TV WRITERS LIVE PANEL - ANTHOLOGY IO

TV WRITERS LIVE PANEL - ANTHOLOGY IO

Author: Hilliard Guess April 9, 2026 Duration: 1:14:19

BONUS EP!

In its inaugural year, Anthology IO Short Film Festival is not holding back any punches. With its premiere event in Los Angeles on March 28th, 2026. 


THE TV WRITERS’ HUSTLE: ROOMS, PITCHES & STAFFING

Breaking into television isn’t just about writing a great script — it’s about understanding the hustle behind the scenes. In this candid panel, working TV/Film writers (Hilliard Guess, Tash Gray, Saeed Crumpler and Chris Derrick) pull back the curtain on how the business really works: from developing and pitching shows, to navigating the writers’ room and landing that coveted staff job.

Expect real talk, practical advice, and insider gems on how today’s writers break in, level up, and survive the ever-changing world of television. Whether you’re an emerging writer or a veteran on the grind, this conversation will give you the game you need to move your career forward!


https://www.studioio.la/anthology-io


DETAILS:

  • Date: Saturday, MARCH 28th, 2026
  • Venue: Solotech Studios @ The Eastman Kodak Building in Hollywood
  • Address: 6700 Santa Monica Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90038

Limited Parking Accessible at: 1017 N Las Palmas Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038


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
503: WRITERS TALKIN SHIT [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:59:19
In this episode Hilliard & writer (1st Look at Sony) Saeed Crumpler spend two solid hours talkin all kinds of writer shit for y'all to soak up game. A don't miss episode for anyone interested in writing for TV/Film. Also…
502: JOHNNY RAY GILL - "CROSS" ON AMAZON [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:53:51
In this new season premiere episode, Hilliard and guest co-host (actor/filmmaker) Shawn Carter Peterson sat down with JOHNNY RAY GILL - a critically acclaimed actor, filmmaker, rapper, poet and activist. He just finished…
501: Award-winning Writer/Director TINA MABRY [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:12
In the final episode of the season, Hilliard and guest co-host, veteran actor/writer TONY WINTERS sat down for a 2 hour conversation with award-winning writer/director of the new hit film - Searchlight Pictures THE SUPRE…
500 - EMMY-WINNING WRITER/PRODUCER/PERFORMER- LENA WAITHE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:01
In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host (actor/writer) DALILA ALI RAJAH were joined by lil sis, Emmy-winning writer, producer, performer LENA WAITHE! Lena created the hit series THE CHI which set a new record with Sea…
499: WRITER/PRODUCER NIKHIL JAYARAM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54:27
In this episode, Hilliard & guest co-host Zimran Jacob sit down to chop it up with writer/producer NIKHIL S. JAYARAM in a two hour, nothing-but-game episode for all of you writers dying to get staffed on a TV series!We t…
498 - ACTOR/WRITER/COMEDIAN - WILLIE MACC [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05:40
In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host (writer & teamster) Ric Davis sat down in a laugh-out-loud episode with actor/writer/comedian WILLIE MACC!Willie Macc has over 100 million views of his standup and comedy videos…
497: BELLEVUE LITERARY MANAGER - ZACK ZUCKER [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:50:23
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-hosts Dijorn & Trinea Moss sit down for a super entertaining conversation with. Literary Manager Zack Zucker from Bellevue Productions. It is a kickass, two hour podcast where we pe…
496: PRODUCER, WRITER, ACTOR - MARCUS FOLMAR" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:00
In this episode, Hilliard and guest co-host actor, writer producer (Angie's Cure) sit down for a hilarious conversation about being a multihypenate filmmaker in today's climate in Hollywood.Since 1999, Marcus has appeare…
495: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - AIYANA WHITE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:37:25
In this episode Hilliard and guest co-host (writer on Amazon’s upcoming CROSS) MEAGAN DAINE sit down with Executive Producer AIYANA WHITE (CROSS, THE GREATEST, LUCIFER, LA BREA, TINY PRETTY THINGS to list a few) for a su…
494: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - TAWNYA BENAVIDES BHATTACHARYA [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:00:31
In this episode, Hilliard & guest co-host, dramedy writer Rich Redlo sat down with Executive Producer TAWNYA BENAVIDES BHATTACHARYA (A MILLION LITTLE THINGS, GINNY & GEORGIA, BEL AIR, MY LIFE WITH THE WALTER BOYS AND FOU…