Changing the Game
Written and directed by Rel Dowdell
In a grim North Philadelphia neighborhood, Darrell Barnes and Andre “Dre” Newell have been best friends since childhood. Now in their teens, their paths are about to diverge.
A gifted student, raised by his devoutly religious grandmother, Darrell has won a scholarship to Columbia University. Dre has put together a crew of teen-age drug dealers, guided by the tactics of the 16th century strategist, Niccolo Machiavelli. “Here,” he tells Darrell, handing him his dog-eared copy of Machiavelli’s The Prince, “I want you to read this book…every single page…this s%#t will keep you one step ahead of everyone.”
Shortly afterward, Dre starts his car and is blown to bits.
With a Columbia MBA, Darrell is recruited by a leading investment house and becomes one of Wall Street’s most charismatic and powerful young players. But a corporate scandal…a corrupt ex-roommate…and a mysterious Arab banker with a unique business service threaten to end his career. And possibly his life.
On a return trip to Philadelphia, Darrell recalls the words of his late friend. Taking a page from Machiavelli, he conceives a plan to “evade one’s enemies and gain power” that triggers a climax as explosive as it is unexpected.
When the game changes, so does everything you thought you had seen.
