532: MICHEAUX FILM FEST - NOEL BRAHAM

532: MICHEAUX FILM FEST - NOEL BRAHAM

Author: Hilliard Guess September 2, 2025 Duration: 1:39:32

In this Season Finale episode, Hilliard sits down with actor/writer/prod/director NOEL BRAHAM - co-founder of the hit MICHEAUX FILM FESTIVAL now in its 7th year and killing the game on the circuit!
HIGHLIGHTS: The Power of “YET," lessons from his family growing up, becoming an actor, climbing many mountains, becoming a filmmaker and producing a Webseries and daytime Emmy-nominated short films, the power of community, co-founding and producing the Micheaux Film Festival and so much more!
Noel is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker, founder, and master of making gold on a budget tighter than his schedule. As the visionary behind the Micheaux Film Festival, he’s built one of the fastest-growing multicultural film festivals in the country, while simultaneously directing, producing, writing, and probably acting out something in the back of an Uber. Born with a camera in one hand and an unshakable belief in multicultural stories in the other, Noel turned his journey from living in a hostel to helming red carpets into a movement. His work sits at the intersection of impact and innovation, combining soul-stirring narratives with social relevance...and maybe a sly wink to every industry gatekeeper who ever said "no."
Noel’s latest indie feature, Angel City, starring SNL star Chris Kattan, is a gritty, heartfelt love letter to Los Angeles that blends social commentary with cinematic ambition. Inspired by his own experience of living out of his car while chasing a dream, the film pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities of Hollywood and the homeless community.
A true creative Swiss Army knife, Noel has collaborated with brands like Sony, Amazon, and Apple, while continuing to champion emerging talent who have more grit than followers. He’s known for being equal parts strategist and storyteller and his superpower? Turning a three-person crew and a Craigslist location into something that looks like it came out of Warner Bros. When he’s not running a festival, pitching a project, or jumping on a Zoom in a button-up and gym shorts, you can find him praying, hyping indie artists, or asking Chat GPT how to survive on three hours of sleep. Noel Braham -  proof that purpose, hustle, and faith can’t be denied.
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Guest:
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Step inside a space where the polished veneer of Hollywood gets stripped away, replaced by the raw, unfiltered conversations happening behind the scenes. Screenwriters' Rant Room is guided by Hilliard Guess, a working WGA writer, director, and producer whose own path includes a role as Director of Development and now executive producing an Amazon series. He brings that grounded, insider perspective to every episode. Rather than rehearsed interviews, you’ll hear the kind of frank talk that happens after a long day on set or in a writers’ room. Hilliard sits down with guests or engages with rotating co-hosts, and together they drop what he aptly calls "industry bombs"-those unvarnished truths, frustrating anecdotes, and hard-won insights about writing, producing, and surviving in TV and film. The tone is as hilarious as it is candid, making the complex machinery of entertainment feel human and relatable. This isn't a lecture on structure; it's a living, breathing, and often laughing chronicle of the creative grind. For anyone curious about the real stories behind the screen, this podcast offers a front-row seat to the rants, revelations, and camaraderie that define a life in storytelling.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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