Screenwriters' Rant Room

This week - Hilliard chops it up with powerhouse Executive Producers LEAH BENAVIDES RODRIGUEZ & CARLITO RODRIGUEZ (CROSS, THE DROP: A SNOWFALL SAGA, WASHINGTON BLACK, and more) for a no-holds-barred conversation about surviving, thriving, and making moves in the Hollywood trenches!
We're talking TWO HOURS OF PURE GAME for writers at every level! From the art of writing teams and breaking story in writers' rooms to pitching, staffing, navigating industry politics, building relationships, and staying in the game when Hollywood keeps moving the goalposts.
No fluff. No gatekeeping. Just real talk, hard-earned wisdom, and the kind of insider knowledge you can't learn in a classroom!
Writers, grab your notebooks. This one's a MASTERCLASS in the HUSTLE!
We keep it game all day!

🔥SUBSCRIBE🔥 if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into the real game from working industry pros.

PRODUCTS (T-SHIRTS/HOODIES)
https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products

YOUTUBE VIDEOS & SHORTS
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ

@Hilliard Guess on social media
IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

WE ARE OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES
Screenwritersrantroom@gmail.com

GUESTS
@carlitomachete
@leah

VIDEO/EDITING
@joshuakazemi

BTS
@iamjerryjerome

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!”

🔥Season Premiere🔥 
Hilliard sat down with writers' Rich Scott, Brooke Baltimore and Minquell Ramone for a super fun, informative episode for TV/Film writers who are just getting their start, to those who are vets. So much industry game dropped in this one.

SUBSCRIBE if you’re serious about writing for TV/Film, leveling up your craft, and staying tapped into the real game from working industry pros.

PRODUCTS (T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!
https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products

YouTube Videos & Shorts!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ

@Hilliard Guess on social media
IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES: 
Screenwritersrantroom@gmail.com

Guests:
@fatboyfeels
@minquelleramone
@beewrites8

Video/Editing: 
@joshuakazemi

BTS:
@iamjerryjerome

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!”

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

🔥In this finale episode of the season🔥 Hilliard and guest co-host writer-director Gregg Simon sat down with Showrunner-creator-director-author QUINTON PEEPLES in a super informative, 2-hour, nothing but game episode for any writer who wants to write and produce network TV. 

HIGHLIGHTS: 
Getting that first job and keeping it, writing TV movies and thriving through quality, why your interests help you to write your spec pilot, writing genre, pivoting to TV and diversifying, preparing for good to arrive, learning the dynamics of the writers’ room, apprenticing your way to the top and becoming EP/showrunner, the value of a diverse room, staffing your room, show running 11.22.63, rejection and so much more!

About Quinton - Moving easily between the world of indie film and television, Quinton has written multiple features for all the major networks and studios including Fox, NBC, ABC, Disney, Lionsgate and many others. He found his way to directing in 1995 when he shot his original screenplay “JOYRIDE” starring Tobey Maguire and Benicio DelToro. He continues to direct indie features, commercials, and web series, in addition to his writing work.

In 2008 when the WGA strike happened Quinton realized everyone else on the picket line had work friends to march with and he didn’t. That’s when he discovered that television writers collaborate as a team and the lure of that idea was irresistible. He wrote his first television spec pilot which resulted in his staffing on “FLASHFORWARD” at ABC. Transitioning to hour long drama, Quinton has worked on multiple shows as varied as “UNFORGETTABLE”, “THE LAST SHIP”, “11/22/63”, and Marvel’s “RUNAWAYS”. Most recently he was the showrunner on the limited series “ECHOES” for Netflix.

Quinton is also a published author, with essays appearing in “CUT TO THE CHASE: WRITING FEATURE FILMS WITH THE PROS”, “ETERNAL LIVING: REFLECTIONS ON FAITH AND FORMATION”, and the graphic novel, “THE BIG COUNTRY”. His screenplay with Billy Crystal, “HAVE A NICE DAY” was performed live on stage at the Minetta Theater in New York City and is available on Audible as part of their Audible Originals program.

💥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 social media
IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:
@Quintonwrites TikTok
@Gregglsimon

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 
⁠⁠Screenwritersrantroom@gmail.com⁠⁠

Video: 
@writerly203
@mohawkdirector
Joshua Kazemi

BTS:
@iamjerryjerome

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!”

🔥In this episode🔥Hilliard sat down with actor, writer, producer, director ALONA TAL - star on the hit series CROSS on Amazon Prime. We talked about all sides of her skills, directing, shadowing, using your instincts, her amazing work on other network TV shows like Fire Country, drawing creativity from your tribe, how she landed the role of Det. Kayla Craig on CROSS, grueling screen tests, the logistics of shooting on location, techniques for memorizing lines, series regular expectations and demands, building relationships with Showrunner Ben Watkins and her cast & crew on CROSS 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

Guest:
@alonatal

WE ARE NOW OPEN TO SPONSORSHIP AND BRANDING OPPORTUNITIES⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠: 
⁠⁠Screenwritersrantroom@gmail.com⁠⁠

ANTHOLOGY I.O. - SHORT FILM FESTIVAL - WRITERS PANEL!
Hilliard Guess, Tash Gray, Saeed Crumpler & Chris Derrick

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 premiere event will be at the old Eastman Kodak building at Solotech Studios in Hollywood  screening the best of the best films in our festival.  Live music from The RIFT, a DJ, a red carpet step-and-repeat, glamour photoshoots,  along with food trucks, full bar, local vendors, games, raffle, and so much more!

DOORS OPEN AT 5:30PM. RED CARPET AT 6PM

Tickets are currently available on Eventbrite at the links below.
10% DISCOUNT TICKETS - CODE: RANTROOM10
https://www.studioio.la/anthology-io

Eventbrite Ticket Sales
Partiful Event Post
Anthology IO Festival Site
Film Freeway Site

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 

Ep Video: 
@GreggSimon
@JoshuaKazemi

#screenwritersrantroom #writingtips #screenwritingtips #screenwriters #ᴡʀɪᴛɪɴɢᴄᴏᴍᴍᴜɴɪᴛʏ #blackhollywood #crossonprime

Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!”