Private Project

Love and the Game

Based on the novel by Jersey City author, Daniel Ali, who also wrote and produced the film, Love and the Game is the story of Adriano de Souza, a young, Afro-Brazilian street hustler torn between a lucrative but violent world and Paz Montenegro, the woman he’s loved his entire life. When fate reunites the two of them after years apart, even though Paz is now married to another man, neither can resist the attraction and soon they put it all on the line for love. "But the Game don't stop," and AD is running out of time fast. The two lovers wrestle with their own pain and secret coping mechanisms as they struggle to balance life with betrayal and deception. Love and the Game exposes the truths of fast-life allure and the American lust for material gain, but also offers a unique and timely perspective of the conflicted, inner humanity of many of those who get caught up but whose voices are often muted.

  • Di Shawn J. Gandy
    Director
    Church Antics, An American Tree
  • Daniel Ali
    Writer
    Author of the novel, Love and the Game, Across the Middle and Learning to be Me
  • Daniel Ali
    Producer
    Producer's credits include, "Grynch Nite" Chil' Town Sound 1998, "Toe Tag'd" Chaotic Realm 1999, "The Festival", Chil' Town Sound 2000, "Real Life", The G.odd 2001, "Madman Entertainment Compilation" Various Artists 2002
  • Steven "Check" Fernandez
    Key Cast
    "Adriano de Souza"
    She's Gotta Have It, The Ave
  • Michelle Batista
    Key Cast
    "Paz Montenegro"
    The Waking Nightmare, Vignettes, Anytown US of A,
  • Ashante Jordan
    Key Cast
    "Spanky"
  • Darwin Roman
    Key Cast
    "Paul Pressio"
  • Hasaan Ali
    Key Cast
    "Johnny Cooke"
  • David Ricca
    Key Cast
    "Marco Dellucci"
  • Guillermo Fernandez
    Key Cast
    "Monkey"
  • Project Type:
    Feature, Short, Other
  • Genres:
    Urban Drama, Crime, Romance
  • Runtime:
    38 minutes 14 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    December 7, 2020
  • Production Budget:
    12,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    United States
  • Country of Filming:
    United States
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2:35.1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director Biography - Di Shawn J. Gandy

Di Shawn J. Gandy (Director) hails from New Jersey. Along with his wife Dawn, he is a founding member of the theater company, Behind The Veil Productions. He has been involved with all aspects of the group as playwright, producer, director, actor, and a coordinator with other theaters and entertainment companies. Love and the Game is Di Shawn’s directorial debut for film. He has served as assistant director for the film short Church Antics The Movie. He presently serves as a writer for the award-winning series for Best Screenplay Prospect Park, created by Courtni Saizon. He is an award-nominated playwright for the play An American Tree. He has studied acting at Woody King Jr.’s New Federal Theater in NY, George Street Playhouse Education in NJ, and at the Actor’s Approach Academy with Jared Kelner, the creator of the Actor’s Approach Craft Technique Toolbox.

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Director Statement

For me, it all starts with the book. I was so captivated by the story and the way Daniel Ali breathed life into the characters. I literally could feel their humanity, it was like being in the story with them. So when he approached me about doing the film, it was a no brainer. We're all very excited about this project and I think the public will be too.