That’s a Wrap on Chicago Feature Film ‘Hekla’

Production on Michael Glover Smith’s fifth feature film, HEKLA, wrapped last week after a two-week shoot that took place entirely on location in Chicago. The film, described by Smith (RELATIVE, MERCURY IN RETROGRADE) as his “most overtly comedic to date,” stars Elizabeth Stam (RELATIVE, DEPARTING SENIORS) in the titular role, and represents the first collaboration between Smith and Sweet Void Cinema, the local production company and exhibition space founded by Jack McCoy. Speaking to SCREEN, Smith said that his collaboration with Stam was the “deepest” he’s had with any performer to date, and called her turn “the kind of intense Gena Rowlands-style performance that every director dreams of getting from their actors.” 

Smith is keeping plot details under wraps but called the film a “love letter to Chicago’s acting community.” He was more forthcoming in describing the innovative style, which mixes four distinct visual aesthetics, switching from black and white to color and from the 16:9 to the 4:3 aspect ratio: “Because the main character has a larger-than-life comedic persona, I decided the film’s style should take its cues directly from Hekla. I worked closely with my D.P. Jose Perez (WHAT RHYMES WITH MAGDALENA?), and my production designer, Heather Kuhlmann (RESIGNATION) to achieve the film’s different looks. We made sure the style was constantly changing in a manner that’s wild and unpredictable but also always purposeful.”

Supporting Stam in the film are Wendy Robie (TWIN PEAKS), Mary Tilden (ROUGH RIVER LAKE), Sadieh Rifai (SHINING GIRLS), Grant Carriker (Invictus Theatre’s production of ANGELS IN AMERICA), Susaan Jamshidi (Chicago PD), Sadie Rogers (PRINCESS CYD) and Brookelyn Hebert (EMPIRE).

Smith shared some exclusive behind-the-scenes photos with SCREEN, courtesy of photographer Kyle Bice:

As noted in a previous article, the film is a spinoff of Smith’s award-winning RELATIVE from 2022. Returning from that film in a brief role is Cameron Scott Roberts (THE WALKING DEAD) as Benji Frank. Internationally acclaimed photographer and filmmaker Sandro Miller (PSYCHOGENIC FUGUE) also has a cameo as himself.

Post-production is scheduled through fall with Eric Marsh (ORDERS) set to edit, UK musician Trev Gibb (AKA King of the Sea) composing the original score, and Sweet Void Cinema’s post-production team handling the sound mix and color correction.

Expect a HEKLA World Premiere at a festival in the first half of 2026. In the meantime, you can familiarize yourself with the Hekla character by watching Smith’s RELATIVE via a number of streaming services courtesy of distributor Music Box Films: https://www.musicboxfilms.com/film/relative/

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