The Lake is a character-driven short film that explores themes of attention, presence, and our growing discomfort with stillness set over the course of a hot summer day. We’re currently fundraising to help bring the project to life, and any support truly makes a difference.

THE LAKE Logline: 3 young men contemplate the rhythm and rhyme of life, as they attempt to catch a single fish.

Why this? Why now?

In a world shaped by A.I. and constant stimulation, the lake became the perfect backdrop to explore patience, presence, frustration, and the growing inability to appreciate what’s directly in front of us. It holds a kind of stillness and peace that’s a little harder to find now, especially for younger generations growing up in a world that gets louder, faster, and more artificial every day.

While this story is deeply personal to us, we’re exploring themes that we hope resonate far beyond our own experiences. Whether it’s the feeling of wanting more out of life, struggling to stay present, or feeling disconnected from the world around you, we think a lot of people can relate to these characters in some way. At its core, this film is a time capsule for our generation — a reflection on where we are, what we’re losing, and the small moments of beauty we still have the chance to hold onto.

ABOUT THE CREATOR

Andre Otabor is an emerging NY-based filmmaker and artist whose work is centered on exploring and capturing the human condition through a variety of different stories and perspectives. He's drawn to cinema where psychology, society, and philosophy intersect and challenge our reality. His goal is to create films that observe these moments with honesty and invite audiences to reflect on new ways to see themselves and the world around them.

ABOUT THE TEAM

We are an emerging group of young filmmakers and artists passionate about telling stories that explore the human condition and reflect the complexities of our world. With The Lake, we hope to create a film that feels intimate, reflective, and deeply human.

WHY WE NEED YOU

To bring The Lake to life, my team and I are traveling to Michigan for production. Thanks to the incredible commitment of our cast and crew, we have already secured our location, assembled our team, and covered many of the project's core production needs. We are now raising the final portion of our budget to help cover equipment rentals, transportation, and meals for our cast and crew during production. Every contribution, no matter the size, directly supports the creation of this film and helps us maintain the quality and artistic integrity of the project.

TIER LIST:

$5 — “A Ripple.”

Every contribution helps bring The Lake to life.

Includes:

• Production updates

• Our sincere gratitude

$25 — “Still Water.”

Includes:

• Early access to the film

• Exclusive behind-the-scenes photos & updates

$50 — “The Shoreline.”

Includes everything above, plus:

• Digital The Lake poster

• Name listed on a supporters thank you post

$100 — “The Current.”

Includes everything above, plus:

• Special Thanks acknowledgment in the film credits

$250 — “Deep Water.”

Includes everything above, plus:

• Signed physical poster

• Access to exclusive deleted scenes/concept material

• Private post-release Q&A with the filmmakers

$500 — “Stillness.”

Includes everything above, plus:

• Associate Producer credit

• Invitation to private screenings/events (if applicable)

• Personalized thank-you video from the team

$1,000+ — “The Lake.”

Includes everything above, plus:

• Executive Producer credit on the film + IMDb

• Exclusive private conversation with the filmmakers about the creative process

• Personal thank-you in the end credits

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Independent films are only possible because of the people who believe in them, and your support would allow us to focus on making the strongest film we can. Thank you for taking the time to read about the project and for helping us bring this story to life!