Screenwriters' Rant Room

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...

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,...

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...

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 tr...

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...

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 ho...

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...

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, t...

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...

Support the show for $5/month⁠⁠ 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 respe...

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...

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 N...

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,...

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 hi...

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 fe...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode recorded a few weeks back, Hilliard & Chris sat down with TV/Film writer Rich Redlo, (Hilliard's new 'older' mentee - cuz he's always mentoring younger writers) and talked about a ton of useful writing topics like AI, elitism, writing short stories as an introduction to screenplays, the...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard & Chris sit down with super awesome ALEX O'KEEFE y'all. Growing up, he was a community organizer for Obama, became a speechwriter for Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, a movement leader for The Green New Deal, and a staff writer on Season One of the hit series The Bear! We spen...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE Hilliard & Chris met on zoom with talented writer, director, and producer David Shen Miller - and talked about his work on his amazing animated short film “The Cocoon,” which just screened and won Best Animated Short at the Arizona Film Festival! The film also premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival and co...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode Hilliard had a writers cypher with talented filmmakers Lenny Barszap & Aaron Brown who have the new feature film HOME FREE - which was the closing night film at this years 2023 Dances With Films Film Festival! The two talk about their journey in the indie world and how they continue to survive the indu...

Support the show for $1/month In this episode, Hilliard sat down with Lanett Tachell & Corey Grant filmmakers behind the Dances With Films Film Festival's 2023 Grand Jury Prize winning film ANGIE'S CURE! This is one of those don't miss podcasts y'all. These two drop so much industry game, you will certainly learn a ton as they go deep into the development of their film from scr...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard chopped it up with black, queer actor/writer (of Broadway Tours & Director of Access Program at Road Map Writers) Tristan J. Shuler and TV writer (Poker Face) Charlie Peppers. We talk about the journeys for these two emerging creators, growing up as queer artist, why me, why now, when you kno...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard & Chris have a blast of a conversation with veteran writer-executive producer Jose Molina (Agent Carter, Sleepy Hollow, Vampire Diaries, Without a Trace, to list a few)... We go all the way back to his humble beginnings, taking a deep dive into his long and amazing journey, from assistant and...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard sat down with emerging writers Chris Moore (producer at The Artistic Standard) and Jerry Jerome (filmmaker and wga strike photographer) for a fun, knowledgeable conversation about tv writing, being in the writers' room where it happens, being genuine, brand identity, dealing with reps, being...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard & Chris sit down with the homie, Showrunner Cheo Hodari Coker (Luke Cage) in a fun, insightful episode that's full of game, tips and tricks for working or aspiring writers and filmmakers. We also talk a lot about the climate of the 2023 WGA Writers Strike and the importance of staying hea...

Support the show for $1/month Subscribe to Chris's newsletter - THIN ICE In this episode, Hilliard sat down with filmmakers Graham Streeter & Alex Lebosq of Imperative Pictures and talked about their journey, working their way up in the indie world, starting with award-winning short films and moving into feature films that deal with human topics everyone can relate to. These two inspiring...