Kennesaw State University alumnus CJ Malone has achieved a significant milestone in his acting career by starring in the independent horror film “Young & Cursed,” which premiered this fall on Amazon Prime and Apple TV. Malone, who graduated from KSU in 2023 with a degree in public relations, has long aspired to be on screen, inspired by his childhood love of Spider-Man.
Malone’s journey was marked by personal challenges, including growing up with a stutter that affected his confidence. He credits family members and teachers for encouraging him to pursue performing arts from an early age. “I chose to not let fear stop me from doing things that were meaningful,” he said. “I love acting. I love being able to express myself. When I am on stage or in front of the camera, my stutter somehow goes away as I take myself out of the equation.”
Originally from Michigan and raised in Cobb County, Malone attended Marietta High School before enrolling at KSU’s Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. He chose public relations as his major because he saw it as a bridge between storytelling and working in film. “I couldn’t afford college, but KSU gave me that opportunity through scholarships and grants,” he said. “My professors meant everything to me, they poured a lot more in me than what was required in the curriculum. They were genuinely interested in seeing me grow as a person.”
Tom Vizcarrondo, associate professor of communication at Radow College, worked closely with Malone at Peak Communications, a student-run public relations agency providing real-world experience. Vizcarrondo commented: “It’s great to hear about CJ’s most recent successes. He was the kind of student that always managed to bring a sense of positivity and optimism to everything he did. Along with that though, he’s always shown a great determination in whatever he set out to do. I’m sure his success with his first major film is just the beginning of representing KSU and all Owls very well!”
After graduating, Malone volunteered for student films at local colleges to build experience and create a demo reel. His work led him to be discovered via Backstage, an audition website, which connected him with a filmmaker casting for “Young & Cursed.” Following a successful audition process, Malone traveled to Flagstaff, Arizona for filming.
In the movie’s plot, five young people encounter supernatural forces while isolated in a remote area; Malone played Donny, the lead character described as both hardened and spiritually driven. Reflecting on production demands he said: “I wasn’t ready for 12-hour days, for how much patience and repetition it takes to get everything right,” adding that teamwork was crucial during filming.
Since completing the film project, Malone has trained at Nick Conti’s Professional Actors Studio in Atlanta and is working with an agent toward new roles consistent with his values and desire to inspire others.
Beyond acting pursuits, Malone draws on experiences such as homelessness when giving motivational talks at schools and community organizations like Kiwanis Kids Club and Leadership Cobb through the Cobb Chamber of Commerce.
“My goal isn’t fame. It’s to give people hope through the stories I tell,” he said. “My mission is to be a positive influence. Not just to help people escape reality but to help them deal with it.”
Malone recently hosted a Halloween night screening of “Young & Cursed” at The Springs Cinema and Taphouse aimed at motivating current KSU students creatively: “If they learn nothing else from seeing this film, I hope they realize their dreams are possible,” he said. “If I can do it, so can they.”
