Lake Effect

Amidst the rising threat of cyanobacteria (commonly known as blue-green algae) in water bodies throughout Northern New England, father-daughter filmmakers, Jim and Jackie Heltz, set out to investigate the possible link between exposure to neurotoxins found in cyanobacteria and the onset of sporadic cases of the terminal disease, ALS.

Jackie Heltz

DIRECTOR, CO-PRODUCER, CINEMATOGRAPHER/DP, EDITOR Jacqueline (Jackie) Heltz is a native Vermonter living and working in New York City. She produces several series focused on learning through EdLab, a research, design, and development unit housed in Teachers College, Columbia University. In January 2018, Jackie graduated from The New School with a master's degree in Media Studies.

Jim Heltz

CO-PRODUCER, CINEMATOGRAPHER/DP Jim Heltz is a filmmaker living just outside of Burlington, Vermont. He is the owner of Green Mountain Video, Inc. In addition to several documentaries including Williston Revisited: A Community Portrait (2013), Jim has created award-winning media productions for businesses, nonprofits, hospitals, educational institutions, broadcast and cable networks, and state and federal government for over 30 years.