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 termsDeon 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 💬 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode 📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear Deon’s story

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 💬 Leave a comment with your biggest takeaway 🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode 📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear Deon’s story

Deon Taylor: From Pro Athlete to Building His Own Hollywood Empire

On this segment, Rod goesAll In with Kyle Mitchell.
Kyle is a business owner and real estate entrepreneur with a thriving business.  Kyle entered the real estate business with the simple desire to transform his savings into revenue generating capital.  Today, along with his wife and business partner, Kyle specializes in multi-family real estate investments.  His most important investment, however, is the time he spends educating others about real estate opportunities and building teams of those who share his passion for the industry.
Listen as Rod and Kyle discuss the benefits and the ‘3 Rules’ of multi-family investments and learn from the different communication channels that Kyle implemented to increase the reach and impact of his business model. Kyle is a podcaster and a former pro golfer.  To the latter point, Rod has invited Kyle to join him for a round of golf.  Who do you take to win that match up?!?
Go All In with this episode.

On this segment, Rod goesAll In with Kyle Mitchell. Kyle is a business owner and real estate entrepreneur with a thriving business. Kyle entered the real estate business with the simple desire to transform his savings into revenue generating capital. Today, along with his wife and business partner, Kyle specializes in multi-family real estate investments. His most important investment, however, is the time he spends educating others about real estate opportunities and building teams of those who share his passion for the industry. Listen as Rod and Kyle discuss the benefits and the ‘3 Rules’ of multi-family investments and learn from the different communication channels that Kyle implemented to increase the reach and impact of his business model. Kyle is a podcaster and a former pro golfer. To the latter point, Rod has invited Kyle to join him for a round of golf. Who do you take to win that match up?!? Go All In with this episode.

On this segment, Rod goesAll In with Kyle Mitchell.
Kyle is a business owner and real estate entrepreneur with a thriving business. &nbsp;Kyle entered the real estate business with the simple desire to transform his savings into revenue generating capital. &nbsp;Today, along with his wife and business partner, Kyle specializes in multi-family real estate investments. &nbsp;His most important investment, however, is the time he spends educating others about real estate opportunities and building teams of those who share his passion for the industry.
Listen as Rod and Kyle discuss the benefits and the ‘3 Rules’ of multi-family investments and learn from the different communication channels that Kyle implemented to increase the reach and impact of his business model. Kyle is a podcaster and a former pro golfer. &nbsp;To the latter point, Rod has invited Kyle to join him for a round of golf. &nbsp;Who do you take to win that match up?!?
Go All In with this episode.

Multifamily Investing with Kyle Mitchell

The All In Podcast is a dynamic audio experience featuring conversations with thoughtful leaders in sports, entertainment, and business.  The host, Rod Watson, interviews guests who are at the top of their games in their respective professions, and willing to share their wisdom, lessons, and inspirations.  Rod’s own successful journey and life lessons make him a sage, trustworthy guide for these discussionswith his guests.
On this segment, Rod goes All In with former NBA Champion and 2X NBA Allstar, Caron Butler. Caron’s career tenure in the NBA was longer than most could ever dream of.  His success in the NBA was not luck; it was the result of his decision as a teenager to rely on his Faith and love for basketball to chart his life trajectory.
Caron’s storied college career set him up to go 10th in the 2002 NBA Draft.  While in the league, Caron played for several teams and competed against some of the best players of the time.
Listen as Rod and Caron talk basketball, sports, and life...including whether or not to support ‘pay to play’ in college, and the benefits of sports and investing in real estate to provide additional financial security.  (The latter is a good tip even if you are not a professional athlete!)
Go All In with this episode.

The All In Podcast is a dynamic audio experience featuring conversations with thoughtful leaders in sports, entertainment, and business. The host, Rod Watson, interviews guests who are at the top of their games in their respective professions, and willing to share their wisdom, lessons, and inspirations. Rod’s own successful journey and life lessons make him a sage, trustworthy guide for these discussionswith his guests. On this segment, Rod goes All In with former NBA Champion and 2X NBA Allstar, Caron Butler. Caron’s career tenure in the NBA was longer than most could ever dream of. His success in the NBA was not luck; it was the result of his decision as a teenager to rely on his Faith and love for basketball to chart his life trajectory. Caron’s storied college career set him up to go 10th in the 2002 NBA Draft. While in the league, Caron played for several teams and competed against some of the best players of the time. Listen as Rod and Caron talk basketball, sports, and life...including whether or not to support ‘pay to play’ in college, and the benefits of sports and investing in real estate to provide additional financial security. (The latter is a good tip even if you are not a professional athlete!) Go All In with this episode.

The All In Podcast is a dynamic audio experience featuring conversations with thoughtful leaders in sports, entertainment, and business. &nbsp;The host, Rod Watson, interviews guests who are at the top of their games in their respective professions, and willing to share their wisdom, lessons, and inspirations. &nbsp;Rod’s own successful journey and life lessons make him a sage, trustworthy guide for these discussionswith his guests.
On this segment, Rod goes All In with former NBA Champion and 2X NBA Allstar, Caron Butler. Caron’s career tenure in the NBA was longer than most could ever dream of. &nbsp;His success in the NBA was not luck; it was the result of his decision as a teenager to rely on his Faith and love for basketball to chart his life trajectory.
Caron’s storied college career set him up to go 10th in the 2002 NBA Draft. &nbsp;While in the league, Caron played for several teams and competed against some of the best players of the time.
Listen as Rod and Caron talk basketball, sports, and life...including whether or not to support ‘pay to play’ in college, and the benefits of sports and investing in real estate to provide additional financial security. &nbsp;(The latter is a good tip even if you are not a professional athlete!)
Go All In with this episode.

Vet Life Building A Legacy With Caron Butler

The All In Podcast is hosted by Rod Watson and features conversations with elite athletes, entrepreneurs, entertainers investors, and creators covering wealth, real estate, business, mindset, leadership and legacy.

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