Courtesy of HitRecord.org

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the star of 50/50, Inception and 500 Days of Summer, will be coming to Washington University.

Congress of the South 40’s decision to host an interactive event with actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt has been greeted by a surge of student interest since the announcement was made last Thursday.

Gordon-Levitt will be coming to campus October 25 to host a promotional event for hitRECord, the collaborative production company he started in 2004 to promote young artists. On Sunday, a week before tickets go on sale, the Facebook event had more than 450 people respond that they were attending.

CS40 chose the actor because of his ability to offer something that other speakers on campus don’t, sophomore Amanda Garcia, director of services for CS40, explained.

“We don’t need another celebrity telling us why he’s famous. This is so much more interactive,” Garcia said. “It’s nice to see a celebrity remove themselves from the Hollywood industry and get average people who are just as talented involved in the creative process.”

The event will feature a brief speech by Gordon-Levitt, followed by a presentation of original short films and live performances. Students are encouraged to bring their own video-recording devices to capture the event and post the footage online.

Garcia said CS40 is offering a total of 700 tickets to the event, which will take place in Graham Chapel. The group will be tabling in Bear’s Den from 6 to 8 p.m. next Friday through the following week.

“We’re tabling at BD because it is a CS40 event…but that doesn’t mean that other students aren’t welcome. Everyone is welcome, you just have to have a ticket,” Garcia said.

She noted that students she has spoken with have responded positively to the actor’s slated appearance.

“A lot of people that I’ve talked to are pretty stoked about it; it’s a pretty big name. He’s not a humongous celebrity, but he’s pretty well known,” she said.

Garcia added that though students are pleased to have a celebrity coming to campus, many do not understand the project he’s promoting.

“People are also really confused about the entire project itself. Usually I just direct them to the website, just because I feel like when you see it, it makes a lot more sense, and it’s really cool to see,” she said.

Gordon-Levitt has hosted similar events at numerous other universities nationwide.

“He’s toured at other colleges campuses so…we weren’t building from scratch. He’s been wildly successful everywhere he goes,” Garcia said.

Numerous students said they are anticipating the event.

“I was excited when they announced it,” sophomore Kate Cygan said. “Just seeing him—it’s cool to have a celebrity on campus. I don’t go to many of the speakers, but there are some good ones this year.”

Other students voiced similar excitement at the “50/50” and “Inception” star’s coming to campus.

“I remember seeing him in ‘Inception,’ and I think it will be cool to hear him speak because he has a lot of experience in a lot of different films,” senior Austin Wilmot said. “And he’s hot.”

The event kicks off fall South 40 Week, which features a fall fair and the CS40 formal. Last year, the week began with a speech by former con man Frank Abagnale.

With additional reporting by Emily Sybrant.