Janelle Monáe & Wondaween present:

THE BRAINS BEHIND THE BLOOD

Join us for another intimate, spine-tingling evening of creative conversations on horror, sound, prosthetics, and spectacle,
featuring The Long Walk filmmaker JT Mollner and other luminaries in the SFX and horror industry.

Conversation will be moderated by the Hallo-QUEEN themself, Janelle Monáe

Costumes Strongly Encouraged!

7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, October 13th, 2026

Eileen Norris Cinema Theatre at the Frank Sinatra Hall
3507 Trousdale Parkway, Los Angeles, CA 90007

FREE ADMISSION. OPEN TO ALL USC STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF, AND ALUMNI.

RSVPs REQUIRED. RESERVATIONS ARE NON-TRANSFERABLE.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

About Janelle Monáe

Janelle Monáe is one of the most dynamic artists of their time, fusing soul, funk, new wave, and Southern hip-hop, among other genres and sounds, with a spirited approach that seems to treat art and entertainment as indivisible. The Grammy-nominated singer/rapper, songwriter, arranger, and producer spent years grinding away in the Atlanta underground before she emerged with a theatrical retro-futuristic sound wrapped in science fiction themes. In the 2010s, Monáe and their Wondaland associates crafted three Top 20 albums -- The ArchAndroid (2010), The Electric Lady (2013), and Dirty Computer (2018) -- examining subjects such as oppression, identity, and liberation as they relate to race and sexuality. Despite wide-scoped vision, Monáe and company filled those LPs with broadly appealing, gold-certified singles like "Tightrope" (featuring early supporter Big Boi), "Yoga," "Make Me Feel," and "I Like That." Monáe followed that highly conceptual trilogy with the The Age of Pleasure (2023), dedicated to the African diaspora with feel-good grooves sourced from Jamaica, Nigeria, and Atlanta. This album featured Grace Jones, Sister Nancy, and CKay and was later nominated for Album of the Year at the 2024 Grammy Awards. The artist's musical activity has been balanced with an array of supporting and lead roles in films such as Moonlight, Hidden Figures, Antebellum, Harriet, Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, and the Amazon series Homecoming.

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 exclusively to USC Students, Faculty, Staff and Alumni. 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/