We all have stories to tell. But they're not always our own.

Filmmakers tell stories about things that interest them. They may tell us something about their own lives, create something new or adapt a story that's already been told.

Each year, undergraduates at Ohio University who are serious about telling stories enroll in TCOM 419, Narrative Production 1, taught by Frederick Lewis. In this class, they select scripts, crews and talent, create a budget and tell their stories.

Pre-production actually begins during fall quarter with TCOM 432, Advanced Scriptwriting, also taught by Lewis, who's a documentary filmmaker. "In this class students create a script adaptation of a short story and also write a 15-30 page original script," he says. "I select the best 10 or 12 scripts and then in 419, the class chooses five that they want to work on."

For Jordan Blum, director, Erin McMahon, producer and Eric Scott Jones, producer, it was an opportunity to take a story and make it their own. They'd worked together on other video projects and couldn't wait to get started on the film.

According to Jones, they intended to create a professional film that would be shown at film festivals, "It's what we've been wanting to do ever since we came to Ohio University and now we feel that we're ready," he says.

To achieve that level of professionalism, Blum recruited a talented group of people to the work on the film, including an assistant director, a cinematographer, set designers and an editor. He knew their work and was confident they would maintain a professional manner on the set.

"It's not just about me and my movie," he's quick to note. "It's also about the people I work with that help to create everything involved with the production."

"'Greasy Lake' is my own adaptation of a T.C. Boyle short story of the same name," Blum says. "I'd adapted the original story in an screenwriting class. I added the first act and created a few new characters. Although I personally added a lot to it, I remained true to Boyle's story."

Filmed in Athens, The Plains and Nelsonville, the story is about three disillusioned suburban teenagers who return home from college. They think they're tough. Nothing can stop them. They revel in being bad and destructive. Then, during a trip to Greasy Lake, they meet the real thing.

"What attracts me to filmmaking is story telling. Creating something that draws you in and introduces you to characters you've never met and locations you've never seen," Blum says. "I have no interest in the business side, so I surround myself with people who are really good at that."

As producers, McMahon and Jones were good at taking care of the business details, giving Blum complete freedom on the set to focus on telling the story.

"Basically, we made everything happen," McMahon says. Jones agrees, "We tackled everything--locations, casting, crew, vehicles--everything associated with the production. When Jordan stepped on the set, everything was ready to go."

McMahon is 100 percent producer. "I like the organizational aspects of a production--the controlled chaos. I've been taking business classes to help with the management side of things and producing is more about management than being creative," she says.

Jones is a bit of both, but his heart is in directing. He agrees that when a film is well produced, the director can spend more time with the actors. "There were virtually no problems on the set," he says. "We had a very tight crew."

Morale is also an important consideration when making a student film. So is a professional attitude. Nobody is getting paid. Everybody works long hours. The crew's involved because it's what they want to do.

"If you can't create a situation where people are enjoying what they're doing, the film is going to falter," Blum says. "We were doing 17-hour shoots, everyone was exhausted. There were papers to write, classes to attend, yet everyone enjoyed being on the set. It was important for me to establish a positive atmosphere."

Everyone involved with the production agreed it was a positive, but intense bonding experience. When the film wrapped, nobody was ashamed to admit they were a bit teary-eyed.

"When you work together that long, you really get attached to each other," Blum says.

Blum, McMahon and Jones enthusiastically agree that making a film of this caliber would not have been possible without Lewis' encouragement and guidance.

"Professor Lewis has pushed all of us, since freshman year, into doing this project," Blum says. "This is the only class that lets you go out and do what you want to do. He's a godsend, none of this would have been possible without him."

Lewis says the projects are valuable because they encourage students to collaborate across multiple disciplines. Crews usually consist of people from art, design, music and theater.

"They only have 10 weeks to shoot, edit and screen their projects," he says. "It's a chance for them to spread their wings."

"Greasy Lake," along with the other TCOM 419 projects, debuts June 3 at the Athena Cinema; $2 will admit you to either a 9 p.m. or midnight screening.

Jordan Blum is a junior in the School of Telecommunications majoring in video production. Erin McMahon is a junior in the School of Telecommunications majoring in video production. Eric Scott Jones is a senior in University College majoring in multi-media production; he designed his major.

Susan Green is a writer for University Communications and Marketing.