In the middle of Ya’ke Smith’s success over his short film Katrina’s Son, including a possible Oscar nomination, he’s preparing for his first feature-length creation.

A filmmaker since age 15, Smith, art and art history assistant professor, is the founder and creative mind behind Exodus Filmworks. His next project, Wolf, deals with sexual abuse by a pastor and how it affects a young man and his family.

In order to find funding to get the film “in the can,” Smith made a page for his movie on IndieGoGo, a site that allows filmmakers to explain their films and solicit donations. His page is listed at indiegogo.com/wolf.

Smith admitted he’s unsure of how successful his online campaign will be, but he said that he believes social media is the next step to movie distribution. He’s using Facebook and Twitter to encourage word of mouth and cited YouTube as an example of cheap and effective movie advertisement.

Smith said he is hoping to get a grant from the Oaxaca International Independent Film and Video Festival. The festival awards the grants based on proposals from directors. Smith said the funding from a grant would go a long way toward bringing his idea to life.

Wolf in God’s clothing

Smith said he was inspired to write Wolf after seeing the movie Deliver Us From Evil.

“I was lying in bed, it came on and I watched it,” he said. “I thought, ‘Wow, I want to make a film about this.’”

Smith wrote the play while taking a playwriting class during the summer. A week after he finished writing, Atlanta Bishop Eddie Long made the news when he was accused of sexual coercion. Smith said it was after that scandal that he decided to make the characters in his story Protestant rather than Catholic.

Smith said he did research for the film by going to online chat rooms and message boards frequented by men who were abused as children. Some grew up to be abusers themselves. Smith said their stories spurred him to explore the lifelong harm done to victims.

“It saddens me,” he said. “I think a lot of abusers abuse because they’ve never dealt with it. That’s sort of the point of view of my film.”

The film is currently in preproduction, and Smith is preparing to begin the casting process. Smith said he usually likes to choose actors from other projects he’s seen, but he needs someone new for Wolf’s main role. He’s not relishing the idea of having to do a casting call.

“I hate casting,” he said. “I’ll be very honest.”

Smith and his crew are finishing the list of locations to shoot, all of which are planned to be in San Antonio. He said shooting will be in late July and early August this year.

Student Teacher

Smith creates his films mostly during his time off from school. His experience as a writer and director influences his teaching, but he said that the students who work with him on his projects get the most invaluable lessons.

He explains that students in his classes learn what they’re “supposed” to do. Students who work on set with him get the benefit of seeing how he responds to unexpected circumstances.

Art senior Daniel Moreno has worked with Smith on three projects, including Katrina’s Son and the trailer that’s being shopped around for Wolf. As a student in two of Smith’s classes, he credited Smith’s youth and enthusiasm to his connection with his students.

“I think since he’s younger, he connects to us,” Moreno said. “He said he learns from us. He’s willing to help anybody out as long as you are passionate about what you are doing.”

Prestige in the personal

Smith recalls when Katrina’s Son was rejected again and again as he presented it to film festivals. A year later, the short film had numerous festival screenings and awards to its name. A year from now, Smith might just have an Academy Award under his belt, too.

“That’s very exciting,” he said. “As a filmmaker, that’s a dream. To feel like my film is on caliber with the best of the best is great.”

Bart Weiss, art and art history associate professor, said that Smith’s presence at UTA is a boon for the school.

“Ya’Ke is extremely important to the film department here,” Weiss said. “He brings an energy to our program.”

As far as Smith’s creative process, Weiss said he recognizes a more personal element to Smith’s stories.

“He has been able to tap into the angst of the things that have happened in his life,” Weiss said.

Moreno agreed about Smith’s energy and creativity and added that he expects even greater things.

“He’s a really inspirational person,” Moreno said. “He’s proof that Texas filmmaking will be somewhere someday.”