GIVING BACK TO SML

• A portion of proceeds will be donated to lake cleanup efforts. 
• Film will feature local products, location and history.
• Will provide local businesses national exposure and advertising.
• A "Making of" Documentary called "The Ripple Effect" will showcase how the community comes together to help make the film possible and how the film affects the community.
• The film and Documentary now become tools for the Chambers, Film Commission, Commonwealth and  business to promote the area and services.
• "Lake Effects" triggered a local resident to finally follow through on his dream of many years...the First Annual Smith Mountain Lake Film Festival. Our film will headline.
  

            Unlike New York or LA, Virginia’s overall production costs are comparatively inexpensive, diminishing some of the financial strain on the film.

The production team has established, many local connections that have stepped forward to embrace the project by donating and offering numerous services that are needed to scale back the production budget.  Volunteers, lodging, airline frequent flier miles, product placements, even deferred payment for services and goods are just some of the avenues production has or plans to pursue to maximize the budget and quality of the product.

Most large studios will fly their entire team in from LA incurring higher production costs. Our community approach means lower production costs, lower room/board costs and lower payroll.

HIGH PRODUCTION VALUE

The Production Team is known for being a resourceful and financially cautious entertainment company and the many in-kind services allow us to keep value high and production costs low.  There is also, a huge advantage to the high production value that comes with the natural beauty of the lake, the town, local resources and the shore line.  These factors increase the aesthetic value of the project and locations at a rate of tens of thousands of dollars, allowing the perceived end product to be much greater than the actual production budget.  Hence the potential to sell the product for much more than the actual cost and a higher return for investors.

LOWER BUDGET, HIGHER PROFIT

            The tremendous profit potential of an independently produced, low budget film makes them very attractive to distribution companies.   “LAKE EFFECTS” ability to reach its projected profit margins is high in relation to the risks generally involved in larger budgeted films. 

Inspiration for “Lake Effects”

-Sara Elizabeth Timmins 

Filmmaking is my passion. After pouring my heart and soul into other people’s projects for years and helping create their vision and dreams, I have a burning desire to make my own projects that not only inspire audiences, but inspire the communities in which they are made.

For years I had encouraged others to embrace my life philosophy:  Dream, Act, Risk, Embrace.  Six years ago, when I moved to Los Angeles, I was determined to follow this mantra.  I planned to Dream Big, Act to make the dreams a reality, not be afraid to take Risks and Embrace the process.  In my eight years as a motivational speaker I helped students find and embrace their own dreams.

In 2008, after leaving a stressful project to visit family for the holiday season, I embarked on a walk along the shores of Smith Mountain Lake that changed my life.  I hadn’t really realized the stress, pressure and confusion I had been carrying around, but that walk made me realize that I had gotten off-track.  While walking beside that lake an unexplainable calm and clarity of purpose enveloped me and it was in that moment that I realized it was time to really put my personal philosophy into practice.  Here I vowed to take the risk and follow my dream to start my own production company, Life Out Loud Films, LLC and begin development on a film inspired by the lake, “Lake Effects”.

Life Out Loud Films is different from other companies in how we are approaching the film making process.  It is our vision to not only inspire audiences but to inspire the communities we work with through the creative process.  The power of this idea became dramatically clear as we approached the community at Smith Mountain Lake about the "Lake Effects" project. 

Our initial visit to the lake was met at every step with overwhelming support and excitement.  We were encouraged by immediate media coverage, hundreds of website hits, emails, and calls that came in as the word spread after our first visit.  Since then, community members have agreed to donate locations, lodging, catering and other valuable assets.  

We intend to use the film to showcase the talents of local artists, the unique nature and beauty of the lake itself, and highlight the exceptional (yet familiar) community.  In order to accomplish this vision, we have visited the community several times to honestly capture this unique community, its people, and the magic and heart that inspired the film.  We refuse to fictionalize the Lake because it’s unique charm and unexplainable magic is what will speak to audiences. 

In conjunction with the feature, we will shoot a Documentary called “Just Add Water,” to capture the coming together of the lake’s community through the making of this film, and the simultaneous influence the community had on the film.   It is exciting to note our impact already, as expressed by Roy Enslow, Smith Mountain Lake business owner and community leader, “In the down economy, this film has given our community a hope, something positive to hang their hat on, and has inspired a lot of people to dream.  It is amazing how it has brought different sections of our community together, business and social organizations, and not a day goes you don’t hear someone talking about the film.  The lake is eagerly looking forward to being a part of this project.”

After that first visit scouting visit, it became very apparent to me that the film was no longer mine but the community’s.  “Lake Effects” became a project I can’t abandon because it is no longer about my dreams, my vision or my passion.  It is now the dreams of real people, real faces and real stories I’ve heard and I cannot let them down.  We wrapped shooting principal photography on schedule in the Fall of 2010 and are currently in post-production.  This film has become my life mission.