SANTA MONICA, Calif. (news agencies) — Isaac Ukwu’s sights were solely set on just playing in the NFL — until two season-ending knee injuries in college served as a harsh reality of football’s fragility.
The setbacks reshaped Ukwu’s perspective, showing him that football was part of him, but not all of him. Even after signing with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent last year, the defensive end knew he needed more than just the game.
So, when the NFL introduced a program for players exploring careers in film and television, he seized the chance to build his off-the-field legacy.
“You can’t let your entire identity be football,” said Ukwu, an aspiring actor, who was one of 20-plus former and active NFL players selected to join film training sessions at the NFL Career Tour hosted by Hidden Empire and Skydance Sports. During the three-day sessions, athletes explored the nuances of filmmaking — learning behind-the-camera roles like directing, producing and other essential elements of bringing a project to life — while also sharpening their skills as actors.
The sessions recently concluded with the creation of short films at the Hidden Empire studios in Santa Monica, California. The power couple, Deon Taylor, director of “Black and Blue” and “The Intruder,” and Roxanne Avent Taylor, steer the company as co-CEOs.
“This experience is really invaluable,” said Ukwu, who hopes to break into acting before eventually exploring directing and producing.
Some of the players featured in the sessions included Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray, Cincinnati Bengals lineman Orlando Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Cam Heyward, Buffalo Bills offensive lineman Dion Dawkins and Los Angeles Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley.
It’s the third year of program — which has featured panelists including entertainers Tyrese Gibson and Master P and retired NFL player Vernon Davis.
“They let you know there’s a way to enter that door,” said Heyward, a seven-time Pro Bowler, who’s interested in becoming a director or producer. “It’s not like you have to come from a film background. But if you appreciate films and you’re a fan of it, there’s a space for you.”
Taylor’s vision is to redefine storytelling and build a pipeline for authentic, culture-driven narratives straight from the world’s top athletes.
He sees the Hidden Empire Sports Collective — launched last month — as a key step in helping athletes prepare for life beyond the game. This new entertainment division focuses on amplifying athletes’ voices through content creation and intellectual property development.
“We should be educating athletes on how to actually create content, make IP themselves,” said Taylor, who played basketball in East Germany before he ultimately directed other notable titles such as “Meet the Blacks” and “Fatale.” He’s become a major player in the independent filmmaking space.
“But then more importantly, it’s being a sound information highway for them to understand how they could take something that was great in their life or something that was painful in their lives, tweak it and make it become something that could be content,” he said.
The sports collective has partnered with several athletes, landing developmental deals with stars like boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr., NBA champion Scottie Pippen and Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden. One upcoming project is a four-part docuseries on Mayweather’s life.
With the training sessions, Taylor believes athletes can find inspiration through the sports collective and Ephraim Salaam, who successfully transitioned from the NFL to Hollywood. After playing 13 seasons in the league, he has built a career as a screenwriter.
Salaam stressed to pro athletes the importance of owning their stories. He noted that they can offer a deeper perspective on their lives that might captivate the masses.
“The No. 1 thing I always tell them is ‘You’re one of one,’” said Salaam, who is the collective’s and creative executive. “You’ve been able to look and see life through a lens very few people have. That information is valuable in a writers room.”
In just a few days, athletes dove into filmmaking with the same intensity they bring to studying playbooks.
Players broke into different groups to film scenes for their own movie using iPhones. They went through career and educational panels along with interactive workshops that included a tour of Paramount Studios.
Many assumed acting was their standout skill — until they realized every role on a project is just as crucial to the final score.
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