Greg Ellis Talks the Transition from Football to Acting and Directing His Stage Play “Watch Ni

Many know Greg Ellis as the Defensive End who played in the NFL for 12 years for the Dallas Cowboys and the Oakland Raiders. Mr. Ellis, who retired in 2009, took his talents to a different field and began writing scripts for the entertainment industry. Check out our interview with Greg Ellis as he talks about his new interest in Directing and Acting as well as his new stage play Watch Night Play.

Aug 26, 2006; Irving, TX, USA; GREG ELLIS of the Dallas Cowboys

Who is Greg Ellis?

Greg Ellis is a Christian family man who prioritizes making a positive impact in the lives of people. The three basic principles he applies throughout his daily life are implementing RTP (Rules, Tools, Preparation). He believes these are vital to being successful in life.

Tell us how the transition from football to acting on the stage occurred.

This overall transition wasn’t very difficult because I believe that football is a stage, we have a script to follow with a certain amount of freedom to express our talents. This is the same principles that occur in Acting.

Did you have any fears before hitting the stage? 

Yes, I did have fears before hitting the stage. However, these fears weren’t traditional stage fright as one may think rather the fear of people taking me serious being a former football player.

How did you overcome them?

I overcame these fears by proving myself as a serious actor and director. I have done this by keeping God first, working hard, and producing quality content.

What is your favorite part of directing?

My favorite part about directing is getting the opportunity to take a script off of paper and breathe life into it.

Tell us about Watch Night Play?

“Watch Night Play” reveals why Watch Night is referred to as Freedom’s Eve, and how the FIRST day of freedom for African American slaves came about. This story is told through the eyes of a young slave girl “Baby Boll” who enters a romantic relationship with the slave master’s nephew Joseph. The play depicts the contents of the Willie Lynch Letter, this letter explains why slavery was able to last so long and how slavery still affects our society.

What advice would you give to an up and coming director?

To an upcoming director, I would tell them to be diligent and not invest money in everything so quickly.

What can we look forward to from Greg Ellis?

You can look forward to more positive plays, movies, TV shows, and other venues of entertainment that will hopefully leave a lasting impression on those who view them.

Watch Night Play comes to Atlanta this Saturday. Click here to get your tickets.

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