While some students slave away bussing tables or calling alumni for donations to make their own spending money, freshman Chantell Moody has spent the past few months hanging out with Adrien Brody and Abigail Breslin, and posing as a go-go dancer for her cash.

Moody, a performance arts major, has taken advantage of the record amount of films being made in Iowa with small roles, appearances as an extra and even a makeup artist internship. Thanks to that experience and the connections she has made, Moody is a few steps closer than she ever thought she’d be at 19 years.

“It was something I never thought I’d have the ability to do in Iowa,” she said. “I feel like in such a short amount of time, I got so much experience. It’s crazy.”

Moody, originally from Des Moines, said the work was convenient.

“The casting calls were so close — why wouldn’t I go and see what could happen?”

She continued her involvement into the school year and had to decide between attending class and studying or going down to Des Moines for a shoot.

Moody said she thinks the recent developments in the scandals of the Iowa tax credits for the film productions are “really unfortunate” but said she hopes it doesn’t penalize everyone.

“It’s something I definitely think we should keep around,” she said. “There’s a lot of talent here, and I feel like a lot of talent usually leaves Iowa for bigger cities.”

Leland Poague, professor in English who teaches a course in film, said the reason “Hollywood” settled in Hollywood was the climate and typography that had more effective shooting locations than the east coast studios could manage.

“I’d say the level of filmmaking activity here is a new development, though films have been shot in Iowa on numerous occasions in the past,” Poague said. “I doubt there has often been the kind of regular work that would keep actors and techs employed here.”

Despite the halt of some productions, she said she has been asked to do a couple movies within the past week.

Moody’s mother is part of the modeling agency Peak and has helped her daughter stay in contact with the company.

However, Moody said her mother has not acted in a while because she thought Iowa had little to offer beyond ads for the lottery or casinos.

“My mom didn’t really want to be the face of a casino,” Moody said.

Moody has danced all her life, has modeled and dreams of performing on Broadway one day. So far, she has been involved on the sets of “The Experiment,” “Janie Jones,” “Husk” and “The Underground.”

While the future of the Iowa film industry is uncertain, so are Moody’s plans.

“I hope to work on some more movies,” she said. “It’s been great for networking.”

But, as Poague pointed out, “John Wayne was Iowa-born, but it was playing football for USC that got him his break.” She cautioned anyone expecting a movie career based in Iowa that “you can’t succeed in Hollywood if you don’t go to Hollywood.”