Parsippany Filmmaker Wins Awards For Film On COVID

PARSIPPANY, NJ — Bob Messinger believes the emotional impact of the coronavirus gets underreported, so he raised awareness with a film about the toll. The Parsippany filmmaker's creation has now won several awards.

Messinger's “LOCKDOWN: The Emotional Impact of COVID-19 and Quarantine” delves into the short- and long-term psychological consequences of the pandemic and resulting shelter-in-place orders. The film won three awards at last week's AOF Megafest — a Las Vegas-based film festival that combines 13 niche events into a single "Megafest."

The film won best documentary at two of the events and best documentary editing in another. It was also nominated for best overall film editing at AOF.

"LOCKDOWN" includes interviews with noted mental health professionals, such as nationally recognized psychophysiology expert and TED speaker Dr. Kim Gorgens and Eastern Psychological Association President Dr. Amy Learmonth. Messinger also spoke to several people weathering the crisis.

“According to the Well Being Trust, an additional 75,000 people could die due to what they call coronavirus despair,” Messinger said.

Backed by an abundance of documented research and interviews, the film explores the categories of people who are most apt to be affected emotionally by the pandemic and quarantine. Not only does the film chronicle the anticipated emotional effects of the crisis, but it also provides professional recommendations on how to handle the resulting anxiety.

Messinger researched, wrote and produced the film from his home office in the Lake Hiawatha section of Parsippany while in quarantine, conducting interviews over Zoom. The film has screened at numerous festivals worldwide, including the Garden State Film Festival in March.

Film Trailer.

Full-length film.

In addition to his own projects with his production company, Where’s the Lake Productions, Messinger collaborates with other companies and producers. He currently serves as associate producer on director Cedric Hill’s feature, “Two Peas in a Pod.”

Most of Messinger’s work is shot in the Parsippany area. In fact, his short film, “Over the Line,” was shot entirely in his Lake Hiawatha home using green-screen technology, which was later transformed into an abandoned warehouse setting using computer-generated technology.

Where’s the Lake Productions got its name from Messinger’s location in Parsippany. There is no lake in Lake Hiawatha.

"People are always stopping to ask us where the lake is,” Messinger said.

Thanks for reading. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip? Email josh.bakan@patch.com. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter and follow the Parsippany Patch Facebook page