Lake Day
Bloomington, Indiana | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
Lake Day explores the impact of toxic masculinity, pornography, and social hierarchies on our modern world and its influence on young people. The message of the film promotes a call to action for men to recognize toxic cycles, rise above them, and live by example to change the culture.
Lake Day
Bloomington, Indiana | Film Short
Drama, Thriller
3 Campaigns | Indiana, United States
Green Light
This campaign raised $10,246 for production. Follow the filmmaker to receive future updates on this project.
79 supporters | followers
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Lake Day explores the impact of toxic masculinity, pornography, and social hierarchies on our modern world and its influence on young people. The message of the film promotes a call to action for men to recognize toxic cycles, rise above them, and live by example to change the culture.
About The Project
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Synopsis
Lake Day is a coming-of-age short film that takes place on the first day of summer vacation in a small midwestern town.
17-year-old Liam has brought his miniDV camcorder to document their day at the lake, while his childhood friend Trent has brought his girlfriend, Erin, and her friend, Sarah. Sparks between Liam and Sarah begin to fly and Liam seeks advice from Trent, whose misogynistic view of women influences Liam to make a chain of catastrophic decisions, forcing them both to confront their distorted perceptions of masculinity.
above: pages from our lookbook
Our Influences
In conceptualizing Lake Day, we were heavily influenced by the films of Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, American Honey); Lynn Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin, Morvern Callar); and Kelly Reinhardt (Meek's Cutoff, Wendy & Lucy). Some films that exude the same thematic elements as Lake Day include Kids (1995), The Virgin Suicides (1999), Sun Don't Shine (2012), and Beau Travail (1999), to name a few.
Aside from other films, many elements of the film were influenced by our own upbringings in Indiana; small-town teen angst, punk-rock music, lack of cultural diversity, and enforced gender roles are all factors that evoked a very strong sense of realism and relatability, and connected us on a deeper level to a story whose themes are universal and systemic.
How It Started
Filmmakers Matthew Herbertz and Nicole Lehrman met while making movies in Indiana and have been in contact ever since, always looking forward to their next collaborative effort. Well, one casual conversation mid-pandemic about potential film concepts led to Matt to divulging his idea for a coming-of-age film that pitted two teen boys against each other on the backdrop of a summer day trip to the beach. The imagery and themes immediately resonated with Nicole and both excitedly posited that this story could really be developed into something potent, powerful, and extremely relevant in a world rife with sexual misconduct allegations and within a culture pushing toward dismantling patriarchal systems.
They set to work, only to have the project stall due to lack of funding (and a little thing called life). However, Lake Day remained fresh in their minds and spirits as they spent the next few years moving around and building their respective careers. They spoke of it often and hoped one day that the planets (re: schedules) would align and they could truly throw themselves into the filmmaking pursuit. That day finally came, and the pair wasted no time finding a producer who felt aligned with the project. After finding an immediate fit with Indiana native Victoria Britton, the three set out to make Lake Day a reality.
above: dissecting the ways men and women are depicted in media
How It's Going
This trio of hopeful, ambitious filmmakers hit the ground running hard in June and we haven't looked back. We've expanded the team, adding visionary Cinematographer Alice Boucherie and lighting wizard Ryan Sloan. We crafted a detailed budget and started brainstorming how we'd execute each scene. Nearly half of the money raised will go toward paying our crew and about a fourth will be used to compensate actors. The remaining fourth will help with travel, art direction, costuming, permits, and administrative costs.
We've also been blessed with the pleasure of reviewing dozens of submissions from super-talented actors interested in our little dream of a film. It's our goal to have the cast and remaining crew locked in place by the end of July. The beautiful Morgan-Monroe State Forest will serve as the backdrop for this tender story. Principal photography will kick off in late August.
Matthew Herbertz is an award-winning filmmaker from Indianapolis, IN. He received his undergraduate degree in TV/Film from DeSales University and went on to receive his MFA in Film and Video Production at Ohio University. He has written and directed narrative, documentary, and experimental short films that have screened at festivals nationally and internationally.
He has worked as a cinematographer, assistant director, producer, and gaffer on a number of short and feature films with national and international success and distribution. Matthew's most recent work as a writer/director, My Florida Home (2019), screened at over 20 festivals around the world. His latest short as a key creative; executive producer and cinematographer, ¡Come!, screened at over 30 international festivals and was recently sold and distributed to HBO through the French distribution company, Premium Films.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nicole Lehrman is a textbook creative type with a passionate interest in the technical. She's very sociable, while also fiercely independent. Basically, Nicole is a walking paradox, and she believes it keeps her balanced and well-rounded (did I mention, she's a Libra?). Nicole started off making magic trick videos with her dad at a very early age, scripting and shooting her first horror/mystery film at age 8. Enamored with visuals, she attended Ball State University, where she studied the art of cinematography.
Soon after graduating, Nicole began to focus on directing, photography, and conceptualizing ideas. Her films have been screened at film festivals all over the country including the Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards, Indy Film Fest, and the Atlanta Horror Film Festival. In 2022, she created an experimental portrait studio, which continues to be a practice in directing subjects in front of a lens, as well as a way to give back to her community. She currently has three short films in post-production and is in the early drafting stages of a feature-length script.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria Britton is an award-winning film Producer and Director committed to telling personal stories that unpack themes of grief, spirituality, and womanhood. In 2021, she co-produced the feature-length romantic comedy "It Happened One Weekend" (Dir. Zac Cooper) which was the winner of both the Best of Hoosier Lens Award and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at the 2022 Indy Film Fest.
Her work has screened at Tribeca, Hollyshorts, Indy Shorts, and more — and has been released via The Atlantic and the Investigation Discovery network. She is a volunteer screener for Indy Shorts and leads Filmmaker Hospitality efforts at Hobnobben Film Festival. Victoria works as a freelance Camera Operator for Midwest sports teams and advertising agencies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Butler University.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alice Boucherie, is a Cinematographer based in NYC. Born and raised in the French countryside, she was exposed to the arts from a young age, including dance, music and theatre. Graduating from Parisian film university "ESRA" in 2016, she majored in Cinematography, and shortly after began her career in New York City.
She has worked on a multitude of projects around the world, to shoot documentaries, commercials, music videos, narrative short and feature films. She has filmed projects for Vogue, Hulu, Neon & Universal to name a few.
Alice is fascinated by shapes, light and movement. Loves to connect with images on an emotional level and her goal is always to create a cinematography that serves the project story.
Alice is a recipient of the ASC Vision Mentorship 2022/2023.
Thank you for reading this far. We hope you'll join us in supporting independent films in the Midwest and telling stories that matter. If you aren't able to contribute, we totally understand and love you just the same. Even simply following us on Seed & Spark or sharing this campaign would mean the world.
Stay up to date with our production and progress on Instagram @lakedayfilm
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel & Lodging
Costs $900
Getting from point A to point B. Here, you're footing the bill for gas, vehicle rentals, and living expenses.
Crew
Costs $4,800
Lights, Camera... Action! We are big advocates for paying our collaborators living wages. Lend your dollars to make that dream a reality.
Sets, Props & Costumes
Costs $600
World-building through set design, props, and costumes works to solidify the aesthetic, tone, and atmosphere.
Cast
Costs $2,400
Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances. We need great talent to make our storytelling come to life.
Production Costs
Costs $800
Filmmaking is all about getting the details right. This includes production insurance, office expenses, and data management costs.
Post-Production
Costs $500
Post-production is where the picture, sound, and effects all come together. Help us cross the finish line.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Matthew Herbertz is an award-winning filmmaker from Indianapolis, IN. He received his undergraduate degree in TV/Film from DeSales University and went on to receive his MFA in Film and Video Production at Ohio University. He has written and directed narrative, documentary, and experimental short films that have screened at festivals nationally and internationally.
He has worked as a cinematographer, assistant director, producer, and gaffer on a number of short and feature films with national and international success and distribution. Matthew's most recent work as a writer/director, My Florida Home (2019), screened at over 20 festivals around the world. His latest short as a key creative; executive producer and cinematographer, ¡Come!, screened at over 30 international festivals and was recently sold and distributed to HBO through the French distribution company, Premium Films.
Nicole Lehrman is a textbook creative type with a passionate interest in the technical. She's very sociable, while also fiercely independent. Basically, Nicole is a walking paradox, and she believes it keeps her balanced and well-rounded (did I mention, she's a Libra?). Nicole started off making magic trick videos with her dad at a very early age, scripting and shooting her first horror/mystery film at age 8. Enamored with visuals, she attended Ball State University, where she studied the art of cinematography. After college, her grandfather-- a lifelong photographer-- let her borrow one of his 35mm cameras, and she's been shooting on it ever since.
Soon, Nicole began to focus on directing, photography, and conceptualizing ideas. In 2022, she created an experimental portrait studio, which continues to be a practice in directing subjects in front of a lens, as well as a way to give back to her community. She currently has three short films in post-production and is in the early drafting stages of a feature-length script.
Victoria Britton is an award-winning film Producer and Director committed to telling personal stories that unpack themes of grief, spirituality, and womanhood. In 2021, she co-produced the feature-length romantic comedy "It Happened One Weekend" (Dir. Zac Cooper) which was the winner of both the Best of Hoosier Lens Award and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at the 2022 Indy Film Fest.
Her work has screened at Tribeca, Hollyshorts, Indy Shorts, and more — and has been released via The Atlantic and the Investigation Discovery network. She is a volunteer screener for Indy Shorts and leads Filmmaker Hospitality efforts at Hobnobben Film Festival. Victoria works as a freelance Camera Operator for Midwest sports teams and advertising agencies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Butler University.
Alice Boucherie, is a Cinematographer based in NYC. Born and raised in the French countryside, she was exposed to the arts from a young age, including dance, music and theatre. Graduating from Parisian film university "ESRA" in 2016, she majored in Cinematography, and shortly after began her career in New York City.
She has worked on a multitude of projects around the world, to shoot documentaries, commercials, music videos, narrative short and feature films. She has filmed projects for Vogue, Hulu, Neon & Universal to name a few.
Alice is fascinated by shapes, light and movement. Loves to connect with images on an emotional level and her goal is always to create a cinematography that serves the project story.
Alice is a recipient of the ASC Vision Mentorship 2022/2023
Current Team
Incentives
- The Story
- Wishlist
- Updates
- The Team
- Community
Mission Statement
The Story
A Synopsis
Lake Day is a coming-of-age short film that takes place on the first day of summer vacation in a small midwestern town.
17-year-old Liam has brought his miniDV camcorder to document their day at the lake, while his childhood friend Trent has brought his girlfriend, Erin, and her friend, Sarah. Sparks between Liam and Sarah begin to fly and Liam seeks advice from Trent, whose misogynistic view of women influences Liam to make a chain of catastrophic decisions, forcing them both to confront their distorted perceptions of masculinity.
above: pages from our lookbook
Our Influences
In conceptualizing Lake Day, we were heavily influenced by the films of Andrea Arnold (Fish Tank, American Honey); Lynn Ramsay (We Need to Talk About Kevin, Morvern Callar); and Kelly Reinhardt (Meek's Cutoff, Wendy & Lucy). Some films that exude the same thematic elements as Lake Day include Kids (1995), The Virgin Suicides (1999), Sun Don't Shine (2012), and Beau Travail (1999), to name a few.
Aside from other films, many elements of the film were influenced by our own upbringings in Indiana; small-town teen angst, punk-rock music, lack of cultural diversity, and enforced gender roles are all factors that evoked a very strong sense of realism and relatability, and connected us on a deeper level to a story whose themes are universal and systemic.
How It Started
Filmmakers Matthew Herbertz and Nicole Lehrman met while making movies in Indiana and have been in contact ever since, always looking forward to their next collaborative effort. Well, one casual conversation mid-pandemic about potential film concepts led to Matt to divulging his idea for a coming-of-age film that pitted two teen boys against each other on the backdrop of a summer day trip to the beach. The imagery and themes immediately resonated with Nicole and both excitedly posited that this story could really be developed into something potent, powerful, and extremely relevant in a world rife with sexual misconduct allegations and within a culture pushing toward dismantling patriarchal systems.
They set to work, only to have the project stall due to lack of funding (and a little thing called life). However, Lake Day remained fresh in their minds and spirits as they spent the next few years moving around and building their respective careers. They spoke of it often and hoped one day that the planets (re: schedules) would align and they could truly throw themselves into the filmmaking pursuit. That day finally came, and the pair wasted no time finding a producer who felt aligned with the project. After finding an immediate fit with Indiana native Victoria Britton, the three set out to make Lake Day a reality.
above: dissecting the ways men and women are depicted in media
How It's Going
This trio of hopeful, ambitious filmmakers hit the ground running hard in June and we haven't looked back. We've expanded the team, adding visionary Cinematographer Alice Boucherie and lighting wizard Ryan Sloan. We crafted a detailed budget and started brainstorming how we'd execute each scene. Nearly half of the money raised will go toward paying our crew and about a fourth will be used to compensate actors. The remaining fourth will help with travel, art direction, costuming, permits, and administrative costs.
We've also been blessed with the pleasure of reviewing dozens of submissions from super-talented actors interested in our little dream of a film. It's our goal to have the cast and remaining crew locked in place by the end of July. The beautiful Morgan-Monroe State Forest will serve as the backdrop for this tender story. Principal photography will kick off in late August.
Matthew Herbertz is an award-winning filmmaker from Indianapolis, IN. He received his undergraduate degree in TV/Film from DeSales University and went on to receive his MFA in Film and Video Production at Ohio University. He has written and directed narrative, documentary, and experimental short films that have screened at festivals nationally and internationally.
He has worked as a cinematographer, assistant director, producer, and gaffer on a number of short and feature films with national and international success and distribution. Matthew's most recent work as a writer/director, My Florida Home (2019), screened at over 20 festivals around the world. His latest short as a key creative; executive producer and cinematographer, ¡Come!, screened at over 30 international festivals and was recently sold and distributed to HBO through the French distribution company, Premium Films.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Nicole Lehrman is a textbook creative type with a passionate interest in the technical. She's very sociable, while also fiercely independent. Basically, Nicole is a walking paradox, and she believes it keeps her balanced and well-rounded (did I mention, she's a Libra?). Nicole started off making magic trick videos with her dad at a very early age, scripting and shooting her first horror/mystery film at age 8. Enamored with visuals, she attended Ball State University, where she studied the art of cinematography.
Soon after graduating, Nicole began to focus on directing, photography, and conceptualizing ideas. Her films have been screened at film festivals all over the country including the Lower Great Lakes Emmy Awards, Indy Film Fest, and the Atlanta Horror Film Festival. In 2022, she created an experimental portrait studio, which continues to be a practice in directing subjects in front of a lens, as well as a way to give back to her community. She currently has three short films in post-production and is in the early drafting stages of a feature-length script.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Victoria Britton is an award-winning film Producer and Director committed to telling personal stories that unpack themes of grief, spirituality, and womanhood. In 2021, she co-produced the feature-length romantic comedy "It Happened One Weekend" (Dir. Zac Cooper) which was the winner of both the Best of Hoosier Lens Award and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at the 2022 Indy Film Fest.
Her work has screened at Tribeca, Hollyshorts, Indy Shorts, and more — and has been released via The Atlantic and the Investigation Discovery network. She is a volunteer screener for Indy Shorts and leads Filmmaker Hospitality efforts at Hobnobben Film Festival. Victoria works as a freelance Camera Operator for Midwest sports teams and advertising agencies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Butler University.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alice Boucherie, is a Cinematographer based in NYC. Born and raised in the French countryside, she was exposed to the arts from a young age, including dance, music and theatre. Graduating from Parisian film university "ESRA" in 2016, she majored in Cinematography, and shortly after began her career in New York City.
She has worked on a multitude of projects around the world, to shoot documentaries, commercials, music videos, narrative short and feature films. She has filmed projects for Vogue, Hulu, Neon & Universal to name a few.
Alice is fascinated by shapes, light and movement. Loves to connect with images on an emotional level and her goal is always to create a cinematography that serves the project story.
Alice is a recipient of the ASC Vision Mentorship 2022/2023.
Thank you for reading this far. We hope you'll join us in supporting independent films in the Midwest and telling stories that matter. If you aren't able to contribute, we totally understand and love you just the same. Even simply following us on Seed & Spark or sharing this campaign would mean the world.
Stay up to date with our production and progress on Instagram @lakedayfilm
Wishlist
Use the WishList to Pledge cash and Loan items - or - Make a pledge by selecting an Incentive directly.
Travel & Lodging
Costs $900
Getting from point A to point B. Here, you're footing the bill for gas, vehicle rentals, and living expenses.
Crew
Costs $4,800
Lights, Camera... Action! We are big advocates for paying our collaborators living wages. Lend your dollars to make that dream a reality.
Sets, Props & Costumes
Costs $600
World-building through set design, props, and costumes works to solidify the aesthetic, tone, and atmosphere.
Cast
Costs $2,400
Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances. We need great talent to make our storytelling come to life.
Production Costs
Costs $800
Filmmaking is all about getting the details right. This includes production insurance, office expenses, and data management costs.
Post-Production
Costs $500
Post-production is where the picture, sound, and effects all come together. Help us cross the finish line.
Cash Pledge
Costs $0
Direct link:
Share this update!
About This Team
Matthew Herbertz is an award-winning filmmaker from Indianapolis, IN. He received his undergraduate degree in TV/Film from DeSales University and went on to receive his MFA in Film and Video Production at Ohio University. He has written and directed narrative, documentary, and experimental short films that have screened at festivals nationally and internationally.
He has worked as a cinematographer, assistant director, producer, and gaffer on a number of short and feature films with national and international success and distribution. Matthew's most recent work as a writer/director, My Florida Home (2019), screened at over 20 festivals around the world. His latest short as a key creative; executive producer and cinematographer, ¡Come!, screened at over 30 international festivals and was recently sold and distributed to HBO through the French distribution company, Premium Films.
Nicole Lehrman is a textbook creative type with a passionate interest in the technical. She's very sociable, while also fiercely independent. Basically, Nicole is a walking paradox, and she believes it keeps her balanced and well-rounded (did I mention, she's a Libra?). Nicole started off making magic trick videos with her dad at a very early age, scripting and shooting her first horror/mystery film at age 8. Enamored with visuals, she attended Ball State University, where she studied the art of cinematography. After college, her grandfather-- a lifelong photographer-- let her borrow one of his 35mm cameras, and she's been shooting on it ever since.
Soon, Nicole began to focus on directing, photography, and conceptualizing ideas. In 2022, she created an experimental portrait studio, which continues to be a practice in directing subjects in front of a lens, as well as a way to give back to her community. She currently has three short films in post-production and is in the early drafting stages of a feature-length script.
Victoria Britton is an award-winning film Producer and Director committed to telling personal stories that unpack themes of grief, spirituality, and womanhood. In 2021, she co-produced the feature-length romantic comedy "It Happened One Weekend" (Dir. Zac Cooper) which was the winner of both the Best of Hoosier Lens Award and the Audience Award for Narrative Feature at the 2022 Indy Film Fest.
Her work has screened at Tribeca, Hollyshorts, Indy Shorts, and more — and has been released via The Atlantic and the Investigation Discovery network. She is a volunteer screener for Indy Shorts and leads Filmmaker Hospitality efforts at Hobnobben Film Festival. Victoria works as a freelance Camera Operator for Midwest sports teams and advertising agencies. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Butler University.
Alice Boucherie, is a Cinematographer based in NYC. Born and raised in the French countryside, she was exposed to the arts from a young age, including dance, music and theatre. Graduating from Parisian film university "ESRA" in 2016, she majored in Cinematography, and shortly after began her career in New York City.
She has worked on a multitude of projects around the world, to shoot documentaries, commercials, music videos, narrative short and feature films. She has filmed projects for Vogue, Hulu, Neon & Universal to name a few.
Alice is fascinated by shapes, light and movement. Loves to connect with images on an emotional level and her goal is always to create a cinematography that serves the project story.
Alice is a recipient of the ASC Vision Mentorship 2022/2023