Simeon Rice. You know the name. Former NFL Defensive End. Over the course of his 12-year NFL career, most with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Rice recorded 122 sacks, forced 25 fumbles, recovered 8, and intercepted 5 passes. Not impressed yet? He also earned a Super Bowl ring with the Buccaneers in Super Bowl XXXVII, earned three Pro Bowl selections and is a four time All-Pro, among others. But on retiring from football, Rice was less than impressed and embarked on a new venture – filmmaking. Going back to school to learn the craft, he graduated from New York Film Academy in 2009. In 2011, he debuted his first short film, “When I Was King”, but Rice wanted more. He wanted to move into feature films. With UNSULLIED, starring Murray Gray, Rusty Joiner and James Gaudioso, Rice has now done just that.
I sat down done with Simeon Rice for an exclusive one-on-one. On meeting him, you feel his charismatic presence. He is gracious, charming and immediately affable. Impeccably but casually dressed, noticeable is not only the absence of entourage and handlers that so often accompany talent, but any of the trappings of his former life in the NFL. There are no Super Bowl rings on his fingers. No golden footballs dangling from his neck. He is all about business and the business of film and when our discussion focuses on that, Rice lights up with a 100 watt smile. And it doesn’t take long before one also learns he loves to laugh!
Listen now to some excerpts of that interview and hear from Simeon Rice himself about the impetus that led him to filmmaking and what he has learned up until now.
LISTEN: The experience that made Simeon Rice decide to go to film school and become a filmmaker
LISTEN: What did you learn about yourself in the process of making UNSULLIED?
