“Lake Effects” to air this year; “Wish You Well” plans under way

“We have officially done a domestic deal,” said Sara Elizabeth Timmins. “?‘Lake Effects’ will be seen on television … on a very special date in 2012.”

Timmins, a Moneta resident and producer of the movie, which is set and was filmed at Smith Mountain Lake, said she can’t give any specifics to date. Information on the channel, date and time when residents can watch “Lake Effects” is forthcoming, she said.

The movie is a family comedy/drama about Sara Tisdale, played by actress Scottie Thompson, who returns to Smith Mountain Lake after her estranged father, played by Jeff Fahey, dies. While lakeside, she reconnects with her mother (Jane Seymour) and sister (Madeline Zima).

Timmins said “Lake Effects” will be released on DVD next year. Negotiations also are under way for a soundtrack CD.

The film has been submitted to about a dozen film festivals that will take place in the first half of this year.

“?‘Lake Effects’ has gone where we wanted it to go,” said Timmins. “It’s a great way to ring in the new year and start the next project.”

Timmins is working with David Baldacci, the New York Times-bestselling author of more than 20 books, to bring his novel, “Wish You Well,” to the big screen. Baldacci, who has a home on the Bedford County side of the lake, and Timmins are partnering with Karen Spiegel of Copper Beach Productions to produce the film.

“Fundraising is full-speed ahead,” said Timmins. “We feel really good about being able to green-light in the first quarter of next year.”

Many of the people who invested in “Lake Effects,” including Baldacci, have verbally committed to investing in “Wish You Well,” said Timmins.

“Wish You Well” is a coming-of-age story set in the 1940s about two children who move from New York to Southwest Virginia after a family tragedy. Baldacci, who wrote the screenplay adaptation, said the story partly is based on his maternal ancestors.

Timmins said the movie will be filmed in Southwest Virginia. About 15 localities have submitted letters indicating an interest to be chosen as one of the filming sites. Timmins said she and her fellows are narrowing down the list and plan to scout the top locations this year.

Source: SmithMountainLake.com

7. She’s got an intercontinental intellect: "I worked as a travel writer for the budget travel guide Let’s Go Greece during college," Scottie told us.

6. She’s oh-so-nimble: Scottie’s not only a certified Pilate’s instructor, but an experienced ballerina, whose honed the beautiful craft in stints with the Richmond Ballet, the Harvard Ballet Company and many theater productions.

5. She’s trilingual: In addition to English and French, Scottie is fluent in Wolof, the native language of West Africa’s Wolof people. "I learned [it] while studying abroad in Senegal," she told us.

4. She’s a video vixen: Scottie’s appeared in the music videos for the Counting Crows single You Can’t Count on Me and Bon Jovi‘s What Do You Got?

3. She’s worked in all aspects of show business: In addition to her experience in movies, TV, music and ballet, she also "worked as a concessions girl in a movie theater for a year."

2. She’s got a few lucky charms: "I wear at least five necklaces from special places I’ve been, and people I know, every time I fly to keep me safe," Scottie told us.

1. She’s a believer: "My favorite animated movie is The Last Unicorn," Scottie said. "I believe in unicorns."

Scottie Thompson is Today’s girl

We chatted with actress Scottie Thompson about her new film Deck the Halls, sneaking around on the Star Trek set, and her signature drink.

Tell us about Deck the Halls, your new movie.
It’s a Christmas thriller, which is an ironic twist. It’s about a woman who’s a detective and her father gets murdered, and she has to solve the crime.

How was it?
It was tons of fun. My co-star is Kathy Najimy, and I had a great time working with her. We filmed it in Vancouver even though it’s set in New York. I really love it there. It was also a fun character to work on.

What’s been your favorite project?
I’m from Virginia, and we got to shoot Lake Effects there. So it was nice to be back there for a whole month.

You played Nero’s wife in 2009′s Star Trek. What was it like to work on that film?
It was really cool. It was this really secretive process, and we would ride around on this golf cart on the Paramount Lot. There were curtains covering the cart so no one would know what the characters looked like.

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Sharp Woman: Scottie Thompson

The Ivy League grad shares her thoughts on Bon Jovi, organic farming and tweeting @The Dalai Lama.

Scottie Thompson is doing pretty well for herself. In the five odd years she’s been in show biz, the Virginia native has been quietly climbing the Hollywood ranks, landing solid roles on popular TV cop dramas like NCIS, and sci-fi blockbusters like last year’s Skyline (Ms. Thompson also showed up, albeit briefly, in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek as Nero’s dead, though hot alien wife.) We talked to Scottie about her farming roots in Virginia, her Ivy League roots at Harvard and a potential dance-off with Natalie Portman. You could skip the reading and just get lost in her blue-eyed gaze, but then you wouldn’t really be her type.

How did you spend your Thanksgiving?
I went back home to Virginia to see my family. I pressed some apple cider with a cider press from 1905, which was pretty fun. My little brother is an organic farmer so we ate one of his turkeys.

How are your farming skills?
They’re not too high on the ladder. I’m growing vegetables in my backyard in L.A., but I’m just learning. I rode horses when I was a kid. I did grow up on a farm but I was never too involved with the goings-on.

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Scottie Thompson Talks TNT’s Deck the Halls

Mystery Movie Night on TNT is raising the bar with next Tuesday’s premiere of the holiday mystery movie, Deck the Halls, starring Scottie Thompson (NCIS). And just in time for the holiday mystery movie, I had the opportunity to speak with Thompson about the film, staying healthy throughout the holidays, and more.

Had you read the first novel in the series from which Deck the Halls is based on prior to be cast or afterwards?
No, I read it after I got the offer. Even though I already read the script and knew what was going to happen, I am a big reader. It was a pretty quick read since it is so suspenseful.

So what was your favorite element of the script, and did it differ in the book?
From an acting standpoint, playing the detective and someone personally involved in the case was the most exciting part of it. It’s not like she’s solving any case, this directly affects someone she loves. So I thought that was my favorite aspect of the script and it is the same for the book as well.

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Pennsylvania Convention Center
1101 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Join tens of thousands of fans as they converge at Philadelphia Comic Con 2012 Wizard World Convention to celebrate the best in pop culture. Philadelphia Comic Con brings it all – Movies, Comics, Toys, Video Gaming, Games, TV, Anime, Manga, Horror, Wrestling, MMA, Original Art, Collectibles & More! Philadelphia Comic Con is brought to you by the group who produces the most widely attended Comic Con tour!
Show Hours:
Friday, June 1, 2012 – 12 NOON – 8pm
Saturday, June 2, 2012 – 10am – 7pm
Sunday, June 3, 2012 – 10am – 5pm

Donald E. Stephens Convention Center (Rosemont)
5555 N. River Road
Rosemont, IL 60018
Show Hours:
Thursday, August 9, 2012 – 5pm – 9pm
Friday, August 10, 2012 – 12 NOON – 8pm
Saturday, August 11, 2012 – 10am – 7pm
Sunday, August 12, 2012 – 10am – 5pm

More info here.