Michael Glover Smith is lucky. And he’s the first to admit it.

The Chicago-based independent filmmaker and film educator has had a string of successes since graduating from Columbia College and Humboldt State University’s film departments.

His first film, The Minx (2006), was picked up for distribution by Echelon Entertainment. A sophomore effort, the short At Last! Okema! (2009), enjoyed a two-year run on the film festival circuit, playing everywhere from the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival to fests in Florida, Oklahoma and North Carolina.

Smith’s third film looks to follow similar paths.

The Catastrophe, which premieres at the Illinois International Film Festival this weekend, is an ambitious work loosely based on Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story Mr. Higginbotham’s Catastrophe. Smith found that he could relate to the story of a tobacco peddler who foils a murder plot (the nefarious undertaking, notwithstanding).

“I knew what this guy’s life was like,” says Smith, who read Hawthorne’s story while working in a tobacco shop himself. “I knew who the 21st century version of the character would be.”

Inspired, Smith crafted a feature-length film script in the summer of 2009. The work brought Hawthorne’s 1837 tale into the present and tipped its hat to Smith’s cinematic influence, ranging from David Fincher to Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami. This last point was of particular importance to Smith.

Like Jean-Luc Godard, Quentin Tarantino and other filmmakers, Smith recognizes the importance of paying tribute to one’s influences, both as respectful homage and as a potential means of educating viewers not hip to certain directors, genres, etc. His work as a film instructor at Oakton Community College, Harold Washington College, College of Lake County and Triton College cements his dedication to film education.

When time came to shoot The Catastrophe, however, Smith found himself faced with a situation familiar to many filmmakers. A limited budget required a script trimming and rearrangement, resulting in a tight short about a traveling tobacco salesman who faces an existential life crisis upon learning of a client’s suicide.

The adjustments did nothing to affect the production schedule, though.

“It was the easiest shoot that I’ve ever had,” reminisces Smith. “I pride myself on efficiency. I know exactly what the film is going to look like in advance.”

This clear work ethic allowed Smith, cast and crew to bang-out principal photography in only four days, shooting in various locales around Chicago, Des Plaines and Villa Park this past August. The amped pace worked its way into the final film, as well.

An energy floats throughout The Catastrophe, lending the film a subtle edge. The studied, dreamlike atmosphere and performances all balance on a knife’s edge with potential to turn chaotic or dangerous at any moment.

The good luck extended to the film’s featured music, as well.

While writing the script to The Catastrophe, Smith thought Bob Dylan’s ominous tune, Ain’t Talkin’, would be a perfect soundtrack fit. However, he knew that procuring performance rights to the song while on a limited budget would be impossible.

Enter Facebook.

Via the social networking site, Smith connected to the friend of a friend of Dylan’s manager who relayed a request to use Ain’t Talkin’ in the soundtrack. Miraculously, within an hour of making the request, permission was granted — and at a significantly discounted rate. The inclusion of the Dylan track gave the film an added pedigree, as well, allowing Smith to increase his fundraising efforts.

Smith is optimistic about his film’s future after its premiere this weekend. Submissions to Sundance, South by Southwest, the Chicago International Movies and Music Festival and the Berlin International Film Festival have been set in motion. Positive marks at these fests will lead to submissions to even higher profile showcases.

Most importantly, Smith hopes that building interest will allow him to expand The Catastrophe to its originally intended, feature-length running time.

“I want to leave people wanting more,” says Smith.

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By Suzi from North Center
Posted: 11/17/2011 10:42 AM

Great article Phil, and continued good luck with the movie, Michael.