In Jon's case, they needed a kid and he was it. In three years, he's done seven films with various student directors, and he's enjoyed it. His stage mother also happens to be an excellent drama coach. Notre Dame student films are unique. It's easy to pick a favorite film and talk about it years later.
Some movies are so good they virtually predict the awesome futures of the filmmakers.
There are some similarities between student films and major motion pictures. The Notre Dame students are no slouches where food is concerned. Jon's directors have taken him out for pizza and even provided punch and cookies to an entire class featured as extras in a modern-day telling of the Orpheus story. Any self-respecting stage mother would approve. Everyone should eat, especially because making a movie means you have to go to hell and back, like Orpheus.