Boston University students crowded the aisles of the Photonics Center auditorium Thursday night for a chance to watch The Big Lebowski and hear from the real-life “Dude,” the independent film consultant known professionally as Jeff Dowd.

The film is part of the College of Communication’s Cinematheque series, which screens influential movies for the BU community.

Dowd was introduced by Gerald Perry, film critic for The Boston Phoenix. In describing his friend, Perry denied the common conception that Dowd is a schizophrenic.

“He has about 19 identities,” Perry said. “Schizophrenic is only a couple.”

Entering the auditorium, Dowd made his way around the students waiting in the aisles, pumping his fist while dressed in a faded western shirt and khakis, typical of the casual wear of the character Jeff Bridges portrayed in the Coen Brothers’ movie.

Introducing the movie, Dowd described the time when it took place as “the period after [the ’60s] when we were hanging pretty heavy. … You might call us slackers.”

The movie then ran to the laughter of an audience, which was so large that many people sat cross-legged in the aisles or stood in the back.

Dowd came back into the auditorium wearing the trademark “Dude” sunglasses and drinking a White Russian.

The Dude opened up the room to discussion, answering questions that ranged from the serious meaning of The Big Lebowski to Dowd’s personal best bowling score, which was a perfect 300, three different times.

“I’m a better drinker than a bowler,” he said.

Dowd praised the work of the Coen Brothers, saying the greatness of the movie lies in the writing.

“The actors come along and do what they write out,” he said.

Dowd said he is also working on a book, expected to be out this spring, titled The Dude Abides, after the last line by his character in the movie.

Dowd said he was also an active member of the anti-Vietnam War movement during his time in college, even being indicted and tried for conspiracy to destroy federal property. He said his trial was declared a mistrial, and Dowd and his friends were later arrested for protesting the mistrial – which earned him jail time.

“All our ‘conspiratorial acts’ were speeches about the war that were covered by the media,” he said.

Dowd said he spent more time in the political arena while working on a film about John Kerry’s involvement in the Vietnam protests.

The movie – validating Kerry’s time on swift boats in Vietnam and his post-war activities, like his anti-war speech in Detroit – was screen-tested by Dowd in front of 350 undecided voters in Ohio shortly after its completion Sept. 8, 2004. According to Dowd, after the movie 79 percent of the viewers said they had changed their mind about Kerry’s ability to lead and had decided to vote for him.

The film was then tied into the tour and campaign for Kerry by various musical artists, including Bruce Springsteen and R.E.M. The DVD of the movie was prepared to be distributed door to door and via the internet throughout undecided states, Dowd said.

But according to Dowd, the “idiots of the [Democratic National Convention]” and Kerry campaign manager Mary Beth Cahill “didn’t want to bring up Vietnam.”

“This film would have changed people’s minds,” he said.

Dowd also reflected on the impact The Big Lebowski has had on those he has met at Lebowski conventions around the country.

He recalled a firefighter who had served on Sept. 11, 2001, who was suffering from post-stress syndrome after the attacks. The firefighter told Dowd that about seven months after the attacks, still depressed, he watched a copy he had of the film, saying it was the first time he had laughed in months. He then began to snap out of his depression.

“This movie has grown on me the same way it’s grown on all of you in this room,” Dowd said. “The film brings people together.

“If there’s something deep in The Big Lebowski,” he continued. “It’s that even when you pick up the papers [with negative headlines], you can still get together with a bunch of friends and have some yuks together.”