By Antonio R. Harvey | OBSERVER STAFF WRITER

Filmmaker Deon Taylor is doing big things in a Hollywood way. And he and his production company is taking the city of Sacramento along for the ride.

Deon Taylor shows that he was the main man while directing part of his latest film, “The Hustle,” in Oak Park. Taylor’s film company also used local venues and talent for the movie. Photo (c) Observer / Antonio R. Harvey

The native of the River City was in town for a few weeks recently to shoot scenes for his inspirational comedy titled, “The Hustle.” The film stars Charlie Murphy, Al Shearer, Kym Whitley, Luenell, David Alan Grier, John Witherspoon, Tamala Jones and Brigitte Nielsen.

Taylor’s film crew shot footage in downtown Sacramento, East Sacramento and Oak Park. The multi-use of elements — commercial/affluent/urban — allowed Taylor to expand his creativity for his characters.

“This will be my third feature I’ve shot here,” Taylor said between takes near Broadway and 33rd Avenue. “This movie (“The Hustle”) crosses so many different boundaries. It’s about these two streetwise guys. So we had to find locations that would accommodate their style of living.”

Taylor was born in Illinois, and grew up in Gary, Ind., and attended high school in Sacramento, Taylor’s familiarity of the city is the biggest key in shooting his films.

“I’m a native … I’m from Sacramento,” he said. “I played basketball at Florin High School, and then eventually came back after college and playing basketball overseas. I love it here. I just thought I would bring (Los Angeles) to Sacramento.”

“The Hustle,” written by Taylor for Fox Films, is about pest sprayers who somehow become “fake” ministers of a Baptist church. The imposters work a scheme to raise money they owe to the mob. Taylor used a lot of vendors, caterers and local talent for extras.

Comedian/actor Shearer, who has several movies and television shows to his credit including Ashton Kutcher’s assistant in “Punk’d,” jokingly said Taylor is “retarded,” but a “great” director to work with.

“Deon is a phenomenal worker because he has a great vision,” said Shearer who starred in “Glory Road” and “How High.” “He gets shots a normal director wouldn’t get. He shoots everything multiple times with multiple angles. He also allows actors to do their role based on the script and lets us embellish and improv a lot which plays into each character’s strength.”

The movie is scheduled to be released in late spring or early summer 2008, though Roxanne Avent, executive producer for Deon Taylor Enterprises, said a few more movies shot in the Sacramento area will be in the can before “The Hustle’s” opening weekend.