Outside the Box [Office] and the USC African American Cinema Society (AACS)
invite you and a guest to attend

A Special Theatrical Screening of

STAY

Written & Directed by SCA Alumnus Jas Summers
Produced by Mo McRae, Lex Scott Davis,
and SCA Alumni Dr. Garrett E.B. Thompson and Jared Hoffman

Followed by a Q&A with Writer/Director Jas Summers,
Actress/Executive Producer Megalyn Echikunwok,
Actor/Producer Mo McRae,
Producer Garrett Thompson and Producer Jared Hoffman

Moderated by SCA Alumna Codie Elaine Oliver

7:00 P.M. on Thursday, October 16th, 2025

The Ray Stark Family Theatre, SCA 108
George Lucas Building, USC School of Cinematic Arts Complex
900 W. 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90007

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. RSVP REQUIRED.
RSVPs ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.

FOOD AND DRINKS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED IN THE AUDITORIUM.
 

CLICK HERE TO RSVP
 

About Stay

Stay follows Kiara, a PhD author of African spirituality, and Miles, a former MMA fighter, facing the end of their once beautiful marriage. As it appears matters can’t get any worse in their lives, they begin to encounter soul-shaking supernatural forces and go from fighting one another to fighting for their lives. The key to survival lies within their ability to conquer their darkest moments with courage and love.

Provided courtesy of the filmmaker.

About the Guests

JAS SUMMERS (Writer, Director, SCA Alumnus)

Jas Summers is a writer and director based in Los Angeles. Originally from Benicia, California, a suburb of Oakland, Jas discovered his passion for film at the age of eight when his mother took him to see “Malcolm X.” However, it was the film “Love Jones” that truly ignited his aspiration to pursue a career in filmmaking. This film offered a fresh perspective on Black characters and presented a love story that resonated with his own experiences and the people in his life. These two influential films fueled his excitement for storytelling and his love for cinema, ultimately leading him to USC’s prestigious School of Cinematic Arts, where he earned his MFA in Production with a focus on Directing and Screenwriting.

Jas aims to craft compelling narratives that authentically and sophisticatedly reflect the African American experience. As both a student and historian of cinema, he is driven by a passion for telling dramatic stories that explore themes of genre, identity, and intricate relationships, all while maintaining an artistic sensibility.

Since completing his studies at USC, Jas has concentrated on developing his own material, resulting in several scripts he intends to direct. With “STAY” marking his directorial debut and Scalable Content as a reliable and supportive collaborator, Jas is set to introduce his distinctive voice to the industry. He has also served as an Associate Producer on various short films, including the Netflix-sponsored “PROM NIGHT FLEX” and the feature film “A LITTLE HOPE FOR CHICAGO,” both of which premiered in 2023.

MEGALYN ECHIKUNWOKE (Actress, Executive Producer)

Megalyn Echikunwoke is an actress and producer who has recently debuted her writing and directing in her Netflix short film titled “WEATHERING” starring Alfre Woodard, Jermaine Fowler and Alexis Louder. Currently Megalyn can be seen starring alongside Aubry Plaza in the independent film, “EMILY THE CRIMINAL”, leading Blumhouse’s “BLOODMOON” from Hulu, and opposite Kevin Hart in Universal’s “NIGHT SCHOOL”. Megalyn was the star of FOX’s “ALMOST FAMILY” and was recently seen in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s acclaimed “APOLOGIA”, opposite Stockard Channing and Hugh Dancy. Additional film credits include indie films “WHO DO YOU LOVE”, where she played a heroin-addicted lounge singer opposite Alessandro Nivola and David Oyelewo, and Whit Stillman’s “DAMSELS IN DISTRESS” alongside Greta Gerwig and Lorene Scafaria’s “THE MEDDLER”.

MO MCRAE p.g.a (Actor, Producer)

Mo McRae is an LA based actor, director, writer, and producer. His feature directorial debut “A LOT OF NOTHING”, which he also co-wrote and produced, premiered at the 2022 SXSW Film Festival and was nominated for the Grand Jury Award. The film also gained his NAACP Image Award nomination in 2023 for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Motion Picture).

Previously, Mo starred in the independent feature “MVP”, directed by Nate Boyer. He can be seen in the second season of the hit HBO Max award-winning series “THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.” Previous film credits include “WILD” alongside Reese Witherspoon, “DEN OF THIEVES” with Gerard Butler, and Lee Daniels’ “THE BUTLER” opposite Forrest Whitaker.

Mo was featured in the second season of "BIG LITTLE LIES”, appeared in “THIS IS US”, and the record-breaking film “THE FIRST PURGE”. Other credits include “THE 24TH “directed by Kevin Willmot, FOX’s hit drama “EMPIRE”, HBO's “ALL THE WAY”, and as a series regular in both FOX's “PITCH” & “ALMOST FAMILY,” and the TNT drama “MURDER IN THE FIRST”. Mo also recurred on both “RAY DONOVAN” and “SONS OF ANARCHY”.

In the most recent years, Mo has developed scripted TV & Films through his own production company SCALABLE CONTENT, with its focus currently on “STAY”.

GARRETT THOMPSON (Producer, SCA Alumnus)

Dr. Garrett E.B. Thompson graduated with an MFA and PhD from the University of Southern California Cinematic Arts Program. Since graduating, he has worked as a producer for 15+ years, amassing a diverse resume of television, film, and commercial credits for companies and brands including CBS, Disney, Spike TV, HBO Max, Snapchat, Paramount Network, MTV, NBC Universal, Nike, Coca-Cola, and AT&T. With a passionate approach to storytelling he’s produced films that have premiered at the Sundance and Cannes Film Festivals. He's worked as a Producer on “PLAINCLOTHES” (Russel Tovey & Tom Blyth), the 2025 Sundance Film Festival's Best Feature Ensemble Cast Award winner, HBO Max’s Documentary “BEANIE MANIA”, the 20th Season of “AMERICAN IDOL”, the 2024 Dances With Films Best Feature Documentary, “A LITTLE HOPE FOR CHICAGO”, and the 2025 new Snapchat Music Series Show, “UNDER THE GHOST”, featuring Kid Cudi. Garrett has also worked as a Segment Director on the PBS Documentary, “FIGHT THE POWER: HOW HIP HOP CHANGED THE WORLD”, with by Chuck D that won the UK Royal Television Society’s 2024 Best Arts Documentary Film. Garrett has also taught as an adjunct professor at USC and is currently a Netflix Producing Fellow working at Boardwalk Pictures, home of “LAST CHANCE U”, “PAUL AMERICAN”, & “CHEER”.

JARED HOFFMAN p.g.a (Producer, SCA Alumnus)

Jared Hoffman began his career at CAA where he worked with numerous clients including Eli Roth, Brent Bell, and Matt Peterman. Jared was instrumental in the packaging and sales of such hit films as "CABIN FEVER”, “HOSTEL”, “STAY ALIVE”, “THE DEVIL INSIDE” and the reboot of “TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE”. After leaving CAA in 2007, Jared began a producing career of his own spanning film, television, and digital. Jared is the award winning producer behind “THE WALKING DEAD” original three digital seasons, the producer of the critically acclaimed “SHOOTING THE WARWICKS”, the producer of “MVP”, and executive producer of “THE LAST MOVIE STAR”. His television, new media directing, and show running credits encompass hundreds of hours with projects sold and executed for AMC, Comedy Central, The CW, Hulu, TruTV, NatGeo Wild, Lifetime, El Rey, FOX, Netflix, Fuse, MTV, Showtime, HBO, FX, Fremantle, Go90, Youtube, OWN, TBS, ABC, The Disney Channel, IFC, and the NFL Network.

CODIE ELAINE OLIVER (Moderator, SCA Alumna)

Codie Elaine Oliver is the founder and chief creative officer of Black Love, Inc., a fast-growing media company comprised of live events, original video content, and robust social channels. She is a co-host on the acclaimed podcast The Mama's Den and is also the director and co-creator of the ground-breaking, five-time NAACP Image Awards-nominated docuseries, Black Love, which premiered as the most-viewed unscripted series in OWN’s history and wrapped its sixth and final season in 2022.

Oliver is partner and co-chair at Confluential Films, a company she shares with her husband Tommy Oliver. The production company is behind the HBO Documentaries Juice WRLD: Into the Abyss and 40 Years A Prisoner, and has produced films like The Perfect Find, starring Gabrielle Union for Netflix, and Young. Wild. Free. starring Sanaa Lathan. Codie is a fourth-generation Howard University grad, an Alpha Chapter AKA, a graduate of the University of Southern California Peter Stark Producing Program, and in addition to being an entrepreneur, she's a mama to three boys 8 and under.

About Outside the Box [Office]

Outside the Box [Office] is a weekly showcase for upcoming releases highlighting world cinema, documentary and independent film titles. The series draws from around the globe to present movies that may challenge, inspire or simply entertain.

To view the calendar of screenings, click here

To SUBSCRIBE to our MAILING LIST for upcoming free screenings and events, e-mail the word "Subscribe" to: aago@cinema.usc.edu
 

Check-In & Reservations

This program is open to all eligible individuals. The USC School of Cinematic Arts operates all of its programs and activities consistent with the University’s Notice of Non-Discrimination. Eligibility is not determined based on race, sex, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other prohibited factor.

This screening is free of charge and open to the public. A reservation confirmation will automatically be sent to your e-mail account upon successfully making an RSVP through this website. Doors will open at 6:30 P.M.

All SCA screenings are OVERBOOKED to ensure seating capacity in the theater, therefore seating is not guaranteed based on RSVPs. The RSVP list will be checked in on a first-come, first-served basis until the theater is full. Once the theater has reached capacity, we will no longer be able to admit guests, regardless of RSVP status.

Accessibility Needs

Individuals with disabilities who need accommodations to attend this event may contact Alessandro Ago, Assistant Dean, Programming and Special Events, at aago@cinema.usc.edu or 213-740-2330. It is requested that individuals requiring accommodations or auxiliary aids such as sign language interpreters and alternative format materials notify us at least seven days prior to the event. Every reasonable effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations in an effective and timely manner.

Parking

On-campus parking at the University of Southern California is limited. We recommend buying a day pass for the Royal Street Structure, located at the intersection of Royal Street and W. Jefferson Blvd. Parking passes are $20/car. For more information about parking at USC, please visit USC Transportation Website:

https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/daily-and-hourly-parking/
https://transnet.usc.edu/index.php/about-us/entrance-hours/

Contact Information

Name: Alessandro Ago
Email: aago@cinema.usc.edu