Thursday, January 14, 2016 – It’s sunny and cold in NYC today, not as cold and windy as yesterday when my hat nearly blew off my head, several times! And yes, it’s January and I am fairly certain Winter is finally here.  On top of that, reality is starting to set in, as the glow of the holidays and joy and hope of New Year’s has begun to fade (just a little).

So what does that mean? It means we need a little inspiration!

I am sure you can think back to a time when you recognized, in real time, that you had been introduced to someone really interesting and special. One of those moments where you actually say stop, and say “Wow!” (to yourself) when you are having that initial conversation.  Well, one of those moments happened to me a little over three years ago now…at the time I was busy running a boutique (branding/digital) agency…life was swirling around me and overall, I didn’t think I could fit one more thing into my schedule…well, of course, that’s when the call came.  A very dear friend of mine, who was a former NFL player himself, said, “Hey, I want to connect you with my friend (former player) who is making a documentary and needs help in the NY market.” Well, that friend was Dorsey Levens and he had just produced a brilliant documentary called Bell Rung, about concussions in the NFL.  This put him on the forefront of, and made him a very important voice in, a conversation that has only grown louder.

And here’s what we were talking about the other day…

Hilarie Viener:        Did you ever think activism was in your DNA?

Dorsey Levens:         No, that was never the plan.  I wanted to make a sports film, a documentary, as I thought that would be an interesting project.  A friend suggested I do a doc about concussions in ice hockey, which is a great idea but I said, “I can’t do that, I don’t know anything about hockey.”  But, I certainly know about football.  So in that way, I kind of stumbled upon it (subject).  I was just as surprised as anyone when I found out what was really going on.  I remember the day, I don’t remember exactly what day in terms of a date, but I was like “Holy..?!”

Some former players had died and didn’t understand what was happening there. I got connected with, then started talking to, a doctor at UNC/Chapel Hill who was studying concussions.  He told me that every time you get your “bell rung” you have a concussion.  Well, I know that (bell rung) that happens all the time.  We shook it off and we kept playing…none of us had any idea how serious this was.

HV:        What motivated you to make Bell Rung?

DL:         I really was fate, it was just because I wanted to make a sports documentary.  And the more I learned the more I felt I had to tell this story.  I was really struck by the fact that some guys are pre-disposed to develop real problems and other aren’t and we still don’t know the reason some people have issues and some don’t.

HV:         I really thought it (Bell Rung – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iU2yWKbKawc) was extraordinary and really opened the eyes of anyone who saw it. Being that you got a ton of push back in 2013, what do you think changed between now and then for the issue to go from being “hushed” to having Will Smith star in a major motion picture about it?

DL:         It’s based on The League of Denial (by Mark and Steve Fainaru; www.leagueofdenial.com). It was made a few years ago and ESPN won’t run it, but it did air on PBS.  It made me very angry that the NFL knew, at least since the early 90’s, what was going on.  The difference is, Hollywood and TV are different.  The NFL basically “owns” a day of the week on TV (Sunday), too many ties to big advertisers and big ratings.  But, that doesn’t change the fact that this is a BIG story, so how could someone not make a movie and Hollywood doesn’t have the strong ties to the NFL the way the networks do. It’s a great story and one that has to be told.

HV: I see you as a pioneer – you were on the forefront of brining attention to a very serious problem for athletes in a profession you were very successful in. What changes have you seen from when you were playing and the game now?

DL:          Absolutely, the rules have been changed. Can’t hit the way we used to. One thing that hasn’t changed is that guys get concussions and they go right back in the game.  My main issue is awareness, I just wanted to have known the truth and have been able to make decisions based on that.  That being said, the average NFL career is less than 3 years.  And the players know that there’s always somebody coming to take their job – so what’s the risk?  There is a lot of pressure to stay in the game and keep playing as long as you can.

HV:        I greatly admire your courage.  What has been, if any, the personal price you have paid for standing up?

DL:          I got backlash from people saying, “How did you not know?” Here’s where it goes back to league of denial.  The league initially discredited Dr. Omalu (depicted by Will Smith in Concussion) and said he was practicing voodoo.  The NFL doctors were saying it was ok to go back in the game after a concussion, or purposefully reporting incorrect injuries.

There was a little bit of stuff on social media too, but it turned into me having a whole bunch of info the NFL didn’t want the public to know. As a result of what I produced (Bell Rung) there may have been some job opportunities I lost out on, some broadcast opportunities that I think were the result of me speaking out.

And some people thought I was struggling with concussive issues. I’m not and I wasn’t. I’m an advocate for people that I know and have played with, and have seen the truth. I just felt like with the information I had, I HAD to help.

HV:       I love that you never stop growing as a person, since I have known you, you have made a fantastic documentary, started a fitness business and are now getting some real traction in the acting world…what do you find the most challenging and rewarding in what you do?

DL:        All of it and none of it, it’s really just a mind-set. If it’s not challenging we don’t appreciate the rewards. I just think, get your head in the game because we always have to overcome challenges and we know that going in.  It’s never been a cakewalk for me and never will be – you just have to prepare yourself because you know tough challenges are going to come.  What do you do?  You have to keep going, what’s the alternative?  There isn’t one!

HV:        Can we talk about Tyler Perry?

DL:         I just toured all over the country with Madea on the Run (http://www.tylerperry.com/stage-plays/madea-run/).  We performed in over 25 cities and we’re going back on tour. He’s terrific to work with and I feel really honored to have the opportunity.

Thanks Dorsey! Great talking with you – as always – you leave me inspired!

Dorsey Levens is Chief Executive Officer of Levens Communications. Encouraged by his success in broadcasting, he developed Levens Communications to enlarge his vision of producing quality content. He is continuing this dream through the newly established The Take Over Project, which will include television and film projects.

Levens is a retired NFL running back who was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the fifth round (149th overall) of the 1994 NFL Draft. He played college football at Notre Dame and later Georgia Tech, where he earned a BS in Management. While playing for the Packers, Levens rushed for 1,000 or more yards twice and was selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1997 season. In 2009, Levens was selected to the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame.

After retiring from the NFL, Levens became a NFL analyst for the sports website PlayerPress.com. He later became an analyst for the ACC Digital Network. Most recently he became a pro football analyst for Comcast Sports Southeast, as well as a panelist for The Panel on Fox Sports South.

Levens recently launched a youth training program, I Am Momentum, designed to help youth reach their maximum potential in speed, agility, strength and conditioning. The program is currently training athletes at Universal Tennis Academy and LB3 Lacrosse in Atlanta. GA.

Levens’ entertainment roles and accomplishments include, writing and serving as executive producer for Bell Rung, an insightful documentary focused on bringing to light the long-term effects and life-altering health issues suffered by many former professional football players and co-writing and serving as the executive producer of Stripped, a hit stage play. He also had the opportunity to play the role of Coach James in the British Comedy, Gridiron UK, set to be released later this year.

Levens is currently on a national tour starring in Tyler Perry’s “Madea On the Run” stage play.

Socially: @DorseyLevens on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn Media Contact: Katrina Leonce, (770) 222-2229. Profilespr@gmail.com

Hilarie S. Viener is Founder of Viener&Partners, a brand and marketing consultancy based in Manhattan. Her career has afforded travel the globe working with over 100 brands from start-ups to Fortune 100’s.  Her prior experience includes roles as Executive Vice President, North America of The Value Engineers, global brand consultancy and President of branding and digital agency, WONDER. Ms. Viener is a graduate of American University’s School of Communication in Washington, DC.  She began her career at Wells Rich Greene Advertising, then moved on to roles at Griffin Bacal, Lowe & Partners and BBDO.
For more information or to find out more, please go to www.vienerandpartners.com