Private Project

Power to Change

Real stories of Londoners, from loss and violence to resilience and hope.
Power to Change tells the stories of five people: EJ a young man drawn into gang culture from an early age; Lorraine a grieving Mother who lost her son to knife-crime as he saved another boy; Gerald, founder of Impact Brixton, who learns to navigate one of London’s most dangerous areas after emigrating from Ghana as a child; Errol a repeat offender with 74 previous convictions; and Nate a former gang-member who was brutally stabbed by a childhood friend. The stories are woven together by Kaysen, a teacher, who passionately believes in supporting young people.
Adding a unique perspective to this mix we hear from peace educator Prem Rawat whose work in prisons in the UK and around the world has had a remarkable impact.
In a time where youth violence is on the rise across the country, and with the poverty gap only increasing, this is a unique film that looks at the simplest solution: the innate goodness of a human being, who will make the right choices given the encouragement and tools to do so. Sometimes all it takes is one person, one act, one choice, to change the trajectory of a lifetime.

  • Wendy Lewis
    Director
  • Celebrate Life
    Producer
  • Lorraine Jones
    Key Cast
  • Errol McGlashan
    Key Cast
  • Kaysen Asante
    Key Cast
  • Gerald Vanderpuye
    Key Cast
  • Prem Rawat
    Key Cast
  • Nate
    Key Cast
  • EJ
    Key Cast
  • Roni Redmond
    Co-Director
  • Project Type:
    Documentary, Feature
  • Genres:
    crime, social justice, human interest, documentary, London, peace
  • Runtime:
    58 minutes
  • Completion Date:
    November 10, 2021
  • Production Budget:
    8,000 GBP
  • Country of Origin:
    United Kingdom
  • Country of Filming:
    United Kingdom
  • Language:
    English
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Ritzy Cinema, London Premiere
    London
    United Kingdom
    November 10, 2021
    London Premiere
Director Biography - Wendy Lewis

Wendy Lewis is a London-based independent filmmaker with an interest in human stories of transformation.
Also a singer and artist Wendy uses these creative skills to craft films that tell a story through visuals, poetry and music.
She has a keen following online where her short films have racked up over a million views.
Power to Change is Wendy’s first feature-length documentary.

Add Director Biography
Director Statement

I have always been drawn to stories where challenges are overcome, and a person has something of value to share, gained through experience.
I’ve been lucky enough to come across many such stories through the work I do with Celebrate Life CIC, a Community Initiative Company working at a grassroots level in South London.
Three years ago several of these stories began to intertwine which gave us the idea to turn them into a feature-length documentary.
The subject of knife crime has been shown in many ways, but the angle of this film felt unique, and that made me excited, because it is not often to see something new in the world of film.
We crowdfunded to cover costs which gave us the freedom to follow Power to Change where it needed to go, rather than have to fit into a pre-planned agenda.
I’ve been involved in many editing projects but never has one fallen into place so naturally, largely thanks to the wonderful support of so many.
This has continued when it comes to sharing the film and reaching the people who need to see it. From Community Centres on some of London’s most challenging Estates, to Scotland Yard and the Front Line Club, we are reaching a wide demographic of people from all backgrounds, because we truly believe that everyone can play a part in making change, and that working together is the way forward.
I would love to see the film reach a wider audience, and the messages of possibility and hope to reverberate further.