"Stompin The Yard" written by a Bruh

[PerroLoco]

Screenwriter got his start at FAMU

As audiences across the country prepare to dance down the aisles to soon to be released pop culture movie "Stomp the Yard", the creation of the film's storyline has proven to be just as exhilarating. Conceived by writer Gregory Anderson in the mid 90's, the film is an ode to fraternities and sororities at Historically Black Universities. This has special resonance because while writing the original draft, Gregory was a student at FAMU where he and his classmates Rob Hardy and Will Packer (Producers of "Stomp the Yard") dreamed of making it in Hollywood. After college, Gregory worked on the script, as he produced independent films with Rob and Will, but eventually other projects took center stage. Gregory hoped one day they could bring that story to life. In 2004, when the opportunity arose for a possible movie to be made, Gregory, a member of Omega Psi Phi, quickly dusted off the script from his parent's garage. But, taking a script written about frat life in the 90's and giving it a new millennium spin proved to be another journey altogether. "I was inspired by Cameron Crowe; a powerful storyteller. I remembered he spent a year posing as a high school student in preparation for writing the movie, Fast Times at Ridgemont High." Taking a cue from Crowe, Greg returned to FAMU to gain a deeper sense of authenticity as he rewrote the script. Next up for Gregory is the Warner Brothers / Asylum Records film "American Dream" which he produced as the President of Tri Destined Films. Stomp the Yard opens in theatres this Friday.

Bro. Gregory Ramon Anderson
Summer '94,
Mighty Melodic Bloody-Up Upsilon Psi Chapter, FAMU

Sometimes Credited As:
Gregory Anderson / Mr. Anderson

Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Actor

Writer - filmography

Stomp the Yard (2007) (earlier screenplay) (as Gregory Anderson)
14th Annual Inner City Destiny Awards (2006) (V)
Trois 3: The Escort (2004) (story by) (as Mr. Anderson) (written by)
Pandora's Box (2002) (screenplay) (story)
... aka Trois 2: Pandora's Box (USA: video title)
Room for Seven (2001)



Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Actor

Producer - filmography
(In Production) (2000s)

American Dream (2007) (post-production) (producer)


Trois 3: The Escort (2004) (co-producer) (as Gregory Anderson)
Motives (2004) (co-producer)
Pandora's Box (2002) (co-producer)
... aka Trois 2: Pandora's Box (USA: video title)
Trois (2000) (co-producer)


Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Actor

Miscellaneous Crew - filmography

American Dream (2007) (post-production) (script consultant)



Filmography as: Writer, Producer, Miscellaneous Crew, Actor

Actor - filmography

Sweet Oranges (2003) (V) .... Filmmaker

[20PearlGirl]

I thought I read on another board that the movie was written by an Alpha.

[PerroLoco]

Originally Posted by 20PearlGirl

I thought I read on another board that the movie was written by an Alpha.

When Gregory Anderson first sat down to pen the script for the upcoming Sony / Screen Gems film "Stomp the Yard," while a student at Florida A&M University (FAMU), the film's future was nothing more than a dream. Several years later as he prepared to do the rewrite, he found that the story and history of "Stomp the Yard" had a deeper connection to not only his family, but to all African Americans. "At the end of the day, what I discovered about myself and my people, was far more valuable than I could have ever imagined." - Gregory Anderson. The movie, which opens nationwide January 12, is driven by the unique art form called "Stepping." Stepping (or "Stomping") is a rhythmic dance tradition created by African American Fraternities and Sororities. This territory was nothing new to Gregory, who is a member of Omega Psi Phi and whose classmates (and Producers of "Stomp the Yard") Will Packer and Rob Hardy are members of Alpha Phi Alpha. But, as Greg crafted the story, he soon realized he had to go deeper. "I had a teacher in High School named Mrs. Sherry Hendricks, and she taught us that in life, we have to look beyond the surface of things, the shape of things. No matter how painful or hard, we have to search for what lies beneath, because that is where the truth is". Greg always knew he had a long lineage of frat / soror members in his family, dating back to the early decades of the organizations and spanning all the way to today. The key was to uncover the roots of stepping and why it stayed relevant. Gregory's father, Dr. Anderson, a member of Omega at Fort Valley State University in the mid 50's saw the organizations as a refuge of enlightenment for an oppressed people. "These organizations are rooted in the dreams of our forefathers," Dr. Anderson's cousin, retired Col. Jerry Simmons who pledged Omega at FAMU in 1950 recalls. "It's so amazing to see how far stepping has gone. I remember going to Lee Hall and paying ten cents to see a Step Show, now it's this huge extravagant affair," he said. Greg's mother, Delta Sigma Theta member and her sister Vivian Glover who pledged Delta in 1959 speak of stepping's purpose: "Stepping creates a deeper connection to sisterhood and brotherhood." Cousins Bruce Atwater (Kappa Alpha Psi '78 West Georgia University) and Wiley Shelman (Kappa '92 University of Georgia) talked about the birth of the name. "Stepping came from the popularity of a cappella groups during the Motown era of the 50's. That's why it's called 'Stepping'. In order to woo the ladies, fellas would make up the hottest steps, putting on a show for the girls." Greg's cousin Henry Everson (Kappa Alpha Psi '69, Savannah State), advised Gregory to compare the stepping of the past to the stepping of today. Henry's sister, Vivian Austin (Alpha Kappa Alpha '74 Albany State), and brothers David (Kappa '93 Georgia South Western) and Melvin (Alpha) chimed in. "Back in the day, it was only singing, no stepping. In fact, some schools down south still call Step Shows a 'Sing'. Many people say that black Greeks borrowed the Glee Club singing from white frats and enhanced it." Vivian's daughter Mia Armstrong (AKA '99 Xavier University) and Cousin Joey Pierce (Alpha '04 FAMU) think that the new style of stepping still respects the past. "I know there are a lot of Greeks out there that don't like the evolution of stepping, but even though the moves may have changed, the heart of it will always be the same." Greg's cousins Marcus Gooden (Kappa '93 Georgia Southern), Lynette Walters (Delta '03) and Pam Williams (Delta '91 Albany State) whose husband is a Kappa, Grandfather and two uncles are Omegas, and Uncle Rich is a Kappa, reminded Greg of what his high school teacher Mrs. Sherry Hendricks said, about delving further. So, Greg took the big plunge and traced the roots of his family all the way back to Andersonville, Americus, and Pineview in Georgia. "My family is connected to the slaves from Andersonville, that's how we got our name." Further research found that although stepping did evolve because of the teachings of Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, who introduced African "rites of passage" dances through Phi Beta Sigma, Greg found that slaves like his family and many other African American families found the art of stepping long before they arrived in America. "Stepping originated in West African dance rituals that were brought over to the New World by Africans caught by the Atlantic Slave Trade," Anderson said. For Greg, the research and reconnection with his family and his past was invaluable. "It reaffirmed for me that these steps are more than just a dance, they are a spiritual baton passed on from one generation to the next."

[ladygreek]

^^^White space and paragraphs are a poster's friends.

[20PearlGirl]

Originally Posted by ladygreek

^^^White space and paragraphs are a poster's friends.

Exactly, I'm not reading all of that...is he an Alpha or not? Why do I have to read the Declaration of Independence up off out over in here?

[BlackButterfly]

The writer (Gregory Anderson) is an Omega. (mom-Delta, dad-Omega, sister-Delta, cousins- Kappas) and the producers (Rob Hardy & Will Packer) are Alphas.

[20PearlGirl]

Originally Posted by BlackButterfly

The writer (Gregory Anderson) is an Omega. (mom-Delta, dad-Omega, sister-Delta, cousins- Kappas) and the producers (Rob Hardy & Will Packer) are Alphas.

Why thank you, I can see the influence of both orgs in the movie.