CMU students meet film pros while working at fest

MOUNT PLEASANT, Oct. 11, 2009(AP): Thirty Central Michigan University students have returned from Louisville with memories of the stars and a bit of job experience as well.

Members of Mount Pleasant school's events management program traveled to Kentucky to spent four days as volunteers during the International Festival of Film.

``Students ... worked one-on-one with directors and actors, learning both about the film business and what it takes to execute a high-profile event,'' university spokeswoman Tracy Burton wrote in a posting on the school's Web site.

Among the actors they met were Doris Roberts, who played Marie Barone on ``Everybody Loves Raymond,'' and Jennifer Lawrence, who is filming ``The Beaver'' with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster.

``This experience taught me more than I could ever learn in a classroom,'' sophomore Brittney Bushard of Mason said in a statement. ``I had the opportunity to have my hands in almost every aspect of the festival. By the end of the weekend I was troubleshooting issues on my own. You can't learn that in textbook.''

``The best part of this experience was the diversity in our job duties,'' she said. ``I was a screening technician, a hospitality greeter, an errand runner and everything in between.''

About 250 students are in the events management minor, offered through the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration.

``I can't thank these students enough,'' said festival founder and executive director Conrad Bachmannctor, who hugged students before they boarded a homebound bus after the Oct. 1-4 event. ``Without them, this event wouldn't have been as successful as it was. These kids came here ready to work, and their talents rose to the occasion.''

On the Net: Central Michigan University recreation studies program: http://rpl.cmich.edu
Video: http://tinyurl.com/yk8lehv