NFL Hollywood Boot Camp at Universal Studios will teach players about filmmaking. Linebacker Terrell Suggs, John Singleton, Michael Mann and Eriq La Salle are taking part.
By Randy O. Williams
Los Angeles Times
March 31, 2012
Training camps regularly prepare football players for their roles on the field, so why not one to help them prepare for their post-gridiron roles — in this case, a career in Hollywood?
That's the idea behind the inaugural NFL Hollywood Boot Camp that kicks off (so to speak) Monday on the back lots of Universal Studios. Born out of a meeting between Film Life Chief Executive Jeff Friday and Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, the new program is funded by the Player Engagement division of the NFL, an educational arm that also offers programs in broadcasting, business and music for current and former NFL players.
The four-day camp aims to teach players about writing, directing and producing material as well as such filmmaking crafts as editing and cinematography, said Troy Vincent, NFL vice president of player engagement. Competition to be accepted among the initial class of 20 was stiffer than for the other programs and the application process included writing a critical essay about movies that inspired them (among the films chosen were "The Godfather" and "The Black Swan.")
Consisting primarily of lectures and panel discussions, the camp enlists Hollywood multi-hyphenate filmmakers including John Singleton, Michael Mann and Eriq La Salle.
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