The Parks and Rec straight man emcees the Wild and Scenic Film Festival.

Adam Scott is everywhere these days. He’s starring alongside Johnny Depp in Scott Cooper’s upcoming Irish mob drama Black Mass, which wrapped shooting in Boston this summer. In June, he began shooting a Will Ferrell-produced rom-com, Sleeping with Other People, with Jason Sudeikis and Amanda Peet. And a few weeks ago, the final season of Parks and Recreation – season seven – started shooting. He also has a role in Hot Tub Time Machine 2, which hits theaters on Christmas Day.

On Saturday, the Santa Cruz native appears at the Golden State Theatre, where he’ll introduce Ventana Wilderness Alliance’s third annual Wild and Scenic Film Festival, a thoughtfully curated selection of films involving wild places, charismatic critters and inspirational stories.

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What childhood memories do you have of the outdoors?

My folks were very outdoorsy. We used to spend a lot of time camping. My mother had a cabin for a long time out at Los Padres at The Indians. I went to the Sierras a lot with my dad.

Has that continued?

It really hasn’t. I’ve been living in a city and don’t get out camping much. I almost feel like as a kid I got my fill. But now I have kids and I’ve been on a couple camping trips and feel like it’s great for them, so it’s something I want to do more of.

How much of Ben Wyatt’s civic mindedness could be found in Adam Scott?

I consider myself somewhat politically aware, but as far as acting locally – I think the saying is “think globally, act locally” – I probably don’t do enough. Los Angeles feels bigger than you, but in Santa Cruz I remember going on protest marches against the first Iraq War as a teenager.

Any spots you hit up every time you visit Santa Cruz?

I always try to hit up Bookshop Santa Cruz. I always go downtown to walk around. Most of the time we spend seeing family and going to the beach. I love Cowell’s Beach. That’s the one I used to go to a lot as a kid for skimboarding.

You seem to play the “normal,” level-headed guy surrounded by weirdos in Party Down, Parks and Rec and A.C.O.D. How did that happen?

Party Down was the first role I played that was like that, and it sort of shaped that [character]. I think it’s fun to be in the middle of a bunch of crazy people. In all of those shows, I’ve been lucky to be surrounded by people who are far more talented than me, so I can just sit back.

When shooting Parks and Rec, do you guys ever have trouble keeping your cool during the funny moments?

Everyone’s hilarious, so we waste a lot of time laughing and screwing up. We’re all kind of used to it now, but it’s still hard. When you’re in a scene with some of those people – they really are some of the funniest people on television – it’s hard to keep it together sometimes.

Did you know Rob Lowe was so funny?

I remember in Wayne’s World he was great. He’s done some funny stuff over the years. I was happy for everyone else to discover how funny he is.

I heard you’re a Deadhead.

In high school I went through my Grateful Dead phase, as a lot of kids in Santa Cruz did in the late ’80s, early ’90s. I went to a bunch of shows and got really into some of their records. I still think they’re great. I love Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty. For a band not known for studio albums, those are amazing.

What was your last concert?

Billy Joel. He did three or four nights in L.A. at the Hollywood Bowl and we went to two of them.

You have a favorite Billy Joel song?

Probably “Miami 2017.”

WILD AND SCENIC FILM FESTIVAL 7pm. Golden State Theatre, 417 Alvarado St., Monterey. $15/advance; $20/door. www.goldenstatetheatre.com.