Most urban dramas reduce the ambitions of young African American males to either drug dealing, sports, or entertainment. This one is different.
Black Collar tells the story of Yase “Dittle” James, a former college football star who loses his scholarship after hanging with the wrong crowd. One thing leads to another, and soon after, he stumbles into a life of white collar crime to pay the bills. Dittle is fundamentally against violence and drug dealing, but he’s determined to use his mind to outsmart the system that’s held him and his family back his whole life.
He comes up with a plan, and gradually recruits a crew that grows into a small, but organized network of people from all walks of society. All looking to beat an unfair system, regain what they’ve lost, or change their situations for the better. In a short matter of time, Dittle’s intelligence, street-smarts, and charisma stabilizes into a low key, six-figure street operation. To some he would seem to be happy and living a hustler’s dream, but he’s not.
In addition to providing for his girlfriend and their son, Dittle maintains households for several other children he’s fathered with other women. He’s also taken on financial responsibility for his mother, his sister and her children, and to a lesser degree, his closest friends and their families. Life in the fast lane is non-stop pressure and problems, but he can’t stop now. There’s too many people depending on him, and way too much at stake.
It’s not long before the stress of juggling shady business dealings and a complicated personal life begins to take it’s toll on Dittle. At the same time, jealousy and greed are slowly turning people around him into enemies. Who can he really trust these days? The triple life he’s living is finally starting to catch up with him, and his instincts are telling him to cash out while he’s still ahead.
So Yase decides to make some changes for the better, and comes up with a brand new plan… To go legitimate and pursue his real dream… Becoming a full time entrepreneur in the fashion industry.
And not a moment to soon! Or is it already too late and he just doesn’t know it yet?
Directed by James Samuel (USA)