'I'm a nobody, I only have two parts."

The disappointment of a tall, dark-haired, young actor bubbles forth while reading a script for a commercial. This is the third day of film camp at Oakland University in Rochester for youths with autism spectrum disorder.

According to the Autism Society of America "children and adults with autism typically show difficulties in verbal and non-verbal communication, social interactions, and leisure or play activities."

Encouraging words from a fellow actor, a boy with curly blond hair and glasses, quickly quash the boy's self-deprecating rant. "There are no small parts," he says gently.

At the two-week long film, camp producer, director and actor Joey Travolta teaches youths, ages 10 to 18,the ins and outs of filmmaking.

The end result will be a 15-minute spoof of the reality TV show, "The Apprentice," that will premiere during the red-carpet Center Stage film premiere, at the

university on Saturday night. Travolta? Yes. He is the brother of actor John. First Travolta, 55, created Joey Travolta Entertainment Experience based in Tarzana, Calif., a film camp for all kids. Then he took his experience as a former special education teacher and designed a film camp especially for those with special needs.

For three years now, Travolta has traveled, when invited, to university campuses with a small crew, bringing with him a little bit of Hollywood. "I have always been a mentor-type person, and I am doing two things I love the most, making film and working with kids," he says.

Mary Otto, Oakland's dean of the School of Education and Human Services, says the film camp is just one of the ways that the university reaches out to children with autism spectrum disorder and their families. The Jack's Place for Autism Foundation funds the camp and the other recreational programs offered to the kids and their families.

Debra Alvarez enrolled her son, Eddy, 10, into the film camp because he loves the camera and wants to be documentary filmmaker one day. Alvarez says the camp is not only fun, but it also teaches important life lessons, such as setting and reaching goals. Plus, it is great way for her son to just hang out, be a kid and not feel like he is the odd kid out.

"He is making new friends and connections," she says. "It is really important because he is at an age where he is starting to realize he is a little bit different."

Seeing the kids in the film camp interact reminds one that a child with autism is just a child. They were engaged, social, funny, a little rambunctious and sweet-natured.

Debi Hall, the film camp's acting teacher, says the program helps kids blossom.

"These kids constantly hear they are limited," she says. "We want them to gain the feeling that they can achieve anything they want to." Travolta agrees. "Art gives them a voice that they don't have," he says.

You can reach Ursula Watson at (313) 222-2613 or uwatson@det news.com.