Russell Smith
Russell Smith began his career producing plays for Steppenwolf Theatre Company. In a five-year period, he produced fifty plays, notable among them: True West and Balm in Gilead. During that time, Steppenwolf became known as one of America's finest theatres. The notable alumni of Steppenwolf include Academy Award® nominees John Malkovich, Gary Sinise and Joan Allen.
For three summers, Smith worked as an arts consultant producing the First National Bank of Chicago's famed summer concert series. He produced the hit play, Orphans Off-Broadway. In 1987, Sinise and Smith made their first film together, Miles From Home. In 1988, he produced the film Queen's Logic.
In 1989, Smith became the head of production for New Visions Pictures and oversaw the production of five films, among them: The Long Walk Home and Mortal Thoughts. His other film credits include the award winning short film The Witness and the acclaimed Of Mice and Men. In 1994, Smith formed the company, Smith/Malkovich, with longtime friend Malkovich. In 1997, he produced the blockbuster United Artists film The Man in the Iron Mask, starring Malkovich, Leonardo Di Caprio, Gerard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne and Jeremy Irons.
In April of 1998, Smith joined partners Malkovich and Lianne Halfon in forming the company Mr. Mudd. In 2001, Mr. Mudd produced Ghost World, a live action feature based on Dan Clowes' comic, directed by Terry Zwigoff (Crumb) and starring Thora Birch and Steve Buscemi. Ghost World was released to critical acclaim and earned an Academy Award® nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay. The Dancer Upstairs directed by Malkovich and starring Academy Award® nominee Javier Bardem was released in May 2003 by Fox Searchlight.
Along with his partners, Smith served as Executive Producer on the documentary How to Draw a Bunny, a portrait of artist Ray Johnson. How to Draw a Bunny won the Jury Prize at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival and the Prix de Public at the famed Recontre Film Festival in Paris. The film was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for best documentary in 2003.
Set in 17th Century London, The Libertine, starring Malkovich, Johnny Depp, and Samantha Morton was produced in 2004, and tells the true story of the Earl of Rochester (Depp), famed poet, sexual provocateur and wit. The film garnered seven British Independent Film Award nominations and one win. In the same year, Smith and partners wrapped production on the eagerly anticipated Art School Confidential, reuniting the Ghost World team of Zwigoff and Clowes. The film stars ingénues Max Minghella and Sophia Myles along with veteran actors Malkovich, Angelica Huston, and Jim Broadbent. Both The Libertine and Art School Confidential were released domestically in the spring of 2004.
In 2008, Fox Searchlight released the Mandate/Mr. Mudd produced picture Juno. Directed by Jason Reitman and written by Diablo Cody, Smith, Halfon and Malkovich produced along with Mason Novick. Juno became the third biggest indie release of all-time. It received Oscar nomination for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress, and Best Screenplay.
In late 2008, Mr. Mudd, along with Mexican outfit, Canana, finished a 15-week sold-out run of Zach Helm's play, The Good Canary. Directed by Malkovich and starring Diego Luna, The Good Canary toured through several major Mexican cities including: Mexico City, Guadalajara, Aguascalientes, Monterrey, Leon. Its critical acclaim and financial success set a new precedent in Mexican theater.
Most recently, Smith executive produced Which Way Home, a documentary by Sundance award winner Rebecca Cammisa. Which Way Home tells the story of children crossing the border from Mexico into the United States and was developed with HBO. Shot in Honduras, Mexico, Guatemala and the American southwest, Which Way Home premiered on HBO in August of 2009.