MARIO BIRD Poet. Prophet. Actor. Director. Janitor. Only one of these titles currently describes the sputteringly eclectic Bird. A 2004 alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, where he received his degree in Film, Television, and Theatre, Bird spent his collegiate career running on the 2001 Big East Cross Country Team, singing for the Notre Dame Glee Club, directing and arranging music for an a cappella group, and playing roles such as Benedick, Richard III, and Kent in the Not-So-Royal Shakespeare Company. After writing, directing, and acting in many short films, Echo Lake marks Bird’s feature debut in all three categories.