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!

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

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YouTube Shorts & Videos!

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@Hilliard Guess on all social media

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@Davidshanks

@Dalilaalirajah

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⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Video: 

@JoshuaKazemi

#screenwritersrantroom #writingtips #screenwritingtips #screenwriters #ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ #blackhollywood

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!”

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!

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

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YouTube Shorts & Videos!

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ⁠⁠

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@Hilliard Guess on all social media

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@onemoorer

@Lekethia.dalcoe

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 

⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

Video: 

@JoshuaKazemi

Connor Conforti

#screenwritersrantroom #writingtips #screenwritingtips #screenwriters #ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ #blackhollywood

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!”

HAPPY BLACK HISTORY MONTH

In 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!

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

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YouTube Shorts & Videos!

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ⁠⁠

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@Hilliard Guess

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@fatboyfeels

@Lakethia.dalcoe

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 

⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

BTS: 

Matthew Nicholson

Connor Conforti

#screenwritersrantroom #writingtips #screenwritingtips #screenwriters #ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!”

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.

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

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YouTube Shorts & Videos!

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@fatboyfeels

@joshuakazemi

@oldfactoryfilms

@mahaliapridgett

@renee_alycea

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 

⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

BTS: 

Matthew Nicholson (video)

Eric De La Rosa (Photos)

Connor Conforti (editing)

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

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!

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

⁠⁠https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products⁠⁠

YouTube Shorts & Videos!

⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

FB: @BrendanFoley

@LisaFrance2067

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 

⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

BTS: 

Gregg Simon

Connor Conforti

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.

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

⁠https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products⁠

YouTube Shorts, & Videos!

⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess on all social media

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Rotating Guests:

@thedtmossteam

@minquell

@fatboyfeels

@beewrites8

@jade.alexandriia

@anichdjae

@jacques_buckingham

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 

⁠[email protected]⁠

Video BTS: Jade Hunter Alexandriia and Minquell

Editor: Connor Conforti

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!

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

⁠https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products⁠

YouTube Shorts & Videos!

⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@mrcarlseaton

@balance510

@tracygrant5439

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 

⁠[email protected]⁠

BTS:

Jerry Jerome (photography)

Matthew Nicholson (video)

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 Business' stars Brandon T. Jackson, Lela Rochon, Yvette Nicole Brown, Orlando Jones, Pooch Hall, Quincy Brown and David Banner. It premiered January 2025.

-The Black Hamptons’ which stars Lamman Rucker, Vanessa Bell Calloway, Elise Neal, Brian White, Karon Joseph, Mike Merrill, Jennifer Freeman, and Blac Chyna. The show received an NAACP nomination for Best Limited Series in 2023.

-Trey also recently Directed , ‘Deb is Boss’ starring Lil Mama, which is loosely based on the life of famed music manager Deb Anteny. Foxxhole Productions Datari Turner and Jamie Foxx are EP’s w Deb Anteny and Tri Destined Studios ND Brown Jones. It's set to be released top of 2026 by AllBlk/WeTV.

Other recent movies include the sexy murder mystery ‘Love Mary Kill’ starring Monique Coleman and Skye Blac and the holiday roller-skating movie ‘Rolling Into Christmas’ starring Rhyon Nicole Brown.

Trey also conducts filmmaking master classes where he integrates hands-on learning to address the creative, technical and business aspects of film and television.

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products

YouTube Shorts, & Videos!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess on all social media 

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@treyhaleytds

@kareemgrimes

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : 

[email protected]

BTS: Keshia Kola

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 MATHEWSON

Katie 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 secure better healthcare coverage for transgender Guild members.

THINK TANK INCLUSION & EQUITY (TTIE) & HOROWITZ RESEARCH RELEASE BEHIND THE SCENES: THE STATE OF INCLUSION & EQUITY IN TV WRITING 2025 REPORT

Y. SHIREEN RAZACK

Shireen is a South Asian, Trinidadian, Canadian, Muslim-American drama writerwith an affinity for science fiction, fantasy, and supernatural stories steeped in social justice allegory. Born in Canada, mostly raised in Texas, and a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Shireen started her professional life with a career in advertising that took her from Texas to New York, then ultimately to Los Angeles, where she came to pursue her dream of writing for television. She is an alum of the CBS Writers Mentoring Program and now has over fifteen years of TV writing experience in multiple genres, including sci-fi/fantasy/supernatural, YA, and both medical and cop procedurals. Most recently, she was a Co-Executive Producer on Vampire Academy for Peacock.

Shireen is also a co-founder and co-chair of Think Tank for Inclusion & Equity (TTIE), a member of the Board of Directors for the Writers Guild Foundation, a Writers Guild of America West mentor, and a black belt in San Soo Kung Fu.

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products

YouTube Shorts, Videos & CLIPS!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess on all social media 

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@katiemathewson

[email protected]

@dalilaalirajah

WE ARE OPEN TO SPONSORSHIPS AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : 

[email protected]

BTS: Matthew Nicholson

In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host writer/director Gregg Simon sat down for almost two hours with DANIEL PEARLE Executive Producer of Netflix's number one 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, 2018. He is currently writing an original feature film for Warner Bros.

His other plays include Freefall (finalist, 2017 O’Neill Playwrights Conference), Remote Viewing (semi-finalist, 2015 O’Neill Playwrights Conference), The Prodigies (semi-finalist, 2013 O’Neill Playwrights Conference), and Plunder (winner, 2008 Loeb Drama Center’s Phyllis Anderson Prize). His short play The Truth About Christmas was a winner of the 2011 Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival.

Daniel was a recipient of the 2018 Humanitas New Voices Grant for emerging writers in television. He received a WGA Award Nomination for his work on FX’s Impeachment: American Crime Story. Other TV credits include One of Us Is Lying (Peacock) and Accused (Fox). He is an alum of Ars Nova’s Play Group and a MacDowell Fellow. He earned his BA from Harvard University and his MFA from The New School for Drama.

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into real game from working industry pros who KEEP IT GAME ALL DAY.

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

MERCH (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

⁠https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products⁠

YouTube Shorts, Videos & BONUS CLIPS!

⁠https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess on all social media 

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:

@danielpearle

@gregglsimon

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : 

[email protected]