537- RANT ROOM LIVE PANEL

537- RANT ROOM LIVE PANEL

Author: Hilliard Guess November 3, 2025 Duration: 1:10:42

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 : 

Screenwritersrantroom@gmail.com


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

Screenwriters' Rant Room
Podcast Episodes
532: MICHEAUX FILM FEST - NOEL BRAHAM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 o…
531: EXEC PRODUCER SARA FINNEY JOHNSON [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:07
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host TV comedy writer Myles Warden sat down in a super fun conversation with icon comedy/drama writer SARA FINNEY JOHNSON (co-creator on the ICONIC television series’ Moesha and The…
530: OUT NFL PLAYER/AUTHOR - R.K. RUSSELL [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:08
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host Tristan J. Shuler sat down for a 2-hour, in-depth, hilarious conversation with R. K. RUSSELL, Out NFL Player, activist, poet and author of the amazing new book THE YARDS BETWEE…
529: SELWYN SEYFU HINDS - SHOWRUNNER [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:33:04
In this episode, Hilliard sits down for an in-depth, over 2-hour conversation with SELWYN SEYFU HINDS Showrunner/Creator of WASHINGTON BLACK the new hit series on HULU!HIGHLIGHTS: The Source Magazine in the late 90s and…
528: PARIS BARCLAY - EMMY-WINNING DIRECTOR / PRODUCER [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:25:49
In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host filmmaker/cinematographer (nephew) William M. Barclay sit down with Icon, Emmy-winning director/producer PARIS BARCLAY.HIGHLIGHTS: Paris’ Revival of his musical LETTERS FROM NAM…
527: EPISODIC DIRECTOR - KEN WHITTINGHAM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:42
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host actor/filmmaker Denzel Whitaker (Black Panther, The Great Debaters) sit down for an in-depth, hilarious conversation with episodic director/producer KEN WHITTINGHAM, the man be…
526: SCREENWRITERS’ RANT ROOM “LIVE” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:10:48
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host, tv/film writer Saeed Crumpler recorded a "LIVE" Screenwriters' Rant Room podcast at the Bravemaker film festival in Redwood City, California!HILLIARD GUESS With credits on Dea…
525: CO-EXECUTIVE PROD - CHRIS RAFFERTY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:57:27
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host, writer/producer Dwain Worrell sit down for a super fun conversation with Co-Executive Producer CHRIS RAFFERTY (THE FLASH, COBRA KAI & LUCIFER)!Chris has been a lifelong artist…
524: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - ERIC DEAN SEATON [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:48:36
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host writer/dir/prod Fia Perera sit down for a 2 hour, in-depth conversation with writer/director/executive producer ERIC DEAN SEATON!Highlights: Working his way up as an AD, gettin…
523: PRIDE MONTH [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:16:45
In this episode, Hilliard and Queer guest co-hosts writer/producer Deonte Staats, actor/filmmaker Dalila Ali Rajah and writer/content creator Skylar Ezell sit down in a super fun, engaging, 2-hour episode chopped full of…