*USC student Stanley Kalu, who is currently entering his senior year at USC, has won first place in LAUNCH’s Million Dollar Screenplay Competition for his screenplay The Obituary of Tunde Johnson, which follows a wealthy, black high school senior who falls victim to an endless time loop of police brutality.
As the winner, Kalu’s screenplay will be produced as a feature film with a budget of at least $1 million, and he’ll also receive a $50,000 education grant, as well as representation by APA and Valor Entertainment.
Co-founded by producers Jason Shuman (Rebel in the Rye, Lone Survivor) and Zachary Green (Spartan), The LAUNCH aims to find the next generation of great screenwriters from college students around the world.
“Stanley Kalu is an incredibly talented young writer, with a unique voice that deserves to be heard and a story we are thrilled to help bring to life,” Green said in a statement.
Added Shuman: “We could not be more excited to have Stanley as our first grand prize winner and applaud all of the winning entries.”
The remaining seven finalists also will receive educational grants, with the second- and third-place winners also landing representation. Funding for the entire competition was provided by philanthropists Chuck and Marni Bond.
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