Central Michigan University Volunteers for Louisville Festival of Film, 2009

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich., Oct. 5, 2009 — After nearly four days of volunteering their time and event-planning skills to ensure Louisvilles first International Festival of Film was a success, 30 Central Michigan University students are back in Mount Pleasant after a job well done.

I cant thank these students enough, said Conrad Bachmann, executive director and creator of the festival, as he hugged students before they stepped on the bus back to Mount Pleasant. Without them, this event wouldnt have been as successful as it was. These kids came here ready to work, and their talents rose to the occasion.

The students from CMUs Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration coordinated a number of events over the weekend from a red carpet gala, film screenings, technical set up and tear downs to entertainment and hors doeuvre parties leading up to films such as The Burning Plain, which stars Louisville native Jennifer Lawrence, Kim Basinger and Charlize Theron.

They also worked one-on-one with directors and actors, learning both about the film business and what it takes to execute a high-profile event that attracted hundreds to Louisville home to the famous Kentucky Derby. Throughout the festival, students helped facilitate screenings at venues that included the Muhammad Ali Center, the Kentucky Center for the Performing Arts and the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory.

I am just so proud of my students, said CMU instructor Lorie Tuma, who oversaw the students in Louisville. They really came together as a team and embraced this event and through it all they became professionals.

CMU senior Justyna Kopacz said networking with well-known stars and directors during the festival was enlightening.

This has been an amazing experience, said Kopacz of St. Clair Shores. We now have a real behind-the-scenes look at how events like this come together. We learned so many of the ins and outs and what needs to be done to get the job done.

Over the festival, students connected with celebrities that included Doris Roberts, best known for playing Marie Barone on Everybody Loves Raymond, and Jennifer Lawrence, who is currently filming The Beaver with Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster in New York.

Students even shared a hospitality suite loaded with food and snacks with Kathryn Joosten, currently starring as Mrs. McClusky on the popular award-winning series Desperate Housewives.

She was just so welcoming to us, said CMU junior Kristine Deater of Brighton. Here she is this celebrity and she opened up to us so much. She was just inspiring, and I think we all learned a lot from her.

The CMU students are part of the events management minor, which is one of the largest minor programs on CMU's campus with 250 students. The minor is offered through the Department of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Services Administration. To learn more, visit http://rpl.cmich.edu.

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• Lorie Tuma

[TheOnionRoute]

♥ Liberty ☼ Libertad ♫ Freiheit ♪

[ICharmaine]

Great Job!