The documentary features interviews with artists associated with the studio as well as producers, engineers, and label executives, including:[1][2] Members of the bands Killdozer, Die Kreuzen, Bongzilla, Tar Babies, Young Fresh Fellows, and Appliances SFB also appear in the film.

After it was reported in January 2010 that Smart Studios would be closing later that year,[3][4] Schneider announced that production for the documentary was underway.

[2] Dennis Harvey of Variety considered the film a "whirlwind tour of a busy if largely subterranean epoch whose long, often fleetingly glimpsed talent roster should pique the curiosity (and/or nostalgia) of alt-rock archaeologists.

"[1] Writing for Consequence of Sound, Michael Roffman deemed its length "all-too-lean" as it does not allow for comprehensively "trac[ing] the roots of [the Alternative] movement back to not only Smart Studios but the Midwest in general", but praised Schneider's "fine job" of bringing the stories to life with archive footage and found the film to be "an enjoyable and enlightening watch" and "a breezy music lesson".

[19] Nick Allen of RogerEbert.com called The Smart Studios Story "a really solid documentary that should satisfy music fans and Killdozer enthusiasts alike.