In an unexpected twist, filmmakers Richard Rossi and Kelly Tabor may have inadvertently captured footage of the legendary Lake Champlain monster, “Champ,” while filming their new movie, "Lucy and the Lake Monster." The surprising footage is set to debut at the film’s world premiere, offering audiences both a heartwarming story and a potential real-life mystery.
While filming the family-friendly adventure, which follows a young girl’s quest to prove the existence of the mythical Champ, Director of Photography Daniel Burke sent a drone over the scenic lake. During post-production, Rossi and Tabor were stunned to discover that the footage showed a large, unidentified creature swimming just beneath the surface near the boat where the film’s lead actors, Emma Pearson (playing Lucy) and Richard Rossi (playing her grandfather), were situated.
"We inadvertently found Champ while reviewing video from a drone. It is real footage, not manipulated in any way," said Tabor.
“We were aiming for some scenic shots of the lake,” Rossi added. “We never expected to capture anything like this. We just couldn’t believe our eyes. It’s a thrill to share this unexpected discovery with the world.”
Tabor believes this discovery adds a unique layer to their film. "While 'Lucy and the Lake Monster' is a fictional story about a nine-year-old girl and her grandpa looking for Champ, the reality of capturing something mysterious is what makes this moment so special. It reminds us that sometimes, truth really is stranger than fiction. It even appears to have moving fins like a plesiosaur. Our cryptozoology friends are excited."
Rossi remarked on the significance of Tabor, who has spent over fifty years searching for Champ, being the first to spot the creature in the footage. As a writing team, Tabor is the believer, having grown up searching for Champ, while Rossi, a Hollywood filmmaker, approaches the legend with skepticism, seeking scientific verification.
Rossi has enlisted a group of scientists to study the footage further, with a high standard of qualifications required to participate. "I wanted to share this interesting piece of evidence to point the way to further exploration and more intensive consideration. We decided to have it evaluated by trained scientists with a minimum of one earned doctorate degree in science to conduct their own independent research with the footage, then report back."
The initial response from the scientific community has been cautious but intrigued. While they agree that the footage is compelling, further investigation is needed to determine the nature of the creature captured on film. Unlike the famous 1977 Mansi photo of Champ, this footage includes a boat for scale, providing additional context for analysis.
The footage of Champ will be featured in "Lucy and the Lake Monster" just after the four-minute mark, with the possibility of more sightings later in the film. However, the filmmakers are keeping some details under wraps to preserve the mystery for the audience.
The world premiere of "Lucy and the Lake Monster" will take place on Sunday, September 8th at the Strand Center for the Arts in Plattsburgh, New York. Tickets are available here.
Tabor invites the public to join in on the excitement: "Be part of the magic and witness the full story of 'Lucy and the Lake Monster,' along with the astounding footage that has everyone talking. It's an afternoon of family-friendly fun, including live appearances by some of the cast, discussions, live music, and the first full showing of our movie that combines adventure, humor, and mystery."
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