Greg Ellis
Founder
Mr. Ellis is a devout Christian and family man who prioritizes making a positive impact in the life of others. The three basic principles he implements in his life daily are: Rules, Tools, Preparation (RTP) He knows these are vital characteristics to create a successful life. Greg is married to his beautiful high school sweetheart (Tangie Ellis) and they are blessed to have 3 wonderful children (Tyann, Geremiah, and Taliah).
Background:
A native of Wendell, North Carolina, Mr. Ellis displayed his athleticism early on as an outstanding football and basketball player – The Raleigh News and Observer voted him Male High School Athlete of the Year. Receiving high-profile recognition due to his performance on the field led Greg to receive an athletic scholarship to the University of North Carolina. Earning, the consensus first-team All-American honors, and a finalist for the Lombardi Award. Furthermore, Greg was selected for three straight seasons for the All-ACC, and was recognized as UNC’s all-time sack leader. Mr. Ellis continued to excel on and off the field, and providentially received his degree in Communications.
Professional Football Career
During the 1998 NFL draft, Mr. Ellis was a first-round draft pick. Having a successful 12 year NFL career, (he spent 11 years with the Dallas Cowboys and one year with the Oakland Raiders). Greg’s outstanding achievements garnered him a spot in the 2007 Pro Bowl where he was awarded “Defensive Come Back Player of the Year”. Mr. Ellis knows he is blessed beyond measures to walk away from the football field to the field of The Arts.
Entrepreneurship
As his football career came to a completion, Mr. Ellis, decided to huddle his passions of the arts, and his love for the community. This pivot led his career into a different but directional path. Greg founded his own company, called Play Now Enterprise; which is a multimedia company that produces TV shows, feature films and stage plays. The ultimate ‘Hail Mary’ of Sports and his Communication Degree has now come to pass!
The company’s mission statement: To produce content to entertain and enlighten people of all ages. The company’s first major project was the movie, “Carter High” starring actors Charles Dutton, Vivica A. Fox, David Banner, Reginald Hayes, and Pooch Hall. The film had a national theatrical release. It can be found in Walmart, Redbox, and Netflix, and it frequently airs on the BET Network. Mr. Ellis created, co-wrote and directed two stage plays. “Watch Night,” was his first production. It covers the life of a slave and his master’s family… leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation. The Play answers the question, “Why churches have Watch Night services?” His second Stage Play production, “Juneteenth the Stage Play” – sheds light on the true origins of Juneteenth. Both productions are entertaining, educational, and an experience -debuted in several cities and states. Mr. Ellis current project and dear to his heart a mental health movie called "My Dear" will debut May 2024.
The company’s mission statement: To produce content to entertain and enlighten people of all ages. The company’s first major project was the movie, “Carter High” starring actors Charles Dutton, Vivica A. Fox, David Banner, Reginald Hayes, and Pooch Hall. The film had a national theatrical release. It can be found in Walmart, Redbox, and Netflix, and it frequently airs on the BET Network. Mr. Ellis created, co-wrote and directed two stage plays. “Watch Night,” was his first production. It covers the life of a slave and his master’s family… leading up to the Emancipation Proclamation. The Play answers the question, “Why churches have Watch Night services?” His second Stage Play production, “Juneteenth the Stage Play” – sheds light on the true origins of Juneteenth. Both productions are entertaining, educational, and an experience -debuted in several cities and states. Mr. Ellis current project and dear to his heart a mental health movie called "My Dear" will debut May 2024.