Lack of investors puts lake movie in jeopardy

Production of a movie to be filmed at and based around Smith Mountain Lake may be pushed back to 2010 if more investors don't come forward by mid-July.

Sara Elizabeth Timmins, producer of the working-titled film "Lake Effects" and daughter of lake residents Bill and Sue Timmins, said she has raised less than 50 percent of the film's production costs.

"There is money in the bank now," she said. "We're doing everything we can, but we're getting down to crunch time and we're getting nervous."

Timmins said many people and businesses are behind the film, but some can't back it financially because of the current economic situation.

"The people that have said 'no,' a lot of them is because they've lost money in the market or they're tied up trying to get their own business off the ground," said Timmins.

But she's holding out hope that enough investors will come forward next week that the movie will stay on schedule to begin filming this fall.

To help drum up support and further immerse herself in the community, Timmins flew in from Los Angeles and moved into her parents' house in Sandpiper Bay on May 1.

"I decided that if I was going to do it, I needed to do it right," she said. "And I needed to be here and be a part of the community."

Beginning Monday, ASAP on Virginia 122 will begin selling T-shirts to promote the film, with proceeds going toward the project.

-- Laurie Edwards

CORRECTION

Mary Christina Cregger was crowned the first Miss SML in 1987. The pageant in which she participated was unaffiliated with the Miss America organization. The first Miss SML to participate in the Miss Virginia Pageant was Stephanie Ratliff, Miss SML 1990-1991. A story in the June 24 edition that named Chinah Helmandollar the first Miss Smith Mountain Lake was wrong. Pageant director Cindy Stump's phone number is (540) 427-1129.