Last modified: Tuesday, June 17, 2008 2:54 AM EDT Aaron Ryder (Submitted photo) NAHS recognizes accomplished alumni BY AMY DeMELIA SUN CHRONICLE STAFF For the past 12 years, North Attleboro native Aaron Ryder has been busy earning recognition for himself in Hollywood, working as a producer on films such as "The Mexican," "The Prestige" and "Memento." Ryder, 36, will add local recognition to his credits this month when he is presented with the North Attleboro High School Alumni Association's Young Alumni Award for demonstrating excellence in his field at such a young age. He is a 1989 graduate of North Attleboro High. Ryder, who is the second-ever recipient of the award, which will be presented Friday, said he is honored to stand in the company of last year's recipient, Amy Escoto, who was honored for her work with orphans in Honduras. "It's very flattering, especially to be in the company of the young lady who received the award last year," Ryder said. "Making movies seems glamorous, but she is an extraordinary person doing extraordinary things." While Ryder describes his career modestly, he has racked up an extraordinary list of accomplishments working in Hollywood as an executive producer, distributor and producer on a number of movies. Ryder spoke to The Sun Chronicle from the set of his latest film "My One and Only," a romantic comedy starring Renee Zellweger and Chris Noth, which is shooting in Baltimore. The movie, set in 1954, features Zellweger as Ann Deveraux, a divorcee on the prowl for a new husband. The plot is loosely based on the childhood memories of actor George Hamilton, Ryder said. "It is one of my favorite scripts," Ryder said. He said his career started out with a bit of luck. After graduating from Emerson College in 1994, he moved to Los Angeles without knowing a soul and scored a job at Working Title Films, which produced movies like "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Bridget Jones's Diary." "I worked my way up from a receptionist to an assistant," Ryder said. His experience led him to Newmarket Films, which distributes films, including Oscar nominees, "Monster" and "The Whale Rider." Ryder now has his own production company, Ray Gun Productions, which is associated with Newmarket Films but also works with other companies. Ryder got his first taste of working as an executive producer on another Oscar-nominated film, "Memento," which was directed by Chris Nolan, one of Ryder's best friends. "To be completely honest, I really love working with friends. I started out making a movie with Chris Nolan, who is one of my closest friends," he said. "I also made 'The Amateurs' with Jeff Bridges. Jeff and I are really close and I think we'll be lifelong friends. This business is filled with crazy people, but I try to work with them as little as possible." After working as a distributor for several years, Ryder became anxious to get back into the business of making movies, so he began working as a producer again. One of his most recent projects "Hamlet 2" will premiere in August. The movie, which stars Steve Coogan and David Arquette, follows a failed actor turned high school drama teacher who stages a musical sequel to Shakespeare's "Hamlet." It's no surprise that Ryder enjoys working among friends. His interest in the film industry was inspired through movies made with his classmates in video class at North Attleboro High School. "My friends and I just loved telling stories with a camera," he said. "We wrote, shot and acted short movies all the time. Without that course, I don't know if or when I would have discovered it."