Feature creature

Legend has it, a catfish the size of a Volkswagon lives near Smith Mountain Dam. While its existence is up for debate, a movie set to be filmed at Smith Mountain Lake this fall includes a lake monster in the script and the community is being encouraged to build it.

Sara Elizabeth Timmins, Moneta resident and producer of the working-titled film "Lake Effects," said she has created a lake monster contest to get the community involved in the film.

"We hope to have too many [entries] to choose from," said Timmins.

Although the lake's legendary behemoth is supposed to be a catfish, the film's monster will be more like a plesiosaur or similar to Nessie, the beast said to live in Scotland's Loch Ness.

To be eligible for the contest and movie, monsters must be able to float, be moved across the water and be hardy enough to sustain hours of video footage. It also must be at least 12 feet long and its head must extend at least 4 feet from the lake surface.

Timmins said the monster should look believable from a distance, but fake up close, just like it is in the script.

"Essentially, these guys in the community are convinced for their own reasons that there is a lake monster, or at least are dedicated to proving that there is one," said Timmins. "So they spend all these nights on stakeouts."

The men never do see the lake monster, named Smithy, but their quest catches the attention of a television news reporter who travels to the lake to try to catch some footage of the beast.

"These guys get really nervous because they've never had an official sighting," said Timmins. "They're afraid they're going to look like fools."

So they do what many cryptozoologists before them have done: they fake it. Timmins said a few of the men construct the monster almost overnight. Although they have craftsman backgrounds, the end result isn't perfect up close.

"Of course, their scheme to trick the reporter goes awry and this all happens at the Smith Mountain Lake Wine Festival," said Timmins.

The team that creates the winning entry in the lake monster contest will be filmed as featured extras in the Wine Festival scene, said Timmins. She said featured extras stand closer to the camera or perform actions that makes them stand out from the crowd.

The winners also will receive a limousine ride to and from the set on the day of filming and get to eat lunch with the cast and crew. They'll also be named in the credits and may be featured in the behind-the-scenes documentary as the monster's creators, said Timmins.

Teams must register at the film's website by Sunday, Aug. 15. Entries must be completed for judging by Saturday, Sept. 4.

Timmins said the judging will be based on following the contest specifications and on the realism of the monster from afar, but obvious defects from up close. If judging is close between entries, the spirit and enthusiasm of the team may be the tipping point.

Timmins said the inclusion of a lake monster adds a bit of comedy to the serious script. "Lake Effects" focuses on the mother and daughters as they begin questioning and redefining their relationship with Smith Mountain Lake after the family patriarch dies.

The family and the monster hunters will come to a head at the annual SML Wine Festival, said Timmins.

In addition to constructed lake monster, Timmins said she's looking for actual photographs or film footage of what could be a monster in the lake. Those may be used in the documentary.

For more information about the film or to register for the contest, visit lifeoutloudfilms.com. Mail actual "monster" photos or videos to: Lake Effects, ATTN: Lake Monster Contest, P.O. Box 9, Moneta, VA 24121.