What happens when Hollywood doesn’t open the door for you so you decide to build your own? In this episode of The All In Podcast, host Rod Watson sits down with filmmaker, director, producer, entrepreneur, former professional athlete, and Hidden Empire Film Group co-founder Deon Taylor for a conversation about breaking into Hollywood, betting on yourself, ownership, relationships, family, and building a legacy on your own terms. Deon shares his unconventional journey from growing up in Gary Indiana and playing college basketball at San Diego State to playing professionally overseas and ultimately making the pivot into filmmaking without the traditional Hollywood background, connections, or résumé. After realizing that competing for the same writing, directing, and producing opportunities as everyone else wasn’t going to be his path, Deon took advice from one of his earliest inspirations his mother and started making his own movies and creating his own opportunities. That decision would eventually lead to building Hidden Empire Film Groupalongside his wife and business partner, Roxanne Avent Taylor, and establishing himself as one of Hollywood’s leading independent filmmakers. In this episode you’ll learn: ✅ How Deon went from professional basketball to becoming a Hollywood filmmaker
✅ Why realizing he couldn’t follow the traditional Hollywood path became an advantage
✅ How rejection pushed him to stop waiting for opportunities and create his own
✅ Why ownership and independence became central to his career
✅ How Deon and Roxanne built Hidden Empire Film Group together
✅ Why relationships and collaboration are critical to long-term success
✅ What Deon has learned navigating Hollywood as an outspoken Black filmmaker and entrepreneur
✅ How his athlete mentality continues to influence the way he approaches business and filmmaking
✅ What investing, family, and building generational legacy mean to him today
✅ The mindset and lessons behind building a sustainable career on your own terms Deon also discusses what’s next, including his passion for sports storytelling and the film and documentary projects helping shape the next chapter of Hidden Empire. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, filmmaker, creator, athlete, entertainer, or someone trying to break into an industry where the traditional doors aren’t opening, this conversation is about understanding that sometimes the biggest opportunity comes when you stop waiting to be chosen and build your own lane. Subscribe to The All In Podcast for more conversations with elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers, filmmakers, business leaders, and wealth advisors. 👍 Like the video
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