FAMU motion picture moguls return to hill

FAMU doens't yet have a film school, but three recent graduates who's motion pictures are huge box office successes will return to Tallahassee and speak at 10:30 a.m. Friday in Gaither Gym. Greg Anderson, Rob Hardy and Will Packer, the masterminds behind movies “Stomp the Yard”, "the Gospel" and "Pandora's Box" are will speak to students and alumni and are schedule to receive the FAMU's Meritorious Achievement Award at graduation ceremonies Sunday at the Civic Center.

Anderson, 31, is a native of Tallahassee, his father, Osifield, taught math at the FAMU and his mother, Vestella, was a teacher at FAMU DRS. He attended both schools and graduated with an agricultural business degree in 1996 and is now president of Tri Destined Films.

Hardy, 34, and Packer, 33, never went to film school. Both studied engineering at FAMU, graduating in 1996. They created Rainforest Films while students at FAMU. They made their first film "Chocolate City" in 1994 while still at FAMU.

“In 1991, FAMU had the highest number of national merit scholars (in the nation),” he said. “It was a cultural, academic epicenter and the Florida music scene was the hottest music scene in the country.”

Their classmates included rapper Common, actress Anika Noni Rose of “Dreamgirls” and actor Daniel Sunjata of “The Devil Wears Prada.” at it, you could get paid lots of money doing it.

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