Screenwriters' Rant Room - TopPodcast.com

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533: AKELA COOPER - M3GAN / MALIGNANT Oct 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Hilliard and co-host writer/prod/author James Moorer sit down with incomparable TV/Film writer/producer AKELA COOPER!

There's almost two hours worth of game dropped and the last 30 mins of this super fun conversation was opened up to a group of writers sitting in the audience so that they could “Ask Us Anything!”

Akela Cooper wrote M3GAN, produced by Universal, Blumhouse and James Wan/Atomic Monster and Akela is a credited writer on THE NUN 2 for New Line/Atomic Monster and wrote the film MALIGNANT, directed by James Wan, for WB/Atomic Monster. In 2021 Akela was named one of Variety’s Top 10 Screenwriters to Watch.

On the TV side, Akela has written on such projects as STAR TREK: STRANGE NEW WORLDS (Paramount+), MAGIC ORDER (Netflix), Steve DeKnight’s JUPITER’S LEGACY (Netflix), Marvel’s LUKE CAGE (Netflix), Ryan Murphy’s AMERICAN HORROR STORY (FX), and THE HUNDRED (CW) among others.

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Guests:
@akelacooper
@onemoorer

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532: MICHEAUX FILM FEST - NOEL BRAHAM Sep 02, 2025

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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:
@NoelBraham
@Micheauxfilmfest
BTS: @iamJerryJerome
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531: EXEC PRODUCER SARA FINNEY JOHNSON Aug 26, 2025

Show notes

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 Parkers) and who has worked on many one hour dramas (Queen Sugar, Games People Play, etc) that make her invaluable in the room, on set, and in production!

HIGHLIGHTS: Growing up in Los Angeles, working as a PA to writer during the Norman Lear hey-day, coming up in the writers’ room in the height of UPN network, co-creating the ICONIC television series’ Moesha and The Parkers (with Ralph Farquhar and Vida Spears), becoming a showrunner and being ready for it, running the Parkers, how to write projects based on real people, the importance of Spec Scripts today and so much more!

BIO: Sara was born in Mobile, Alabama and raised in South Central L.A.’s Leimert Park neighborhood. She credits her southern roots and West Coast upbringing for providing the inspiration and passion for many of the stories she writes about.
After graduating from the University of Southern California with a degree in Broadcast Journalism, Sara began her television career as a P.A. and Writer’s Assistant at Norman Lear’s production company, Tandem/TAT. Shortly afterwards, she got her start as a Writer on several classic television comedies including: The Jeffersons, The Facts of Life, Married with Children and 227. She later worked as a Producer on Family Matters and The Parenthood. Sara was Co-Creator, Executive Producer/Showrunner on the groundbreaking UPN hit comedy, Moesha -- inspired by her growing up in Leimert Park and its equally successful spin-off, The Parkers. She was a Consulting Producer the first two seasons on the popular BET dramedy, The Game and the hit BET drama, The Quad. She was also Co-Executive Producer on BET’s American Soul and Games People Play before landing as Consulting Producer on Ava DuVernay’s award winning OWN series, Queen Sugar. She was Co-Executive Producer on the seventh and final season of Queen Sugar.
She’s also a playwright and has produced numerous plays over the years, including: Mens, which was nominated for an NAACP Theater Award. She is also the co-founder of Los Angeles Black Playwrights, which was based at the Mark Taper Forum and produced plays throughout the Los Angeles area.
She’s proud to have been an Artist In Residence at Mara Brock Akil’s amazing creative space, The Writers’ Colony. While at the Colony she worked on her first feature which she’s developing with a production company.
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Guest:
@sarafinneyjohnson
@reallymighty

BTS: @iamJerryJerome

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530: OUT NFL PLAYER/AUTHOR - R.K. RUSSELL Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

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 BETWEEN US!

HIGHLIGHTS:
Growing up in Buffalo, Dallas racism and culture, Football at Purdue, the emotional NFL Draft and signing with the Dallas Cowboys, his traumatic experience in NY, meeting his partner Corey and finding love, coming out the press and his mother, life after football, developing a series based on his book with Gabrielle Union and Saeed Crumpler and so much more!

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Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

Merch (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES)

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529: SELWYN SEYFU HINDS - SHOWRUNNER Aug 11, 2025

Show notes

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 the climate of Hip-Hop, going from Guyana to Brooklyn in the height of Classic Rap, the night Biggy Smalls died, his college years at Princeton, becoming an author, moving to LA to write screenplays, pitching tips and how he and his team cast and produced Washington Black and so much more!
More about him:
Selwyn most recently served as the creator, showrunner, and executive producer of the epic adventure series WASHINGTON BLACK, an adaptation of Esi Edugyan’s esteemed novel of the same name, which recently premiered on Hulu. He previously served as a writer/producer on Jordan Peele’s reboot of THE TWILIGHT ZONE, penning the critically hailed episode “Replay,” which made him a finalist in the Drama Teleplay category for the 2020 Humanitas Prize.

He has a number of films in development including PRINCE OF CATS, the adaptation of Ronald Wimberly’s graphic novel, at Legendary; and 1000 MILES, based on the memoir Running A Thousand Miles For Freedom by William and Ellen Craft. He and Mad Massive Entertainment currently have an overall deal with UCP, where he is developing a television adaptation of Usher’s seminal album, Confessions.
Previously, Hinds served as Editor-in-Chief of the hip hop magazine The Source in the late-‘90s, and created the Vertigo comic-book series Dominique Laveau: Voodoo Child. He is represented by CAA, Entertainment 360, and Del Shaw Moonves.

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Guest:
@Selwynhinds

BTS: @wmb.photography

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528: PARIS BARCLAY - EMMY-WINNING DIRECTOR / PRODUCER Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

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, indie film and its importance today, using resources around you, Paris’ start directing music videos, pivoting to directing episodic TV, interview questions for directors, working with writer/producers, shortlists and its importance, set etiquette, directing Dahmer, Paris’ upcoming Billy Preston: That’s the way God Planned It documentary and so much more!

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Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

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Merch (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES)

YOUTUBE:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCua83eFRxVA1-r3ry5c0-fQ
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
@Hilliard Guess on all social media
@Hilliardguess.bsky.social
IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom
Guests:
@PKbarclay
@Wmb.photography

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527: EPISODIC DIRECTOR - KEN WHITTINGHAM Jul 21, 2025

Show notes

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 behind directing over 350 episodes of comedy television!

Highlights: Ken’s rise from PA to Stage Manager in multi-cam comedies, Marla Gibbs giving him his first Story By credit on the hit series 227, landing his first directing gig on Malcolm & Eddie, directing single camera shows like Bernie Mac, The Office and Scrubs, working with writers/producers, tricks to showing your voice on a series, working with actors on set, shadowing directors on the set, being overly prepared to direct your episode and so much more!

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Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

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YOUTUBE:

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For information, Merch (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!
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EMAIL:
ScreenwritersRantRoom@gmail.com
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
@Hilliard Guess on all social media
@Hilliardguess.bsky.social
IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom
Guests:
@Kennywhitt
@DenzelWhitaker

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526: SCREENWRITERS’ RANT ROOM “LIVE” Jul 18, 2025

Show notes

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 Deadly Class (SYFY), showrunner on the award-winning digital series TICKER, Exec Producer on Amazon’s CROSS: AFTER HOURS, and the upcoming coming-of-age film MERMAID!, Hilliard Guess knows what it really takes to make it in Hollywood. graces the cover of the esteemed iTunes book "The Top 100 Indie Writers in The World" and is revered as the longtime host/moderator of the popular “Screenwriters’ Rant Room”, as well as the WGAW “3rd & Fairfax” podcasts, where he drops industry game with some of our top luminaries.

He is the host of both long-running podcast SCREENWRITERS RANT ROOM and the WGAW 3rd & FAIRFAX where he drops industry game with some of our top luminaries and Filmmakers.

He recently completed the new WGAW TV WRITERS LEADERSHIP PROGRAM (4 Producers-Showrunners) and is busy developing TV and Film projects for some major companies in Hollywood.

SAEED CRUMPLER

A fellow in the 2021 Nickelodeon Writing Program, and he's in a First Look deal with SONY TV. Saeed’s been staffed on FLATBUSH MISDEMEANORS for Showtime. He consulted on BLINDSPOTTING for STARZ, working closely with Rafael Casal and Daveed Diggs. In 2021, Saeed completed a feature rewrite on MTV's HIP-HOP FAMILY CHRISTMAS for Jamie Foxx's company and a biopic about legendary underground hip-hop artist Mac Dre for Double Down Pictures.

A Bay Area screenwriter with a music background, as a former hip hop artist in the hyphy scene, he has recorded with Kendrick Lamar, Dr. Dre, and Chamillionaire. Saeed strives to bridge the gap to bring stories from the subculture into the mainstream.⁠

WWW.SCREENWRITERSRANTROOM.COM

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Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

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IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

@balance510

525: CO-EXECUTIVE PROD - CHRIS RAFFERTY Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

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 in many different fields. He grew up an illustrator with dreams of drawing comic books. Made short films while earning a film degree at UC Santa Barbara. Spent time on stage acting and in front of cameras doing improv. All while earning a living in a decade-plus career as a graphic designer.

But a crossroads in life inspired him to drop everything to go all-in on his greatest passion (and what he’d been spending years of early mornings & weekends on) — his writing. His career change was complete after he earned a spot in the prestigious Warner Bros Television Writers’ Workshop, and went on to write & produce for the first season of THE FLASH, the final season of COBRA KAI, and all 6 seasons of LUCIFER.

When he’s not hustling for his next staff job or developing his own shows & original comic books, Chris can be found doing hard labor (renovations & yard work) for his Valley home and enjoying life with his Brazilian wife and her two Portuguese-meowing cats.Another dope episode!

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⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@Hilliard Guess on all social media

@Hilliardguess, bsky.socialIG:

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@Worrell_dwain

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524: EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - ERIC DEAN SEATON Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

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, getting his first episodic directors gig, sustaining a long career, directors get hired for what you've already done, creating a graphic novel an producing the award-winning short, fake it til you make it and we open it up to a room full of filmmakers who "ASK US ANYTHING!"

More about Eric:
With a Daytime Emmy nomination and three NAACP Image Award wins, Eric Dean Seaton stands out as one of the most dynamic and versatile storytellers in television, seamlessly crossing genres and styles.

In the dramatic realm, Seaton has directed and executive produced the pilot and series Average Joe. His episodic work includes episodes of Will Trent, High Potential, The Cleaning Lady, Superman and Lois, Batwoman, Legends of Tomorrow, Supergirl, The Flash and All American: Homecoming.

In the world of single-camera comedies, he has contributed to hits like Modern Family, Black-ish, The Goldbergs, American Housewife, Life in Pieces, and Grown-ish.

In multi-camera productions, Seaton has taken on pilots for Family Reunion, The Prince of Peoria, Raven’s Home, Mighty Med, and Kickin’ It. Additionally, his work in variety includes helming the beloved sketch shows All That and So Random making him one of the very few directors to have successfully navigated every style of narrative television.

In addition to his work behind the camera, Seaton is the creator, writer, and publisher of the critically acclaimed graphic novel series Legend of the Mantamaji, and its sequel, Legend of the Mantamaji: Bloodlines. He also directed the accompanying multiple award-winning Legend of the Mantamaji: Live Action Short.

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Our Motto: “Keep it GAME all day!"

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For information, Merch (NEW T-SHIRTS/HOODIES), and all things Rant Room!

https://screenwriters-rant-room.printify.me/products

EMAIL:
ScreenwritersRantRoom@gmail.com
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
@Hilliard Guess on all social media
@Hilliardguess.bsky.social
IG: @ScreenwritersRantRoom

Guests:
@Ericdeanseaton
@theglobalactivista

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