Screenwriters' Rant Room

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

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⁠[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]

PLEASE EXCUSE THE SOUND

Step 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 Media

Pamela Azmi-Andrew – Veteran Casting Director/Writer/ProducerCarl Seaton - Award-winning Episodic Director/Producer

Event Time: 12:30 PM – 1:45 PM
Location: The Culver Theater (Panel Bldg.)

💥SUBSCRIBE💥 if you’re serious about writing for TV, 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:

@denzelwhitaker

@Mrcarlseaton

@monieinthemiddle

@pamelazmiandrew

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : 

[email protected]

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 companies

Survival is Key

"Make Money Sexy Again"

What should Emerging writers write in 2026

Being a Tastemaker

AI and how to writers can work with it

Change is constant, adapt or die

Mentorship - the good and bad

And so much more!

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

YouTube Shorts, Videos & BONUS CLIPS!

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

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

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

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

EMAIL:

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess on all social media 

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

@Balance510

@Fatboyfeels

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : 

[email protected]

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-fQ

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

WWW.SCREENWRITERSRANTROOM.COM

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

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

SCREENWRITERS’ RANT ROOM - LIVE 

OCTOBER 24, 2025 12:30PM-1:45PM

THE CULVER THEATER

MICHEAUXFILMFEST.COM

EMAIL:

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess on all social media 

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guest:

@MinquellRamone

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIPS AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : 

[email protected]

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 EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS. Felicia is an Associate Professor in Northwestern University’s Department of Radio/Television/Film, where she teaches screenwriting and production courses. She holds a PhD from UCLA’s Department of Film, Television, and Digital Media and her research interests include politics, race, gender, and cultural capital in the TV writers’ room.

Felicia is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a board member of the Leadership Academy for underrepresented girls called Shero’s Rise, and along with her sister-colleagues: Sara Finney-Johnson, Mara Brock Akil, and Gina Prince Bythewood, she endowed the Four Sisters Scholarship in screenwriting, directing, and animation at UCLA. She also endowed the Felicia D

Henderson Scholarship in Screenwriting, also at UCLA. Most importantly, Felicia is “Auntie” to over 30 nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. She grew up in Pasadena, California, but owes her skills in the kitchen – including melt-in-your-mouth candied yams, corn bread dressing, and banana pudding from scratch -- to her mother’s Mississippi roots. Currently, she splits her time between Los Angeles, Chicago, and wherever film and TV production takes her.

SUBSCRIBE - like, follow, share & 5-star review!

PART 2 COMING SOON ON YOUTUBE

YouTube Shorts, Videos & BONUS CLIPS!

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

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

WWW.SCREENWRITERSRANTROOM.COM

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

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

SCREENWRITERS’ RANT ROOM - LIVE 

OCTOBER 24, 2025 12:30PM-1:45PM

THE CULVER THEATER

MICHEAUXFILMFEST.COM

EMAIL:

[email protected]

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

@Hilliard Guess on all social media 

@Hilliardguess.bsky.social

IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guest:

@feliciadhen1

BTS: Chase "Zoom" Bell

@z00m12

@defiproductionllc

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIPS AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ : 

[email protected]