Thug Life Army

When Gregory Anderson first sat down to pen the script for the Sony / Screen Gems film "Stomp the Yard", while a student at Florida A&M University, the film's future was nothing more than a dream. Now that the film has become a runaway hit, Gregory's dreams have not only come true, he has also become a part of history. Gregory is one of only five African American writers (and/or writer collaborations) in American History to go number at the Box Office two weeks in a row. Gregory's triumph also marks the first time an African American writer has ever gone number one with a film based on a screenplay, opening the door for the branding of a new cinema credit in the vein of novelists, playwrights, and authors before him.

In recognition of that accomplishment and his other triumphs, Gregory will be honored at several events during Black History month, including being an honoree and speaker at the 2007 Call to Conscience Black History Month Celebration, alongside fellow honoree Afeni Shakur, mother of hip hop legend and rap icon Tupac Shakur (2Pac). Gregory is a guest lecturer at the University of Southern California Filmmaker Series sponsored by the African American Cinema Society, which was founded by Filmmakers and USC Alumni John Singleton and David L. Watts. Gregory will also host an NBA All Star Weekend Aftermath Event called "The Big Deal" with his fraternity brothers and sports legends Shaquille O''Neal and Steve McNair. Gregory Anderson is a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc, and the film "Stomp the Yard" is loosely inspired by Gregory's college years and his real life experiences with his fraternity.

Gregory speaks of his history making achievements with a sense of honor and pride. "One of the members of my fraternity, the late Carter G. Woodson, who is the founder of Black History Month, always taught that in order to move forward in life with conviction and purpose you must first honor and value your past. Two leaders who have always been an inspiration to me are Oscar Micheaux and Lonne Elder III. Oscar Micheaux was the first successful African American Filmmaker. When my classmates and I produced and distributed our first movies, we used his template as inspiration for how we got our films out to the public. Lonne Elder III is the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay for the feature film "Sounder". Mr. Elder is from the same small town as my mother Americus, Georgia. He broke through all sorts of barriers and paved the way for me and others. His legacy is a great motivator for me and my family."

Gregory is also making history in other ways, as a partner in Tri Destined Studios and the President of Tri Destined Films, created as the first African American Motion Picture and Television Studio. This company which Gregory works alongside partners Trey Haley and ND Brown; was founded in honor of The Lincoln Motion Picture Company, which was founded in 1916 as the first African American owned company to produce films as a serious mainstay in Hollywood. In April, Tri Destined will present their film "American Dream", which was produced in conjunction with Warner Brothers Records and Asylum Records which Trey Haley co-directs and Tri Destined executive Veronica Nichols produces. It's the story of Southern Hip Hop as seen through the eyes of the rapper Mike Jones.

It was announced on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel that Tri Destined acquired the rights to the life story of Bev Kearney, track coach of the University of Texas. They also recently acquired the rights to NFL Legend Andre Rison's life which chronicles the love affair between him and TLC superstar Lisa "Left Eye" Lopez. Rounding off their projects, Tri Destined, along with President of Television Ron Deshay (Producer on American Idol) wrapped production on a pilot with Executive Producer Andrea Wiley called "Walking in the Light", an inspirational talk show hosted by Cookie Johnson and Pauletta Washington, the wives of Magic Johnson and Denzel Washington.