The
“Traffik” Interview
with
Kam Williams
The
Hardest Working Brother in Hollywood!
Deon Taylor is a
boundary-crashing, envelope-pushing, unabashed, creative force in the
world of film and television. In Hollywood, roles vary and job
functions are often blurred and blended – for talent, creatives,
filmmakers, storytellers, show runners, producers and high-level
executives alike. Few people, if any, in Hollywood exhibit the
capacity and multidisciplinary skill set necessary to bridge multiple
functions and roles successfully. Deon Taylor is one of the few who
can – and does.
A prolific writer,
filmmaker, director and idea generator, Deon is a hybrid artistic
force and savvy producer. His work is innovative, his writing is
cutting-edge and his vision is distinctive. As a creator, he has
forged his own unique path through Tinseltown and into theaters and
onto TV screens, to the delight of audiences seeking fresh, original
content with a unique voice.
Deon succeeds because
he is always thinking outside the box - juggling projects with
perfect aplomb while incubating ideas that others in the industry
wouldn’t dare to pursue. Creativity and storytelling are the heart
and soul of the global entertainment industry. With that mantra in
mind, Deon runs his own thriving, independent film and production
company, Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) formerly known as Deon
Taylor Enterprises (DTE), which he launched in 2000.
Deon has written,
co-written and directed dozens of films, TV series and special
projects and HEFG produces a diverse array of larger budgeted
projects, born of Taylor's boundless energy as a multi-hyphenate
visionary and pioneer.
He successfully
ventured into comedy in 2016 with his horror spoof “Meet the
Blacks,” starring Mike Epps, George Lopez, Mike Tyson, Zulay Henao
and King Batch. The film became a massive breakout hit and gained a
cult following since opening in the Top Ten at the box office.
The popularity of
“Meet the Blacks” led to a recently completed sequel, which
Taylor also directed, wrote and produced. Due to hit theaters in late
2018, the sequel, titled “The House Next Door” stars comedy icons
Mike Epps and Katt Williams, who last starred together in the hit
“Friday After Next."
Deon also recently
wrote, directed and produced the thriller “Motivated Seller”
starring Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy and Megan Good, and produced,
with Jamie Foxx, the comedy feature “All-Star Weekend,” starring
Foxx, Robert Downey Jr., Gerard Butler, Eva Longoria, Jeremy Piven,
Jessica Szohr – directed by Jamie Foxx.
All of his films have
been financed by his longtime business partner and lead investor,
Robert F. Smith, the founder of Vista Equity Partners, which is
consistently ranked as one of the top Private Equity Firms in the
world with approximately $3 billion in capital under management.
Another partner is Roxanne Avent - a thought-provoking and visionary
producer and executive with a powerful business aptitude, who steers
HEFG.
Deon 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 on a full basketball scholarship where he was named
the conference's "Newcomer of the Year." He went on to play
professionally and still competes weekly in the NBA Entertainment
League out of Los Angeles.
Here,
Deon talks about his new film, “Traffik” - an intense
sex-trafficking thriller starring Paula Patton, Missi Pyle, Omar
Epps, William Fichtner and Roselyn Sanchez.
Kam
Williams: Hey
Deon, thanks for the interview.
Deon
Taylor:
Hey!!
Thanks for having me, Kam.
KW:
What inspired you to write Traffik?
DT:
The
film was inspired locally, by my reading an email from my daughter's
school telling us that kids were being trafficked at the local mall.
So, I took an interest in trafficking and began to Google and do
research. I was surprised to find out that this was a rapidly-growing
epidemic all across the country. That's what originally inspired me
to write the screenplay.
KW:
How
would you describe the film in 25 words or less?
DT:
Informative...
Intense... Scary... Funny... Dynamic... Heroic... It's a movie that
will shake you to the core, that does not play by the rules and which
ultimately leaves you with valuable information you should know about
trafficking.
KW:
How did
you go about assembling such an impressive cast?
DT:
Assembling
a cast was extremely hard, as an independent filmmaker. What I had to
do was basically reach out to people... get phone numbers... push...
drag...scream... cry... and beg. Anything to get people to listen to
a pitch and to ultimately read the screenplay.
KW:
What
message do you want people to take away from the film?
DT:
To be
vigilant about trafficking on a daily basis. Trafficking not only
affects strangers' lives, but it could touch yours, too. It could be
as close as your next door neighbor.
KW:
You
played basketball professionally before becoming a filmmaker. When
did you develop an interest in movies?
DT:
I loved
films growing up, especially in junior high and high school, but I
never gave any thought to becoming a writer or filmmaker until I was
in Germany. Over there, I realized that I wanted to be involved with
movies and I began by writing a screenplay which I brought home with
me. I figured it out on my own, and the bug just stayed with me for a
long time. I just was like, "I gotta do this!"
KW:
How do
you explain your being so prolific?
DT:
I
don't know how to answer that. I'm just trying to make films and do
art and be the best me. I'm trying to figure out how do you create a
world where you can constantly be a storyteller and get your projects
out to the masses. I think what a lot of people are witnessing is, my
passion, drive, and energy and the power of intention. My intent is
to be successful.
KW:
What is
your earliest childhood memory?
DT:
My
earliest childhood memory is... I actually have a lot of them. Riding
in the back of a 1978 Impala with zebra seats with my mom and my
great uncle. And driving from Detroit to Gary, Indiana after my mom
had just bought her first car, I just remember riding in the back
seat. It's an incredible memory for me.
KW:
What is your favorite dish to cook?
DT:
Chicken
all day every day. Chicken! Chicken! Chicken! Chicken!
KW:
Sherry
Gillam would like to know what is the most important life lesson
you've learned so far?
DT:
Be true to yourself. Don't live
for anyone else. Find your own path. Live your own life and be the
best you, and everything else will fall into place.
KW:
When
you look in the mirror, what do you see?
DT:
A
flawed human who is trying to do right and be right and to lead by
example versus words.
KW:
What's
the craziest thing you've ever done?
DT:
No
comment. [Laughs]
KW:
If you
could have one wish instantly granted, what would that be for?
DT:
That my
family be prosperous and healthy for as long as possible.
KW:
Is there any question no one ever asks you, that you wish someone
would?
DT:
No
one has ever asked my what's my favorite ice cream, and I'm gonna
answer it today. It's a Dairy Queen Blizzard with M&M's and
chocolate syrup.
KW:
“Realtor
to the Stars” Jimmy Bayan asks: What’s
your dream locale in Los Angeles to live?
DT:
If
there was a way to get a house, like a flat, in Beverly Hills that
would be incredible. I've just driven through that area so many times
and looked at those houses and just wondered what it would be like to
live there. I think that would be kind of cool.
KW:
Harriet Pakula-Teweles asks: Is there a classic film you'd like to
remake?
DT:
There
are several I'd love to remake: Cujo, The Warriors and Cooley High. I
think one of the most fun to redo would be Big Trouble in Little
China.
KW:
Larry
Greenberg asks: Do you have a favorite movie monster?
DT:
Of
course, I do. Freddie Kruger!
KW:
Finally,
as Samuel L. Jackson asks: What’s in your wallet?
DT:
Nothing!
I'm a broke, struggling filmmaker trying to make it.
KW:
Thanks
again for the time, Deon, and best of luck with Traffik.
DT:
Thank
you so much, Kam.
To
see a trailer for Traffik, visit:
