TORONTO - To hear Miguel Arteta tell it, Michael Cera could be the next Woody Allen.
Arteta directed the soft-spoken Canuck actor in "Youth in Revolt," which is screening at the Toronto International Film Festival.
In addition to his starring role, Cera helped rewrite the script, had a hand in casting and even provided music for the film, Arteta said.
"It was a beautiful collaboration, we really saw the movie the same way," said Arteta, whose directing credits include the movie "Chuck & Buck" and such TV shows as "Six Feet Under."
Cera has become something of a fixture at the Toronto festival in recent years.
Two years ago he shot to stardom as the bewildered teen father in "Juno," and last year he was here with "Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist."
In "Youth in Revolt," the Brampton, Ont.-raised actor plays Nick Twisp, a sex-crazed teen anxious to win the affection of a girl he meets while on a summer vacation. The movie is based on a raunchy cult novel by C.D. Payne.
Cera had high praise for Arteta.
"He makes everyone feel like part of the process," said the actor, dressed in his trademark thrift-shop style (cords and a vintage-looking T-shirt).
"When people feel like they're affecting the movie, and the result, then they give more of themselves."
Arteta says it was Cera who suggested casting Jean Smart ("Designing Women") to play his mother. Steve Buscemi, Fred Willard and Ray Liotta also appear in the movie.
The actor says his music landed in "Youth in Revolt" after he played Arteta some guitar pieces he'd been working on.
The star of the upcoming "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World," which was shot in Toronto, is typically modest when asked if he sees himself behind the camera one day.
"It's not something I have any plans for," said Cera.
"Only if I felt confident that I could do it. You know, being an actor, and then if I were to direct something, people would be so anxious to not like it, I think."
Portia Doubleday, who plays Cera's love interest in "Youth in Revolt," says her co-star would be great in a directing role and has "a very seasoned eye."
Arteta predicts that Cera will soon be assuming creative control of projects, adding the actor has "amazing instincts."
"I was very comfortable bringing him into the process. I do think he will make a great writer/director. Not some day, like very soon," he said.
"His intuition is so good and his writing abilities are so good. ... There's not going to be too many more directors getting their hands on Michael Cera. It's going to be like Woody Allen -- soon enough it will be him doing the whole thing."
