The documentary gets its name from the LSD manufactured in Laguna Beach in the late '60s and early '70s. The film focuses on the notorious Brotherhood of Eternal Love, known as the "hippie mafia," which is often called one of the world's largest LSD manufacturers in that period.
At the center of the group is the famous and controversial psychologist and psychedelic philosopher Timothy Leary.
Kirkley, a Newport Beach native, said the subject is compelling for him because it's such a notorious time period in Orange County, yet has been so underexposed.
"You have these mythic qualities. It's almost like an urban legend," Kirkley said.
The reception Kirkley has received in Laguna Beach as he roots around for evidence has been mixed.
Kirkley said there are many who are glad to have him investigating and prodding, hoping he will get the story right. On the other hand, he said, some folks would just rather forget that the LSD manufacturers and dealers were once cozily situated in Laguna Canyon.
"I've had a little bit of opposition from some people who don't want to talk about the Brotherhood. Maybe it's a little too close to home or they had negative experiences. But overall, everyone's been as helpful as they can be.
"It was a big deal, but you kind of move on. A conservative element — which Orange County definitely has — doesn't want to look at that," Kirkley said.
Kirkley has spent hours poring over microfilm in the Laguna Beach Public Library and has expended extensive efforts trying to get original footage and photos of Laguna Beach from that era instead of using generic "hippie" footage.
Kirkley said he hopes he'll be able to recover more from home movies or photos of Laguna at the time.
"Ideally, I'm not using stock footage of hippies in Berkeley," he said.
