We’ve all brushed shoulders with them: the sorority girl, the student-musician, and the hardworking economics student. While on campus, it may be easy to mistake this filmmaking trio for just a few of your average college students.

As co-founders of their own production company, 3 Point Productions, these students are well on their way to becoming film gurus in their own right.

“We’re just a group of kids who really like to make movies,” said Bobbye Jo Green, a sophomore film studies/journalism major who writes, directs and produces for 3 Point Productions. “For us, 3 Point Productions is a medium to do what we love the way we want.”

Since the birth of the company just under a year ago the trio has already produced three short films, the first of which won second place at Sacramento State’s first annual Film Festival last spring. When it comes to genre, the company keeps its scope wide open, shooting everything from dramas to documentaries to music videos.

Film studies junior and co-founder Ryan Harbert, or “Harpo,” as his fellow filmmakers endearingly call him, stays plugged in to the technical end of the craft. His experience as a trained musician allows him the unique ability to tune into the most minute details involving cinematography, sound design and editing.

Harbert, the young Steven Spielberg of the group, whose favorite movie is “The Sixth Sense,” has a more mainstream approach to filmmaking.

“I’d rather listen to a bad joke told well, than a good joke told horribly,” Harbert said. “I generally look at how the story is told.”

Green, 18, who serves as president of the film society at Sac State is a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She stays deeply connected to the artistic elements of filmmaking through her passion for independent film.

“I’m really into independent and European film because they’re more about expressing meaning, like a piece of art for display,” Green said. “The goals are a lot more about what film should be: a really important statement.”

On the other hand, Jared Anderson, co-founder of 3 Point Productions and economics senior, on the other hand doesn’t consider himself a film buff per se, although when it comes to watching movies he says he appreciates a good storyline. Contrasting sharply from Green, Anderson proclaimed himself as “the guy who’s pretty much everything not artistic.”

Using his background in economics, Anderson specializes in getting down to business.

“I let them do the projects while I help pick out profitability and stay focused on the business aspects,” Anderson said.

With starkly different interests and talents, the group manages to work incredibly as a dynamic team with common goals in mind: “to develop a medium to express art, build an impressive resume, make money and gain experience,” Anderson said.

The playful rivalry between the crew about their opposing arguments on “mainstream crap” vs. “artsy-fartsy indie” is all in good faith of each other’s equally important contributions to the team. In fact, they agree that their distinctly unique specialties are their strongest asset.

“Our strongest point is that we surround ourselves with ‘no’ men as opposed to a lot of mainstream Hollywood filmmakers who surround themselves with ‘yes’ men.” Harbert said. “We constantly check each other and we value each other’s opinions.”

When it comes to the balancing act between film, school, work and personal life, the team agreed that the latter is usually what gets cut in order to make more time for film. That’s not to say the creative process stops its flow for the ‘have-to’s’ of life.

“I get my best stuff during class,” said Green speaking of her incessant creative juices.

Luckily for these busy students, inspiration comes from everywhere at anytime.

“I always keep my notebook with me because inspiration comes from the most random things,” Harbert said. “I remember specific feelings, then build a story around it, envisioning shots and then before I know it, I have an entire formula for making a movie.”

Although the production company has to work from on $2,500 and a couple lofty donations, they have managed to acquire all the equipment they’ll need.

3 Point Productions has been contracted by a local Public Service Announcement station to produce a weekly television series that will serve to educate kids about drug use and to help motivate them to make positive life decisions.

In the months to come, expect to see 3 Point Productions shooting around the town.

“For our next project, we’re looking at doing a stand-up, improv comedy show at a local bar,” Anderson said.

The group plans on getting more exposure through events put on by Sac State’s newly re-instated film society. As president, Green plans to host another Film Festival and attend Communications Studies classes to recruit students interested in film.

Elaine Welteroth can be reached at [email protected]