“When you’re a young, struggling actor trying to make it in Hollywood, you need all the help you can get,” said Mary Beth Rim.

“There was a group of us that had majored in theater at West Chester (University) who had all gone to L.A. around the same time, and we became a great support for each other.”

Rim, now of Media, is an award-winning filmmaker who remains active in the arts, while raising a family and running a business.

Shortly after arriving in Los Angeles, Rim shared an apartment with then-aspiring-actress Jessica Barth, a Philadelphian and fellow WCU alum, who is now known for her leading role of Tami-Lynn McCafferty in the Ted movie franchise.

“It was all about trying to pay the bills and the crazy ups and downs of auditioning,” said Rim. “When Jessica landed a role in an episode of CSI, we made popcorn and watched it in our apartment.”

Also in this very close group of friends was Micah Hauptman, another Philadelphian and fellow WCU graduate.

“There was comfort being together out there in a big world trying to figure it out,” said Rim.

While their lives have taken them in somewhat different directions in the years since, the trio will reunite on the stage of the historic Media Theatre on Saturday for a live read of a screenplay at the 10th Annual Media Film Festival. They will perform a staged reading of Nora Ephron’s 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally.

The live read starts at 3:30 PM, and is free for all festival-goers and the general public.

The Media Film Festival is produced by the Media Arts Council. This annual presentation of juried short films from across the region and around the world takes place this weekend, April 7-8. Click here for more information.