Screenwriters' Rant Room

In this “Part Deuce” extended episode, Hilliard goes in with big bro, veteran character actor, John Wesley.  This one’s all about his acting career and the new book, TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF! HIGHLIGHTS: Booking the hit show “Knight Rider,” the “right” talent agent,  beware of the Type-cast, working with Duane Martin, landing The Jefferson’s, how to deal with writer/producers, “In the Heat of the N...

It's the 2015 season premiere and we go IN deep y’all.  This time with good friend Digger Mesch, a successful Comics/TV/Film multi-hyphenate who’s done it all!   HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in New York, the rebel visual arts student, learning from the greats, animation & stop-motion, creating the very popular Art Asylum Toy Company, inside the series "Agent 88," working as an actor and art director in...

Hilliard and Lisa go IN about “Being Fearless” in the TV/Film industry when it all seems to be going nowhere!   HIGHLIGHTS: Perfectionism, shit fades, positive script feedback, nervous material, so what - they think you’re a freak, embracing different sides of yourself, getting out of your funk, taking chances, film festival secrets, asking for help and the “Don’t Sleep on ‘Em” Segment (a scene by...

In this episode, Hilliard and Lisa Bolekaja go IN on the Oral Traditions of Storytelling…who we are, where we come from and why we write! HIGHLIGHTS: Listening to your voice, storytelling will save your life, Work Songs, Sea Shanties & Spirituals, the Dark Ages, self awareness, playing the Dozens, humor gets you over, cool shit comes from the street and Legends, Folktales, Fables & Myths -- a hist...

This week Hilliard chats with big bro, Joe Sabatino and they go IN y’all!  Tons of game in this Part I of two episodes for all you Rant Room Heads to enjoy! HIGHLIGHTS: College life, theatre and football in Italy, “acting is bullshit,” a Bouncer at Sunset Clubs, booking Emmy-winning NYPD Blue, behind Soap Opera acting and so much more!  Our motto, "Keep it street, keep it opinionated and keep it w...

HIGHLIGHTS : Growing up in Italy, becoming an actor - Italy vs USA, living with Mobsters in New Orleans, studying acting in NY at Lee Strasberg, working in stand-up, Peter’s one man show, “ Life & Me... What A Couple, ” behind his new book “Good Like This,” working with his wife, actress Annie Wood, living with Diabetes and Lisa’s Clapback to “American Horror Story!”  Our motto, "Keep it street, k...

Hilliard goes IN with big sis, Evette Vargas, creator of the new Sci-fi/Action Comic & TV Series “Dark Prophet!”  Believe me... this episode’s full of game y’all! HIGHLIGHTS : Evette’s path into storytelling, studying art/design, the Directing Program at Tish NYU, Digital Reign Productions, creating Multi-Platform Media Formats for: Comics, Video Games, TV Series and Features, Breaking down the ne...

In this bonus episode, Hilliard talks with good friend, veteran writer, Barry Sandler, about his long career and new mystery/thriller, “ Knock‘ Em Dead!” HIGHLIGHTS : A Shout Out to the movie Nightcrawler, how Barry got started, signed and produced, writing classics like: The Kansas City Bomber, Gable and Lombard, Making Love and Crimes of Passion, on-the-set etiquette, becoming an Instructor The...

In this wacky episode, Hilliard goes IN with old friend, David Merritt, recapping his career and historic “Brave New World Program” with Sony Electronics! With co-host, award-winning Sci-fi/Horror writer and author, Lisa Bolekaja. HIGHLIGHTS : A recap of The Walking Dead, how David got into the game, being an intern at Sony Pictures and shooting award-winning Short Films, Development Deals, creati...

In this extended episode, veteran actor John Wesley goes IN, giving war stories with life lessons and tons industry game! HIGHLIGHTS: A tribute to Icon John Huston, how Vietnam made John an activist, avoiding prison, becoming a theatre actor, taking over Oregon Shakespeare with John Avery, Carroll O’Connor on “In the Heat of the Night” and co-writing the book “Take a Loot at Yourself” with Icon, R...

In this wacky episode, Hilliard, Lisa and good friend Kevin Killebrew go IN deep, this time talking about… “can writers live by pen alone?” HIGHLIGHTS : Dietitian vs Nutritionist, writers and their health, bright light therapy, listening to your body, conscious eating, change your venue and write captivating scripts, the global entity, how much is your health worth to you and Lisa’s Clapback to th...

In this whacky episode, Hilliard talks with good friend, Miles Orion Feld, about his journey from small town Northern California, to playing in the Hollywood big leagues! HIGHLIGHTS :  Miles - the Drama Nerd, directing theatre at NYU, working the Hollywood system, building a strong work ethic, getting repped by CAA, creating TV Shows vs Specs, Miles’ Blind Deal with CBS Studios, pitching to top ne...

Carlos Hardy chops it up in the Rant Room with host, Hilliard Guess, in an episode packed with industry game! HIGHLIGHTS: Crazy is Genius - The Unwritten Rules, Interning in Chicago, the Warner Bros PA Program, the Pivotal Moment, embracing your inner “Kanye,” directing a feature film through Cakewalk Entertainment, tricks for directing a web series… fast, Carlos’ next horror movie, the Sci-fi boo...

In this "extended episode," Hilliard goes IN with world famous choreographer/dancer, Dave Scott, behind some of the biggest Hip-hop dance films ever! HIGHLIGHTS: Channelling Debby Allen, transitioning from dancer to choreographer, Dave’s choreography process, Artist Development: Mindless Behavior, B2K and many others, choreographing “U Got Served, Stomp The Yard, The Step Up Films, behind Producin...

That’s right y’all, another fantastic episode, this time with Veteran TV writer/creator/producer Bill Taub… and yes, we go IN about his new book “AUTOMATIC PILOT!” HIGHLIGHTS: “The Marc Cherry Affect,” from Advertising to Barney Miller, 70s TV vs Today, mimicking a show, inside Automatic Pilot, Elements of a Series, UCLA Instructor/Online Classes, Lisa’s Clapback “Old Movie Film Trivia” and the Do...

In this hilarious episode, Hilliard talks with Gray Jones, of TV WRITER PODCAST, about his new e-book “How To Break Into TV Writing - INSIDER INTERVIEWS!” Also with, award-winning Sci-fi/Horror writer and author, Lisa Bolekaja. HIGHLIGHTS: Getting started and learning the ropes, “TV-phile bitch,” Helicopter Parents, Chuck vs the Podcast,   the big move to the US, Writing Portfolios, producing & ed...

Hilliard Guess does it again y’all!  This very special, “extended episode" is packed with GAME!  With guests Chris & Will Derrick of the popular writing/directing team, "THE DERRICK BROS!" Also with, Lisa Bolekaja, aka... THE STREET NERDESS!   EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in Ohio, getting mentored by the great Bill Duke, The Chop Shop origins, their big break - from Sundance to writing Drumline...

In this episode @HilliardGuess with co-host, @LisaBolekaja, goes IN, this time from Lisa's feminist POV... writing "impactful" women character's! HIGHLIGHTS : Women see more films then men, Animation Character’s,The Bechdel Test, The Hot Action Fuck Toy, Woman in the Refrigerator Syndrome, Gay Character Tropes, The Magical Brown Negro, Ubisoft Gaming Conspiracy, Lisa’s Clapback to “True Blood," an...

@HilliardGuess & @LisaBolecaja get it IN with Stephen Daniels, former Austin Film Festival Winner, about his journey into screenwriting and why he’s "on-the-verge!" HIGHLIGHTS : How Stephen got into writing, the “don’t rush - they’ll wait” lesson, what happens after a big festival win, working with development producers "On Assignment," small writer rooms for new pilots, writer themes, be careful...

In this kickass episode, host, @HilliardGuess, talks with old friend @HowardCasner, screenwriter/playwright/reader/author about his hot, new book "The Rants and Ravings of a Screenplay Reader!" With Co-host, award-winning Sci-fi/Horror writer and author, @LisaBolekaja. HIGHLIGHTS : The Chicago Playwright Scene, being a Slamdance Reader and how it works, the competition/studio scoring system, best...

PILAR ALESSANDRA, instructor, author, consultant from the world famous On The Page, sat in with @HilliardGuess & co-host (Pilar’s mentee) @LisaBolekaja, for a hilarious hour and a half filled with nothing but GAME! EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS : Pilar’s intro into script reading, working for Amblin Ent. & Dreamworks, writing strong women characters, Pithing tips to sell and so much more!  Also Lisa’s Clapba...

In this episode, @HilliardGuess chats with filmmaker Erica Watson, about her journey from film school to Cannes! With Co-host, award-winning Sci-fi/Horror writer and author, @LisaBolekaja. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS : Life in the “D,” poetry and 5th grade writing, high school & The Harp, starting a production company, makin’ it to Cannes Short Film Corner... 5 times, “Creative Minds in Cannes,”  “Conversa...

In this episode, @HilliardGuess gets it IN with old friend Kevin Killebrew, writer-animation creator-VO artist about the good-bad and ugly side of Animation! With Co-host, award-winning Sci-fi/Horror writer and author, @LisaBolekaja. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS : Growing up in a Cult, becoming an avid book reader and TV Head, 70s TV Show Theme Songs, developing Cartoons & Animation for TV & Features, signi...

In this episode, @HilliardGuess talks with Kellie R. Griffin, writer-director-producer about her unorthodox rise from PA to Showrunner/Creator! With Co-host, award-winning Sci-fi/Horror writer and author, @LisaBolekaja. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS : Kellie’s childhood in Philly, Howard University, from psychology and social work to New York Film Academy, becoming a PA then Writers Assistant on The Parkers,...

Buckle up for another hilarious episode y’all!  @HilliardGuess interviews the Guru of Comedy, Steve Kaplan! With Co-host, award-winning Sci-fi/Horror writer and author, @LisaBolekaja. EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS: Steve's discovery into Comedy and growing up in Queens, starting and directing a long-running Off Broadway theater company, The HBO Writers Project, his stint as a Lit/Talent Manager, teaching...