''The Catastrophe'' is a 2011 short film directed by Chicago-based independent filmmaker and film studies instructor Michael Glover Smith, loosely based on the short story

Mr. Higginbotham's Catastrophe ''Mister'', usually written in its contracted form ''Mr.'' or ''Mr'', is a commonly used English honorific for men without a higher honorific, or professional title, or any of various designations of office. The title 'Mr' derived from earlier ...

by Nathaniel Hawthorne. The film had its world premiere at the

Illinois International Film Festival Illinois ( ) is a state in the Midwestern United States. Its largest metropolitan areas include the Chicago metropolitan area, and the Metro East section, of Greater St. Louis. Other smaller metropolitan areas include, Peoria and Rockford ...

on Saturday, November 19, 2011, where it won the award for Best Dramatic Short.Illinois International Film Festival 2011 Award Winners

Plot

''The Catastrophe'' is a surreal drama/mystery short film that uses dreamlike imagery, a Bob Dylan song and a poem by Forough Farrokhzad to paint a portrait of Dominicus Pike, the quintessential modern man. The movie follows Dominicus as he traverses the American midwest, plying his trade as a cigar salesman, and his dawning realization that he may have sold his soul to a multinational corporation. The main story of ''The Catastrophe'' is interwoven with narrative threads involving the collapse of Dominicus’ relationship with his girlfriend, Carlie, and his discovery of what may be a murder plot involving one of his clients, Mohammad “Double Apple” Akbari. Only life on the road alone makes it hard for Dominicus to distinguish where reality ends and dreams begin.

History

''The Catastrophe'' was shot on high definition digital video in 4 days in the late summer of 2011. Shooting locations included Chicago, Villa Park and Des Plaines, Illinois. Aside from lead actor Peyton Myrick, a North Carolina-based theatrical actor, most of the rest of the cast are well known in the worlds of Chicago music, theater, television and independent film; the cast includes noted thespians

Mia Park Mia Park is an American TV show host, actress, drummer, and yoga instructor based in Chicago. She is the long-time host of the children's dance show ''Chic-a-Go-Go'', and co-founder of Chicago's A-Squared Theatre Workshop. Early life and educa ...

(host of television's

Chic-a-Go-Go ''Chic-a-Go-Go'' is a public-access television cable television children's dance show that airs on Chicago Access Network Television (CAN-TV). The show bills itself as "Chicago's Dance Show for Kids of All Ages". Show description The show invi ...

), Marla Seidell, Suzy Brack, and Duane Sharp (star of

Zen Noir ''Zen Noir'' is a 2004 surrealist Buddhist murder mystery directed by independent filmmaker Marc Rosenbush and starring Kim Chan, Duane Sharp, Ezra Buzzington, Debra Miller, Jennifer Siebel and Howard Fong. Plot The story begins with a morose a ...

). ''The Catastrophe'' is dedicated to imprisoned Iranian filmmakers Mohammad Rasoulof and

Jafar Panahi Jafar Panâhi ( fa, جعفر پناهی, ; born 11 July 1960) is an Iranian film director, screenwriter, and film editor, commonly associated with the Iranian New Wave film movement. After several years of making short films and working as an ass ...

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Catastrophe 2011 films American independent films 2011 independent films 2011 short films 2011 drama films 2010s English-language films 2010s American films