548 - JOHNNY RAY GILL

548 - JOHNNY RAY GILL

Author: Hilliard Guess February 23, 2026 Duration: 1:44:47

In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host TV/Film writer Saeed Crumpler sit down with actor/writer/director/producer JOHNNY RAY GILL who is currently starring as Bobby Trey on Amazon's hit series CROSS!


We talk about his role on Cross and his incredible relationship with showrunner Ben Watkins, working with the cast and crew, making choices as an actor, writing and directing award-winning films, his new music/art project, the types of films he's passionate about, research and rabbit holes, adding nuance to characters and so much more!


Another don’t miss episode y’all!


Audio: https://bit.ly/4qHUEJb


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Guests:

@johnnyraygill

@balance510


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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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