NFL players score a shot at Hollywood through hands-on training sessions with filmmaker Deon Taylor

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) — 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.

Roxanne Avent Taylor described the sports collective as a hub for creating “stories that shape and define our culture.”

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 sports collective's 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.

For Ukwu, he learned that a film producer wears many hats, much like an NFL general manager, overseeing everything from reading scripts to securing directors and funding projects. He credits Taylor for guiding him and his peers through their early filmmaking journey.

“It’s like if I was in high school and I had access to Dan Campbell just to talk and coach me up on some things that can lead my success in the future,” said Ukwu.

The project took shape after an NFL Career Tour stop, an initiative designed to provide insight into the entertainment industry. This tour is part of Skydance Sports, a joint NFL-Skydance venture offering athletes a behind-the-scenes look at sports programming and storytelling.

The collaboration aims to equip players with the tools to transition into media, content creation and production to share their own narratives with the world.

“Without the players, there is no game,” said Tracy Perlman, senior vice president of player operation for the NFL. “We don’t want to build athletes. We want to build people."

Dion Dawkins said opportunities are ripe for the taking.

“You have to create your lane without that helmet on,” said Dawkins, a four-time Pro Bowler who's an aspiring actor with a big personality. He gets inspired watching former NFL players who transitioned into the TV and film industry such as Salaam, Terry Crews, Laith Wallschleger and Vernon Davis.

“If you think you’re bigger than a football player, you have avenues that can show it,” he said. “Because we have OGs that have done it, and doing it currently, it gives you that bit of ... I’m not an outsider, I’m an insider. As long as I conduct and control myself in the right manner, I’ll have a chance.”

Terry Bradshaw, quarterback, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jim Brown, running back, Cleveland Browns

Terry Crews, defensive end, Los Angeles Rams; Green Bay Packers; San Diego Chargers; Philadelphia Eagles; Washington

Vernon Davis, tight end, San Francisco 49ers; Denver Broncos and Washington

Tony Gonzalez, tight end, Kansas City Chiefs; Atlanta Falcons

Ed Marinaro, running back, Minnesota Vikings; New York Jets; Seattle Seahawks

Ephraim Salaam, offensive tackle, Atlanta Falcons; Denver Broncos; Jacksonville Jaguars; Houston Texans; Detroit Lions

O.J. Simpson, running back, Buffalo Bills; San Francisco 49ers

Bubba Smith, defensive end, Baltimore Colts; Oakland Raiders; Houston Oilers

John David Washington, running back, St. Louis Rams (practice squad)

Carl Weathers, linebacker, Oakland Raiders

Filmmaker and former professional basketball player Deon Taylor, center, discusses the movie industry with NFL players Trayvon Henderson, left, and K'Lavon Chaisson during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Retired NFL linebacker Brennan Scarlett, right, hugs Detroit Lions defensive end Isaac Ukwu after they finished filming a scene from "The Matrix" during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Retired NFL linebacker Brennan Scarlett, right, directs actor and retired NFL player Miles Burris, left, and Isaac Ukwu of the Detroit Lions in a scene from "The Matrix" during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Retired NFL player T.J. Wright, second from left, watches footage on NFL player Charles Harris' phone as retired NFL player Copeland Bryan, right, acts out a scene from the film "Meet the Blacks" during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Former and current NFL players, from left, Reginald Kahlil McKenzie, Dion Dawkins and Tevaughn Campbell listen to filmmaker and former professional basketball player Deon Taylor, foreground, discuss the movie industry during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Retired NFL player T.J. Wright, left, and current NFL player Charles Harris, second from left, direct retired NFL player Copeland Bryan, second from right, and current NFL player Daiyan Henley as they film a scene from the film "Meet the Blacks" during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Retired NFL player T.J. Wright, center, watches footage on NFL player Charles Harris' phone as they film a scene from the film "Meet the Blacks" during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Filmmaker and former professional basketball player Deon Taylor, right, discusses the movie industry with NFL player Trayvon Henderson during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Filmmaker and former professional basketball player Deon Taylor, left, discusses the movie industry with Las Vegas Raiders linebacker K'Lavon Chaisson during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Isaac Ukwu, a defensive end for the Detroit Lions, acts out a scene from "The Matrix" during a filmmaking workshop for NFL players on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, in Santa Monica, Calif. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado discussed her country's future with President Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday, even though he has dismissed her credibility to take over after an audacious U.S. military raid captured then-President Nicolás Maduro.

Trump has raised doubts about his stated commitment to backing democratic rule in Venezuela and signaled his willingness to work with acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who was Maduro’s No. 2. Along with others in the deposed leader’s inner circle, Rodríguez remains in charge of day-to-day government operations and was set to deliver her first state of the union speech Thursday.

In endorsing Rodríguez so far, Trump has sidelined Machado, who has long been a face of resistance in Venezuela. She also had sought to cultivate relationships with Trump and key administration voices like Secretary of State Marco Rubio among the American right wing in a gamble to ally herself with the U.S. government.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump had been looking forward to the lunchtime meeting with Machado and called her “a remarkable and brave voice” for the people of Venezuela. But Leavitt also said Trump's opinion of Machado had not changed, calling it "a realistic assessment."

Trump has said it would be difficult for Machado to lead because she “doesn’t have the support within or the respect within the country.” Her party is widely believed to have won 2024 elections rejected by Maduro.

Leavitt went on to say that Trump supported new Venezuelan elections “when the time is right” but did not say when he thought that might be.

Leavitt said Machado sought the face-to-face meeting without setting expectations for what would occur. Machado previously offered to share with Trump the Nobel Peace Prize she won last year, an honor he has coveted.

“I don’t think he needs to hear anything from Ms. Machado," the press secretary said, other than to have a ”frank and positive discussion about what’s taking place in Venezuela.”

Machado spent about two and a half hours at the White House but left without answering questions on whether she'd offered to give her Nobel prize to Trump, saying only “gracias."

After her White House stop, Machado plans to have a meeting at the Senate. Her Washington visit began after U.S. forces in the Caribbean Sea seized another sanctioned oil tanker that the Trump administration says had ties to Venezuela.

It is part of a broader U.S. effort to take control of the South American country’s oil after U.S. forces seized Maduro and his wife at a heavily guarded compound in the Venezuelan capital of Caracas and brought them to New York to stand trial on drug trafficking charges.

Leavitt said Venezuela's interim authorities have been fully cooperating with the Trump administration and that Rodríguez's government said it planned to release more prisoners detained under Maduro. Among those released were five Americans this week.

Rodríguez has adopted a less strident position toward Trump then she did immediately after Maduro's ouster, suggesting that she can make the Republican administration's “America First” policies toward the Western Hemisphere, work for Venezuela — at least for now.

Trump said Wednesday that he had a “great conversation” with Rodríguez, their first since Maduro was ousted.

“We had a call, a long call. We discussed a lot of things,” Trump said during an Oval Office bill signing. “And I think we’re getting along very well with Venezuela.”

Even before indicating the willingness to work with Venezuela's interim government, Trump was quick to snub Machado. Just hours after Maduro's capture, Trump said of Machado that “it would be very tough for her to be the leader.”

Machado has steered a careful course to avoid offending Trump, notably after winning the peace prize. She has since thanked Trump, though her offer to share the honor with him was rejected by the Nobel Institute.

Machado’s whereabouts have been largely unknown since she went into hiding early last year after being briefly detained in Caracas. She briefly reappeared in Oslo, Norway, in December after her daughter received the Nobel Peace Prize on her behalf.

The industrial engineer and daughter of a steel magnate began challenging the ruling party in 2004, when the nongovernmental organization she co-founded, Súmate, promoted a referendum to recall then-President Hugo Chávez. The initiative failed, and Machado and other Súmate executives were charged with conspiracy.

A year later, she drew the anger of Chávez and his allies again for traveling to Washington to meet President George W. Bush. A photo showing her shaking hands with Bush in the Oval Office lives in the collective memory. Chávez considered Bush an adversary.

Almost two decades later, she marshaled millions of Venezuelans to reject Chávez’s successor, Maduro, for another term in the 2024 election. But ruling party-loyal electoral authorities declared him the winner despite ample credible evidence to the contrary. Ensuing anti-government protests ended in a brutal crackdown by state security forces.

Garcia Cano reported from Caracas, Venezuela, and Janetsky from Mexico City. AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado gestures to supporters on Pennsylvania Avenue as she leaves the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado waves to supporters on Pennsylvania Avenue as she leaves the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado smiles on Pennsylvania Avenue as she leaves the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado waves to supporters on Pennsylvania Avenue as she leaves the White House after meeting with President Donald Trump Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

FILE - U.S. President George Bush, right, meets with Maria Corina Machado, executive director of Sumate, a non-governmental organization that defends Venezuelan citizens' political rights, in the Oval Office of the White House, Washington, May 31, 2005. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

FILE - Opposition leader Maria Corina Machado gestures to supporters during a protest against President Nicolas Maduro the day before his inauguration for a third term, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos, file)