Unsolved:Lucy and the Lake Monster

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Lucy and the Lake Monster
Directed byRichard Rossi
Written byRichard Rossi
Kelly Tabor
StarringEmma Pearson
Richard Rossi
Kelly Tabor
Music byJoe Rossi
Richard Rossi
CinematographyDaniel Burke
Edited byColin Tracy
Richard Rossi
Distributed byAmazon[1]
Plex[2]
Freevee
Roku
Apple TV
Release date
  • September 2024 (2024-09)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUSA
LanguageEnglish

Lucy and the Lake Monster is a 2024 American family drama film written and directed by Richard Rossi, and co-written by Kelly Tabor. Emma Pearson stars as nine-year-old orphan Lucy Lago, Richard Rossi as her grandfather Papa Jerry, and Kelly Tabor as Lucy's teacher, Miss Marino.

Background

Cameramen film on Lake Champlain for the film "Lucy & the Lake Monster."

In 2022, media reported that the feature film, Lucy and the Lake Monster, was in the works about a young orphan girl and her grandfather looking for the lake monster Champ, the film being based on a children's novel with the same title, loosely inspired by co-writer Kelly Tabor's childhood memories exploring Lake Champlain. WCAX-TV, Sun Community News,[3] the Press-Republican, and other media reported the book and film are the first in a series.[4][5][6][7][8][9]

Plot

Lucy and the Lake Monster follows the journey of a young girl named Lucy and her grandfather, Papa Jerry, as they search for the creature known as Champ, rumored to inhabit Lake Champlain. After the loss of her mother, Lucy grapples with her grief and the skepticism of her peers, particularly a bully named Butch who makes fun of her belief in Champ.

Papa Jerry, who is supportive of Lucy, often shares comforting words about faith, love, and the importance of believing in the unseen, drawing parallels between their search for Champ and their personal journey through loss. He instills in Lucy the notion that evidence of belief isn't always tangible, and this sense of trust not only brings them closer but also helps Lucy honor her mother's memory.

The story combines elements of adventure and fantasy, showcasing Lucy's determination to locate Champ, using her imagination and her and Papa's musical talent as a means to attract the creature. Throughout her adventure, Lucy faces bullying and skepticism from her peers, and opposition from an evil couple, Beezel Beemish and Mercenary Mike, but she finds strength in the love of her Papa and the guidance of her school teacher, Miss Marino.

As the narrative unfolds, Lucy and her grandfather undertake quests on the lake. Their shared experiences come full circle during a climactic moment when they finally spot Champ, leading to revelations about belief, love, and connection.

The film culminates in a mayoral ceremony where Lucy receives recognition for her efforts and the unique bond she shares with her grandfather, as well as a validation of her hope and dreams.

Cast

  • Emma Pearson as Lucy[10]
  • Richard Rossi as Papa Jerry[11]
  • Kelly Tabor as Miss Marino[12]
  • D.G. Peltan as Mercenary Mike
  • Lori Francisco-McVicar as Beezel Beemish

Production and Reception

The production filmed in Port Henry, New York[13] and in various locations around Lake Champlain's Bulwagga Bay in July and August, 2022.[14][15] Newspapers in the Lake Champlain region reported the film finished in 2024, and premiered in the Lake Champlain region in September, 2024.[16] As of 2025, the film has garnered multiple prizes on the film festival circuit and is streaming on Amazon and Plex.[17][18][19] The film is internationally distributed, and both the book and the film have won numerous awards.[20]

Alleged Evidence for Champ Legend

Still shot from 5 minute drone footage of Champ swimming behind boat containing two lead actors in the "Lucy & the Lake Monster" film

During post-production of the film, the filmmakers reviewed their drone footage from production on August 2, 2024, and noticed what appeared to be a large creature swimming just below the surface of the water in Bulwagga Bay. The alleged creature is visible in the bottom right portion of the screen, swimming behind a boat on which the two lead actors of the film were aboard.[21] The boat was 142 inches from the tip of the bow to the stern and 50.5 inches at the widest point, and the alleged creature appears to be larger than the boat.

One of the co-writers, Kelly Tabor, believes it to be a foundational piece of evidence for Champ. The second co-writer and director of the film, Richard Rossi, said that he shared the footage with scientists.[22] A ten-second clip from the longer five minute footage was shared publicly on YouTube.[23]

On October 3, 2025, William Shatner presented the Tabor-Rossi footage on his program The UnXplained, a television series on History. Shatner tapped the world's top scientific experts to analyze the footage, and concluded it is "the most compelling recent evidence for Champ." (Season 7, Episode 15, "Terrors of the Deep.")[24][25][26][27][28]

References

  1. ↑ ""Lucy and the Lake Monster" now livestreaming on Amazon Prime". Sun Community News. Denton Publications. 30 April 2025. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/117723/lucy-and-the-lake-monster-now-livestreaming-on-amazon-prime/. 
  2. ↑ McKinstry, Lohr (2 May 2025). "Port Henry based Champ movie hits Amazon Prime Video". Press Republican. Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.. https://archive.today/20250502071829/https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/port-henry-based-champ-movie-hits-amazon-prime-video/article_d6153d7b-0cdf-4b08-9f31-b0121b2df672.html. 
  3. ↑ Bartlett Yaw, Shaundra (21 August 2025). "Champ movie sequel wraps filming". Sun Community News. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/120571/champ-movie-sequel-wraps-filming/. 
  4. ↑ O'Brien, Kelly (April 16, 2022). "Champ gets new movie and book series". WCAX. CBS. https://www.wcax.com/video/2022/04/16/champ-gets-new-movie-book-series/. 
  5. ↑ "Champ to get top billing in 'Lucy and the Lake Monster' film". Adirondack Almanack. March 7, 2022. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2022/03/indiegogo-campaign-starts-for-champ-movie-lucy-and-the-lake-monster.html. 
  6. ↑ Jones, Tammy (May 26, 2023). "Meet the Authors of Lucy and the Lake Monster". CBS. WSPA "Your Carolina". https://www.wspa.com/your-carolina/meet-the-authors-of-lucy-and-the-lake-monster/. 
  7. ↑ O'Brien, Kelly (April 16, 2022). "Champ to star in new book and film series". CBS. WCAX-TV. https://www.wcax.com/2022/04/16/champ-star-new-book-film-series/. 
  8. ↑ Limon, Janice (June 12, 2023). "Former South Carolina teacher's book to become movie". WYFF-TV, Channel 4. NBC. https://www.wyff4.com/article/south-carolina-teachers-book-to-become-movie/44053517. 
  9. ↑ McKinstry, Lohr (6 August 2025). "Secrets of Lake Champlain' wraps shooting in Moriah". Press-Republican. Community Newspaper Holdings. https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/secrets-of-lake-champlain-wraps-shooting-in-moriah/article_10eae308-0b5a-4f17-ad42-af5954b3f7e9.html. 
  10. ↑ Riddle, Lyn (April 27, 2025). "SC teacher's book becoming a movie that will be on Netflix. Here are the details". The State. The McClatchy Company. https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article276636936.html. 
  11. ↑ Savage, Leigh (October 23, 2023). "Two new books by Upstate writers". Greenville Journal. Community Journals, LLC. https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/two-new-books-by-upstate-sc-writers/. 
  12. ↑ McKinstry, Lohr (2 May 2025). "Port Henry based Champ movie hits Amazon Prime Video". Press Republican. Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. https://archive.today/20250502071829/https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/port-henry-based-champ-movie-hits-amazon-prime-video/article_d6153d7b-0cdf-4b08-9f31-b0121b2df672.html. 
  13. ↑ "Virtual showing of the film, Lucy & the Lake Monster, through December". Adirondack Almanack. December 19–26, 2024. https://www.adirondackalmanack.com/2024/12/dec-region-5-childrens-holiday-party-a-christmas-carol-radio-play-more-events-set-for-dec-19-26.html. 
  14. ↑ McKinstry, Lohr (July 14, 2022). ""Lucy and the Lake Monster" films in Port Henry". Yahoo News. https://news.yahoo.com/lucy-lake-monster-films-port-035900196.html. 
  15. ↑ O'Brien, Kelly (July 19, 2022). "'Champ' movie starts filming in Port Henry's Bulwagga Bay". WCAX. CBS. https://www.wcax.com/2022/07/19/champ-film-starts-filming-port-henrys-bulwagga-bay/. 
  16. ↑ Bartlett Yaw, Shaundra (September 9, 2024). "Highlights from Lucy & the Lake Monster's world premiere". Sun Community News. Denton Publications, Inc.. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/112263/highlights-from-lucy-the-lake-monsters-world-premiere/. 
  17. ↑ ""Lucy and the Lake Monster" now livestreaming on Amazon Prime: Watch the locally produced film for free on Prime and Plex". Sun Community News. Denton Publications, Inc.. April 29, 2025. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/117723/lucy-and-the-lake-monster-now-livestreaming-on-amazon-prime/. 
  18. ↑ Hyde, Paul (March 20, 2025). "Reedy Reels Film Festival celebrates 10th anniversary with 60 films". Greenville Journal newspaper. Community Journals Media Group. https://greenvillejournal.com/arts-culture/reedy-reels-film-festival-celebrates-10th-anniversary-with-60-films/. 
  19. ↑ Burnquist, Margaret (March 27, 2025). "Lucy and the Lake Monster to screen at Reedy Reels". FOX Carolina. https://www.foxcarolina.com/video/2025/03/27/lucy-lake-monster-screen-reedy-reels/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJSe0FleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHYoC7vm2gbRRjlpmLVTjk58GA06x0gpWN83TU9AnicTt2PsNL06wWPw1RA_aem_v9r3GKVqNSMzBQhrABn3vg. 
  20. ↑ Bartlett Yaw, Shaundra (June 7, 2025). "Champ Day returns this August". Sun Community News. Denton Publications, Inc.. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/119507/champ-day-returns-this-august/. 
  21. ↑ McKinstry, Lohr (December 18, 2024). "Champ film streaming premiere surfaces". Press-Republican. Community Newspaper Holdings Inc.. https://www.pressrepublican.com/news/champ-film-streaming-premiere-surfaces/article_4eb34b54-bd69-11ef-b7ff-a37907ffe292.html. 
  22. ↑ Riddle, Lyn (14 August 2024). "SC filmmaker surprised by lake footage where a sea monster is alleged to live.". The State. McClatchy Company. https://www.thestate.com/news/state/south-carolina/article290995365.html#storylink=cpy. 
  23. ↑ Bartlett Yaw, Shaundra (12 August 2024). "Champ movie to hold world premiere: Potential footage of plesiosaur surfaced in post-production". Sun Community News. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/111754/champ-movie-to-hold-world-premiere/. 
  24. ↑ Burnquist, Margaret (20 October 2025). "Greenville-based filmmakers capture possible evidence of "lake monster"". FOX CAROLINA. Gray Media. https://www.foxcarolina.com/video/2025/10/20/greenville-based-filmmakers-capture-possible-evidence-lake-monster/. 
  25. ↑ Bartlett Yaw, Shaundra (October 13, 2025). "Filmmakers capture footage of potential Champ via drone: William Shatner television program debuts interviewed segment". The Sun. Sun Community News. https://suncommunitynews.com/news/121616/filmmakers-capture-footage-of-potential-champ-via-drone/. 
  26. ↑ Shatner, William. "The Unxplained". https://www.history.com/shows/the-unxplained. 
  27. ↑ "Friday, Oct. 3: William Shatner Returns to Host ‘The UnXplained’ New Season on History". Channel Guide Magazine. October 3, 2025. https://www.channelguidemag.com/tv-news/2025/10/03/friday-oct-3-william-shatner-the-unxplained-new-season-history-channel/. 
  28. ↑ Nova, Rukka. "The UnXplained with William Shatner: The History Channel’s Most Addictive Mystery Show". Critique Magazine. https://vocal.media/critique/the-un-xplained-with-william-shatner-the-history-channel-s-most-addictive-mystery-show. 




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