- Over 20 NFL players gain hands-on filmmaking training with Deon Taylor
- Hidden Empire Sports Collective empowers athletes to create content and own their stories
- Program alumni include stars like Kyler Murray and Floyd Mayweather
When Detroit Lions defensive end Isaac Ukwu faced two career-threatening knee injuries, he realized football couldn’t define his entire identity. Now, he’s among dozens of NFL athletes leveraging the league’s Career Tour program to build second acts in Hollywood. Through intensive three-day workshops at Santa Monica’s Hidden Empire Studios, players explore directing, producing, and acting under the guidance of filmmaker Deon Taylor (‘Black and Blue’).
The initiative goes beyond red-carpet glamour. Participants like Pittsburgh Steelers’ Cam Heyward compare the collaborative filmmaking process to executing a game plan. ‘Every role matters, just like in football,’ Heyward explains. Athletes even filmed short movies using iPhones during a crash course mirroring NFL training camps.
Taylor’s Hidden Empire Sports Collective, launched in 2024, formalizes this pipeline. Partnering with stars across sports – including NBA legend Scottie Pippen and boxing icon Floyd Mayweather – the program teaches athletes to transform personal experiences into marketable content. Upcoming projects include a docuseries about Mayweather’s life, showcasing how sports narratives resonate globally.
Regional spotlight: The Santa Monica workshops included Paramount Studios tours, emphasizing Southern California’s entertainment infrastructure. For Buffalo Bills lineman Dion Dawkins, walking historic backlots underscored Hollywood’s potential. ‘Seeing guys like Terry Crews succeed here proves we belong,’ Dawkins says, referencing NFL veterans turned actors.
NFL Senior VP Tracy Perlman stresses the league’s commitment to holistic player development. ‘We’re building people, not just athletes,’ she notes. With 72% of NFL careers ending before age 30 according to league data, programs like this help stars like Ukwu prepare for life after cleats – one scene at a time.
