Live from Le Mars, it's Paul Rust

(Photo contributed) Paul Rust, acting in the film "I Love You, Beth Cooper," watches in horror with Lauren Storm, Hayden Panettiere, Jack Carpenter and Lauren London as events unfold in the comedy, which hits theaters July 10. Rust will be in Le Mars July 18 for a special showing of the movie at the Royal T III theater. [Click to enlarge]

You can see him in person.

The 28-year-old Le Mars native will be in town Saturday, July 18. Rust. who is starring in the comic film with Hayden Panettierre, will be greeting people, signing autographs and watching a special showing of "I Love You, Beth Cooper" at the Royal T III movie theater in Le Mars that evening.

Saturday's events begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Postal Playhouse before the movie showing.

The Le Mars Community Theatre, of which Rust was once a part, is hosting a free reception for the actor and his family, and the public is invited.

"We want to acknowledge Paul and his achievements as someone from the community," said community theater member Danna Schuster. "He was in two or three plays with us. He nurtured his acting interests with us."

Anyone who wants to stop by and wish Rust well is welcome, she added.

"It's a way for his community to honor him," Schuster said.

From the Postal Playhouse, on the corner of First Street and First Avenue Northeast, Rust and his family will be escorted by fire truck to the Royal T III theater to sign autographs, greet fans and watch "I Love You, Beth Cooper" on his hometown big screen.

"For a while, we didn't think we were going to get the movie," said Mary Reynolds, Main Street director for Le Mars, who is helping organize the event.

Fox Atomic, the film's distributor, was planning on releasing the movie only in larger markets.

Le Mars wasn't on the list.

Then Rust stepped in to help.

"Paul used his muscle to get it to Le Mars," Reynolds said. "He talked to his agent and they worked it out."

Now the show begins running at the Royal T III on its national opening date, this Friday, July 10, according to theater manager Patrick Johnson.

On July 18, Rust will be present before both the 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. shows. Johnson ordered a couple hundred mini movie posters for Rust to sign.

Tickets are available for pre-sale now. People can contact the theater or the Le Mars Chamber of Commerce for more information.

"I advise buying your tickets now," Johnson said.

This is the first time in his memory that any actor has been at the Le Mars theater for a showing of his or her movie.

"We're excited to have him home and to show his movie," Johnson said, pointing out that Rust used to work at the Royal T III.

"We're trying for 'Inglorious Basterds' (a Brad Pitt film about World War II in which Rust has a roll) as well," Johnson added.

That film is set to be released August 21.

Rust's family is looking forward to having the Gehlen Catholic School graduate home.

Bob Rust, Paul's father and owner of Rust's Western Shed in Le Mars, said he's very happy for his son's success -- earning roles in two major feature films this summer.

"I can honestly say it doesn't surprise me," he added about seeing Paul on the big screen. "It was his dream, and he worked hard at it."

Since Paul was child, Bob and his wife Jeanne have seen their son's capabilities.

"I thought he would be on the comedy scene some day," Bob said. "We went to Worlds of Fun when Paul was 5 or 6, and right when we got in, it started lightning and pouring down rain."

The people near the entrance scrambled for cover from the rain, Bob remembered -- about 500 people.

"All of a sudden, Paul waltzed out in front of all the people and started dancing, doing this crazy dance in the rain," Bob remembered with a laugh. "I looked at his mother then and said, 'This kid's going someplace.'"

It was Paul's nature to be a performer and an entertainer, he said.

The VCR recorder the Rust family bought for a vacation to Florida was commandeered by Paul almost immediately after they returned to Le Mars.

"I never saw it again," Bob said. "Paul was always dragging it around the neighborhood, making videos with friends."

After filming for both "I Love You, Beth Cooper" and "Inglorious Basterds," Paul is working on some screen plays and a proposal for a Comedy Central show, Bob said.

But Paul's dad also remembers when Paul was having a tough time breaking into the movie scene.

"Three or four years ago things were tough...and I told him, 'I know you're going to make it,'" Bob said. "I just did have a lot of faith."