The story of Streaking Stars Productions, an SCC student film production company, begins with three high school students and a camera.

High school buddies (and film enthusiasts) Ryley Bersano and Garrett Landry did what many high school boys have done with a camera: shot random scenes while spouting off fart jokes.

When filming for their homecoming skit, they called fellow classmate Joseph Newman to help them. While working together they transitioned from fart jokes to talking with each other about potential film ideas. They started with an idea for a film adaptation of the Nathaniel Brown short story, "Goodman Brown." Suddenly something sparked between the three of them and a year later they have a logo and a name: Streaking Stars Productions.

Streaking Stars Productions is currently producing a theatrical version of "Dreamers," a short film written by Bersano. "Dreamers" is about a salesman who owns a dream machine which customers can use for a charge of $10 a dream. The salesman is at the end of his ropes until his last customer shows up. Bersano doesn't divulge what happens next.

The theatrical version will premiere in June with a student-ran short play production called the Shoreline Shorts "(Dreamers) was originally a dream I had," Bersano said. "I wrote it on paper, but I didn't know what to do with it. When I heard that the Shoreline Shorts were coming I submitted it and it was entered. Tony (Doupe) liked it for its abstraction." Production for "Dreamers" began in February and there is one month left before the show. The short play will eventually become a film this summer, according to Bersano.

Streaking Stars productions are also filming two other movies this summer, "Writer's Block" and "It Takes Chance." "Writer's Block" is about a masochistic writer seeking inspiration in all the wrong places. "It Takes Chances" is a featurelength dramedy, written by Newman, about a boy who has lost his sense of self and goes on a journey searching for it.

"I came up with idea for this film by watching 'Trapeze,'" Newman said. "I found the relationship between the student and mentor very funny and endearing and wanted to convey that in images." Their name was really what solidified Streaking Stars Productions as a company, according to Landry. "Back in high school we were learning about symbolism," Landry said. "I turned to Ryley and said to him, 'whenever you hear the word, star, you will see the most amazing thing in the world.'

"Streaking stands for the beginning to the end of a production. It's a motion you run through," Bersano said, and continued while snickering. "Streaking Stars is not involved in the adult entertainment industry." Landry deals with the business end of the company, regarding the budget and how to coordinate ad opportunities to get clientele.

One major setback in production is funding. The company's budget is primarily coming out of Bersano, Newman, and Landry's pockets as they work other jobs. However, they are working with small business advertisers and charge at a cost to produce their films. They also want people to send in their scripts or director's ideas so they can work with them and create a network of local talent. They will start fundraising in the summer. Even though they each have specific roles, (Bersano, director; Newman, writer; Landry, business manager) they all have equal part in producing films.

"How we work as a team is being very honest, direct and open with each other," Newman said. "If something doesn't work we aren't afraid to tell the other that it's not going to work and that we should go in a different direction. The most important thing is that we get the work done." For more information, contact streakingstarsproductions@gmail. com.

Michael Fate - Staff Writer