Local filmmaking team seeking support for high-concept short film

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What Joel Irwin is most excited about is seeing an idea he had unfold into film.

The 33-year-old Huntsville native who co-owns the Algonquin Art Centre in Algonquin Park and also studied English Literature, has teamed up with local filmmaker Mark Boucher to produce Mirror Lake, a short film he’s hoping will open the public’s eyes to how a small budget can have a big impact.

“We have an awesome team working together and this is really a passion project for me,” said Irwin, noting that everyone is caught up in the commercial world of filmmaking and this is essentially what sets Mirror Lake aside from the high-cost production films. “This is very low budget. It’s going to cost around $7,000 to make the film. This is really a performance piece. One actor, one location, and a six-day shoot.”

Mirror Lake centres around the peculiar events that happen to a geophysicist who specializes in electromagnetic anomalies and is conducting work on a remote lake. His research indicates that Mirror Lake was formed by a meteorite 12 million years ago and a series of strange events begin to take place. He finds a body floating in the lake which he revives and discovers that the person he just brought back to life is in fact his perfect double.

With a bit of mystery and science fiction woven into the plot, the film will keep the audience on the edge of their seats and biting their nails in anticipation of what unravels.

A total of 13 people are working on the film which is currently in pre-production; shooting is scheduled to commence next week.

Toronto actor Micheal Lipka, who is just getting his start in the world of acting, is the lead character.

Funding to produce the film will come solely from an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign that kicked off in mid-September. With a total of 30 days of fundraising planned, Irwin is optimistic the goal will be reached. Right away, Huntsville’s Reel Alternatives got on board and became the film’s first gold sponsor with a generous donation. Currently, the film is at 31 per cent of its funding goal, and Irwin said that a donation will also be made on behalf of the art centre.

This is the first narrative film Irwin has written and produced and like every major project endeavor he has discovered some challenges along the way. Not only has there been a lot of planning with props and finding the necessary equipment for the film, but devising a catering plan to feed the 13 individuals who are involved in the film has also been tricky.

“If we had lots of money it would be much easier but we’re working with a shoestring budget and that’s challenging. The creative challenge is how innovative we can be working with such a small budget.”

Boucher, who is helping to direct, produce and edit the film, knows Irwin from their days at Huntsville High School and said he has great respect for Irwin’s work as a writer. When he read the script, the first thing that hooked him was the high-concept story approach Irwin put together. The fact that Boucher was looking for a project that fell under the micro-budget category but had strong characters and intriguing premises made Mirror Lake a perfect choice for him.

“I believe both from a services and visual (locations) standpoint, Huntsville has a lot to offer,” said Boucher. “In the past, productions from Toronto that have shot in Huntsville and the surrounding area were very happy with what they were able to shoot in the region. If it resonates with the people, there will be a local response and the support so far has been amazing.”

Irwin and Boucher are relying on public funding in order to make the film a success. For $15, the general public and local businesses can pre-order a digital copy of Mirror Lake via Indiegogo. Higher levels of sponsorship are also available.

For more information on Mirror Lake or to make a donation to help fund the short film visit their campaign page. You can also check out the film’s progress on their Facebook page or Twitter @mirrorlakeshort. For any other inquiries, contact Joel Irwin at [email protected].