Unspool Hollywood

KINGS OF VEGAS: THE UNTOLD STORY OF THE RUNNIN’ REBELS HISTORIC LEGACY

Groundbreaking Documentary Marks the 35th Anniversary of UNLV’s 1990 Championship with exclusive Player-Driven Storytelling

March 31, 2025 (Las Vegas, NV) – In honor of the 35th anniversary of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels legendary 1989-90 NCAA championship victory, The Real Story LLC and Hidden Empire Sports (HESC), the newly formed sports division of Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) are teaming up to produce a groundbreaking documentary that finally unveils the full story, directly from the players who lived it.

The four-part UNLV: Kings of Vegas documentary will explore one of the most dynamic and polarizing college basketball teams ever. It won’t shy away from the controversies surrounding the UNLV squad and will take an in-depth look at the rise of some of the most electrifying college players—Larry Johnson, Stacey Augmon, Anderson Hunt, and more. "All you've heard before are rumors. Now you hear the truth from Us, by Us. The only championship I've ever won was with the brotherhood at UNLV," declared Larry Johnson.

For decades, the Runnin’ Rebels unparalleled dominance, cultural impact, and the controversies surrounding their reign have been discussed and dissected by outsiders. Now, for the first time, the team itself takes center stage, reclaiming its narrative and revealing what truly happened on and off the court. "It's time that you heard this story from us. The story's been told before by people who don't know us. You hear the truth from us directly," emphasized Stacey Augmon.

The documentary will cover the wins, the losses, the pain, the controversy, the racism, and everything that went into building one of the most legendary teams in college basketball history. Former guard Brian Emerzian proclaimed, "The Kings were the REAL show in town!" UNLV: Kings of Vegas will also spotlight the incredible impact of Jerry Tarkanian, a coach ahead of his time, who revolutionized recruiting by tapping into the culture and giving elite players opportunities they otherwise wouldn’t have had. "We were kids in Sin City. How'd you think we'd act? We were kids but played and partied like adults," reflected Moses Scurry.

Randy Arehart and Phil Lopez from The Real Story, who will serve as producers, emphasized, “When we discussed with the team how they wanted to make this documentary, their response was 'Nobody has told our story or heard it from us...Now is the time!'”

Hosted by Hip-Hop pioneer Chuck D and Basketball icon Cheryl Miller, the documentary features an unprecedented roundtable where, for the first time in 35 years, all 13 players come together to reflect on their journey, triumphs, and the challenges that defined their legacy. “We are honored to tell this story from the perspective of the players who lived it,” expressed Roxanne Avent-Taylor, co-CEO of HEFG. “For too long, the narrative has been shaped by outsiders. This documentary will finally let the Runnin’ Rebels speak their truth.”

Framing the Runnin’ Rebels impact beyond the game, UNLV: Kings of Vegas will feature insight from cultural and sports icons, including Snoop Dogg, Jimmy Kimmel, Chuck D, Coach Krzyzewski, and Kenny Anderson, highlighting how this team transcended Basketball and left an indelible mark on American culture. “No one has ever talked until now—I guess the statute of limitations is over,” joked Deon Taylor, co-CEO of HEFG. “You’ve heard others tell this story, but you’ve never heard it from them—until now.”

Matt Barnes and Jelani McCoy’s All the Smoke will collaborate on the documentary, further strengthening the project’s connection to basketball culture. Damien “Big Percy” Roderick will serve as an Executive Producer through his company, Roderick Music Marketing. The UNLV Runnin’ Rebels were the epitome of the first-time basketball, hip-hop, culture, and lifestyle all merged into one perfect moment. They set the stage for the world we live in today, from basketball shoes to the way we wear our jerseys and socks, to everything shaping the culture. UNLV: Kings of Vegas is one of the most important basketball stories to be told, and Hidden Empire Sports is excited to produce this electric story. The film is currently in post-production and is set to release in Fall 2025.

The NFL, Sundance Sports and Hidden Empire Film Group Collaborate for the Ultimate Training Camp “NFL Career Tour”

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The third annual NFL Career Tour is a 3-day event that took place on March 4, 5 and 6^,2025, at Hidden Empire Film Group in Santa Monica, CA.

The NFL’s Player Engagement team created the ‘NFL Career Tour’ to provide football legends and those still in the league the opportunity to learn first-hand about filmmaking and meet leaders in the film industry.

Participating on behalf of the NFL was Tracy Perlman, Senior Vice President of Player Operations; Hidden Empire are Co-CEOs Deon Taylor and Roxanne Taylor, Omar Joseph, President, and Ephraim Salaam HESC’s President of Talent Strategy and Creative Executive.

The final day of the program included the completion of a short film created by the athletes that put into practice the knowledge they learned about directing, cinematography, producing, and acting, the art of filmmaking.

I had opportunity to sit down and talk with a few of the NFL players and legends. Read below!

A Conversation with Brennan Scarlett

Brennan was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, He is a graduate of Central Catholic High, where he was a lettered athlete in football, track and field and swimming He attended California Berkely, played on the football team, and obtained a bachelor’s degree in business. He transferred to Stanford University, where he also played on the football and graduated with a master’s in science management, engineering. He played 7 years in the league. 5 years with the Houston Texans and 2 years with the Miami Dolphins. Brennan retired in 2024.

Yevette Renee: With your educational background, have you considered producing, financing fundraising for film production?

Brennan Scarlett: That is a good question. I like all of it. I like the business part. How the money gets made. I want to know who is buying what and who is selling what. I see creativity in all of it. The business is very creative. You make a movie. You create a scene. You paint a picture. It is all creative.

Yevette Renee: Do you think having an interest in filmmaking as whole will help you as you grow in the film industry?

Brennan Scarlett: I think it should help. They mentioned that today, a director took acting classes so he would know how to communicate with actors and his next job was working with DeNiro.

A Conversation with Reginald Kahlil McKenzie, Jr,

Reginald graduated from Clayton Valley Charter High School, Concord, CA. and is a former #1 rated high school football player in the country. He played college football at his father’s (32 years in the NFL) and uncle’s (two Super Bowl champion Washington Redskins) alma mater, University of Tennessee, as a Defensive lineman. He was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018 and played five seasons, including with the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals.

Yevette Renee: What advice would you give a young college student interested in becoming a sports agent?

Reginald shared that after retirement, how he looked into what the NFL had to offer its player. And if you are willing to work and learn there are many things that they offered that can be applied to the player lives. And how great it is what the NFL is doing for its player.

A Conversation with Troy Pride, jr.

Photo: ESPN

Troy graduated from Greer High School, in Greer, South Carolina. He attended Notre Dame where he excelled in football and track as a sprinter. Pride was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in 2020 and is a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys.

Yevette Renee: Who is your favorite director?

Troy Pride: Jordan Peele, right now. He took the world by storm with ‘Get Out.” Especially, because it was a horror film. As an actor, Denzel Washington introduced me to film. It was watching him in ‘Luther’ that got me interested.

Yevette Renee: Jordan Peele’s work reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock, what are your thoughts?

Troy Pride: it is an iteration of Alfred Hitchcock He has that other world, very disturbing and that is just what he did with Get Out.

Yevette Renee: What advice would you give a college student interested in sports and entertainment?

Troy Pride: First, I would give the advice to be yourself. Do not worry about what other people are doing on social media. Being yourself is when you will find your true passion.

Yevette Renee: Beginning with football until now, what is the most important things you have learned on your journey?

Troy Pride: Perseverance. I tore my ACL in my second year, and it is an 80% career ending injury for most players. I learned how resilient I was.

Additional participants included Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals; Dion Dawkins, Buffalo Bills; Orlando Brown, Cincinnati Bengals; Darius Harris, Dallas Cowboys; Dakoda Shepley, Dallas Cowboys; Troy Pride, Dallas Cowboys; Atorian Perry, Denver Broncos; Isaac Ukwu, Detroit Lions; Kwity Paye, Indianapolis Colts; K'Lavon Chaisson, Las Vegas Raiders; Tomari Fox, Las Vegas Raiders; Emany Johnson, Los Angeles Chargers; Daiyan Henley. Los Angeles Chargers; Denzel Perryman, Los Angeles Chargers; Charles Harris, Philadelphia Eagles; Cameron Heyward, Pittsburgh Steelers; Jalyn Holmes, Washington Commanders; Miles Burris, Free Agent; Reginald McKenzie, Free Agent; Tevaughn Campbell, Free Agent; Trayvon Henderson, Free Agent; Christopher Pressley, Free Agent; Vance Walker, Legend; Amon Arnold Legend; and Brock Vereen, Legend

ABOUT NFL PLAYER ENGAGEMENT

NFL Player Engagement (PE) takes a four-pillar approach to supporting NFL players and their families during their NFL career and beyond: Continuing Education, Financial Literacy, Professional Development, and Personal Development.

Through peer-to-peer engagement and direct outreach, PE’s innovative programs and services assist players and provide them with the resources necessary to make the most of their lives on the field and away from the game.

From aiding players with building their brands and managing their finances, to supporting their physical, mental and financial well-being, the goal of the Player Engagement department is to provide the best community of care to serve, equip, empower, and support the player and his entire ecosystem during and after his playing days.

ABOUT SKYDANCE SPORTS

David Ellison founded Skydance in 2010 with the ambitious vision to establish a diversified media company to create high-quality content and engaging experiences for a global audience. Skydance’s independence, versatility and multi-platform approach have propelled the Company’s growth in live-action features, television, animation, interactive and new media. Today, more than five hundred colleagues across two continents share David’s vision and, together, have expanded Skydance’s portfolio, creating a world-class studio on the forefront of where entertainment is heading.

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE FILM GROUP (HEFG)

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE FILM GROUP (HEFG)
Hidden Empire Film Group (HEFG) is a multi-dimensional independent film company, led by founders Deon Taylor and Roxanne Avent Taylor, along with a devoted management team. which has produced highly engaging films since its inception, including multiple franchises, which have been distributed both domestically and internationally.

ABOUT HIDDEN EMPIRE SPORTS COLLECTIVE (HESC)

Hidden Empire Sports Collective (HESC) is e first entertainment division from a film studio to prioritize intellectual property and content creation for athletes and sports. Sumair Khan, Co-CEO The Union, heads the new division; Rodney Guillory, President of Talent Strategy; and Ephraim Salaam, Creative Executive.

2022 List of Walk of Fame Honorees

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Walk of Fame Selection Panel have announced the 38 new honorees to the 2022 Hollywood Walk of Fame.

MOTION PICTURES:
Francis Ford Coppola, Macaulay Culkin, Willem Dafoe, Salma Hayek, James Hong, Helen Hunt, Michael B. Jordan, Regina King, Ray Liotta, Ewan McGregor, Adam McKay, Jason Momoa, Tessa Thompson and Carrie Fisher (posthumous)

TELEVISION:
Byron Allen, Greg Berlanti, Ricky Gervais, Peter Krause, Bob Odenkirk, Holly Robinson-Peete, Norman Reedus, Tracee Ellis Ross, Jean Smart, Ming-Na Wen and Kenan Thompson

RECORDING:
Black Eyed Peas, George E. Clinton Jr., Ashanti Douglas, DJ Khaled,
Avril Lavigne, Los Huracanes Del Norte, Martha Reeves and Ermias “Nipsey Hussle” Asghedom (posthumous)

LIVE THEATRE/LIVE PERFORMANCE:
Patti LuPone, Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis, Jr. and Angelica Vale

RADIO:
Richard Blade

New category, Sports Entertainment:
Michael Strahan

About:
The man credited with the idea for creating a Walk of Fame, was E. M. Stuart, who served in 1953 as the volunteer president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. In that year, according to a Chamber press release he proposed the Walk as a means to “maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement in the four corners of the world.” He appointed a committee to begin fleshing out the idea and the architectural firm of Periera and Luckman was employed to develop some specific proposals. Where the original idea came from is not certain; however, the ceiling of the dining room of the historic Hollywood Hotel once had stars painted on the ceiling with the names of celebrities and that may have been a precursor of the idea to place stars in the sidewalks.

Musso & Franks, Hollywood’s Oldest Restaurant Re-Opens May 6th

The oldest restaurant in Hollywood and a part of Hollywood history , Musso & Franks will re-open its doors for dinner on Thursday, May 6, 2021.

Like with other restaurants in Los Angeles and around the country, Musso & Frank closed its doors due to
COVID-19 and will reopen after a year.

Opened over 100 years ago on September 27, 1919 by Frank Toulet as Frank's Cafe located at 6669 Hollywood Boulevard.
Frank later went into business with Joseph Musso and renamed the restaurant Musso & Frank's Grill.

Eight years later, in 1927, the two sold the restaurant to Joseph Carissimi and John Mosso,
who moved the restaurant to 6667 Hollywood Boulevard, still its current location.

Musso & Franks was the place to be. It had the first pay phone installed in Hollywood. During the Golden Age of Hollywood,
it was a place for movie stars like Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo, Humphrey Bogartand others were regulars.

The Screen Writers Guild was located near Musso and would become the place that authorsm who were recruited
to write Hollywood studios' next best script, would hang-out. Authors like Max Brand, T.S. Elliot, Aldous Huxley,
John O'Hara, Dorothy Parker and John Steinbeck.

I PROMISE a Documentary about Lebron James Public School in Akron

Lebron James new documentary tells the story about his Akron, Ohio school, I Promise.

Dedicated to helping underserved kids. Kids that are dealing with the same challenges Lebron faced as a child.

Lebron James is truly making a difference in the lives kids that live in his hometown of Akron.

View the trailer below.