About Speaker
A prolific writer, filmmaker, director and idea generator, Deon Taylor is the founder of the production company Hidden Empire Film group, which he runs with his partner Roxanne Taylor, a visionary producer and executive, along with businessman and philanthropist Robert F. Smith. Taylor recently produced and directed The House Next Door, the comedic sequel to the 2016 hit film Meet The Blacks, which was released by Hidden Empire Film Group as the #1 Comedy in America; the taut thriller Fatale, starring two-time Academy Award® winner Hilary Swank and Michael Ealy, which was released by Lionsgate; directed and produced the hit thriller The Intruder, starring Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy and Meagan Good, which was released by Sony’s Screen Gems; directed the hit feature Black and Blue, starring Academy Award Nominee Naomie Harris and Tyrese, which was released by Sony’s Screen Gems. Tyrese Gibson and Mike Colter, which was awarded The New York Times’ Critics Pick for opening. Taylor’s upcoming projects include the psychological thriller Don’t Fear, which completed principal photography during the pandemic; the sports action heist thriller Free Agents; the reboot of the MGM classic film Blacula; the John Lewis biopic Freedom Ride and CJ Entertainment’s horror title Grave Hill. In 2018, Taylor directed the film Traffik, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Independent Motion Picture and a 2019 AMAA Best Dispora Narrative Feature. Taylor also wrote, directed and produced Meet the Blacks, which he independently distributed, and the sequel, Meet the Blacks 2: The House Next Door, is in post-production. Additionally, Taylor executive produced, with Robert F. Smith and Roxanne Taylor, the series Be Woke. Vote, an independent digital series and political campaign to inspire kids across the country to get out and vote. It was nominated for two Webby Awards, Best Host and Social Content Series & Campaigns - News & Politics. Taylor was awarded the Sacramento Filmmaker of the year award in 2016 from the Sacramento Film Festival, Baron Jay Foundation’s 2018 Trailblazer Award, the Extraordinary Families’ 2018 Visionary Award and named the 2019 AAFCA Horizon Award recipient. He and HEFG received the Entrepreneurial Rising Star Award from the Black Business Leaders Hall of Fame and were presented the 2019 Location Manager Guild International (LMGI) Humanitarian of the Year Award. Taylor has a background in marketing, sports and promotions. A Nike All-American basketball player from Gary, Indiana, he earned a biology degree at San Diego State University, where he was named that conference’s “Newcomer of the Year” for his contributions on the basketball court. Taylor went on to play professionally and still competes weekly in the coveted NBA Entertainment League out of Los Angeles. Taylor and his family live in Sacramento, CA.