Charlie's Lake

First Aired Tuesday, April 03, 2007

CHARLIE'S LAKE explores the daily life of Jon Whitmer. With a sharp wit and an insatiable sense of adventure, Jon loves nothing more than a good road trip to keep things in perspective. But despite this incredible optimism, the realities of his muscle wasting disease leave Jon waking each day not knowing what new challenges will arise or how he’s going to handle them. CHARLIE'S LAKE follows Jon as he wrestles with the unexpected, and reflects on what makes the fight so worthwhile.

CHARLIE'S LAKE, created by producer Brigid Kelly and her directing partner Matthew Lawton, follows Jon as he searches for the technology necessary to remain active. Being quadriplegic and respirator dependent forces him to rely heavily on his family and aides to facilitate his needs. Like many other rural American families, the Whitmers find themselves living in an area ill equipped to deal with advanced Muscular Dystrophy. As a result, the family often calls on its own ingenuity to cope with the issues at hand.

Ultimately Jon turns 30, defying the life expectancy he received as a child. He reflects on love, the impact his life has had on those around him and his hope for a future. During a trip to Charlie’s Lake, his favorite fishing hole, Jon reveals what about the place reminds him of the things that are most important in his life. He has great memories of his visits and takes solace knowing the lake will always be there.

Brigid Kelly is a documentary producer based in Los Angeles whose work appears on The Discovery Channel, A&E, and PBS. Matthew Lawton is a television writer whose work airs on Comedy Central, Cartoon Network, and The WB. He also lives in Los Angeles.

Song Credits

• “I.P.” 
Written & Performed by M. Lawton
• “Long Gone” 
Written by Todd Linker 
Performed by Link West
• “Abner Devereaux” 
Written & Performed by Matt Sauer
• “Take Me Down” 
Written by Jim Carbajal and Bob Whitmer
 Performed by Eddy Leech
• “The Day Chin Ho Died” 
Written & Performed by Matt Sauer
• “One Man Party” 
Written & Performed by M. Lawton
• “My Baby Don’t Mess Around” 
Written by Todd Linker 
Performed by Link West
• “Tip Back on the Go” 
Written & Performed by Matt Sauer
• “Take That Toilet Outta Here” 
Written by Matt Sauer & M. Lawton 
Performed by Matt Sauer
• “Old Joe”
 Written & Performed by M. Lawton

Charlie’s Lake Funders

• Regional Arts & Culture Council of Portland Oregon
• Patty & Tom Buroker
• Chuck & Janet Haas
• Mary & Bob Fanter
• Stephen J. & Marcia Kirke
• Emily Davidow
• Sally Titus Cunningham
• Angela K Byrnes
• Bernadette E Kelly Trust
• John & Carol Lawton
• Elizabeth Lambert
• Nilla Park
• Courtney Nowell
• Ed & Betsy Oreilly
• Marvin & Ingrid Mazie
• Dan & Mary Kelly
• John & Colleen Hurley
• Marqui J. Hood
• Karen & Arnold Engman
• Christina Di Lorenzo
• Thomas Carlstrom
• Judy & Marshall Flapan
• Michael & Ann Richards
• Jeffrey & Meredith Watters
• Robert & Cherie Shreck
• Kathy & Ted Stuart
• Rachel & Carson Milgroom
• Phyllis Hansel
• Deborah Starr
• Massoud Ghaffari
• Aniella Gonzalez
• Melissa Allen & Elizabeth Andreason
• Aleda Freeman
• Kelly McCutcheon Adams
• Jennifer D. Garrison
• Richard E. Hodge Terryl Ann Hodge Trustee, The Hodge Family Trust
• Meredith Bagby
• Lewis Barbieri & Amy Wood
• Kristin A Perry & Scott W. Tucker
• Jane Weintraub
• Cynde & William Fanter
• Catherine G. Foster
• Mary K and Daniel M. Kelly Family Foundation
• Louise Baker

Fiscal Sponsorship provided by the International Documentary Association.

This film was funded in part by the Regional Arts & Culture Council Of Portland, Oregon.