURRECTION. Katie’s passion for LGBTQ+ activism and DEIA has led her to work with the Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity (TTIE). She previously served as Co-Chair of the LGBTQ+ Writers Committee, during which time she co-founded the Rainbow Pages – an independent database of queer WGA writers – and helped secur

In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host writer/director Gregg Simon sat down for almost two hours with DANIEL PEARLE Executive Producer of the new Netflix 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 run at LCT3/Lincoln Center Theater (NY Times Critic’s Pick). The play won the 2013 Laurents/Hatcher Foundation Award and was also awarded the prestigious Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation’s Theatre Visions Grant.Daniel’s feature film adaptation of A Kid Like Jake premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. The film is directed by Silas Howard and stars Claire Danes, Jim Parsons, Octavia Spencer, Priyanka Chopra, Amy Landecker, and Ann Dowd. IFC Films acquired domestic rights for the film, which opened in theaters June 1

PLEASE EXCUSE THE SOUNDStep 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 industry grind, they’ll serve up raw insights and hard-earned gems, with behind-the-scenes stories on how creators can build a community. Expect laughs, truth bombs, and some straight-up game for filmmakers and creatives trying to level up!Joining the conversation:Simone Harris – Ryan Coogler’s Proximity MediaPamela Azmi-Andrew – Veteran Casting Director/Writer/ProducerCarl Seaton - Award-winning Episodic Director/ProducerEvent Time: 12:30 PM – 1:45 PMLocation: The Culver Theater (Panel Bldg.)

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 companiesSurvival is Key"Make Money Sexy Again"What should Emerging writers write in 2026Being a TastemakerAI and how to writers can work with itChange is constant, adapt or dieMentorship - the good and badAnd so much more!

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 & 5-star review!YouTube Shorts, Videos & CLIPS!https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQOur Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"WWW.SCREENWRITERSRANTROOM.COMMERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/productsSCREENWRITERS’ RANT ROOM - LIVE OCTOBER 24, 2025 12:30PM-1:45PMTHE CULVER THEATERMICHEAUXFILMFEST.COMEMAIL:ScreenwritersRantRoom@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Hilliard Guess on all social media @Hilliardguess.bsky.socialIG: @ScreenwritersRantRoomGuest:@Min

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, WaterWalk Entertainment, she wrote, directed, and produced her first short film, Humanitas Prize-nominated and multiple festival winner, THE REBEL GIRLS -- a true story based on a group of girl-warriors who were arrested in 1963 for attempting to integrate a movie theater in Southern Georgia – which you can currently see on all American Airlines domestic flights.Her writing and producing credits include dramas FIRST KILL, THE PUNISHER, EMPIRE, GOSSIP GIRL, and FRINGE. Her comedy credits include SISTER-SISTER, MOESHA, and EVER