Feature Film Based On Long Island Legend Set To Wrap

LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY — Shooting for the feature film based on one of Long Island's most famous legends, the Lady of Lake Ronkonkoma, is wrapping up, producers announced this week.

While urban legend has it that the spirit of a Native American princess haunts the lake and will pull unsuspecting male victims down in the water to their deaths, it's not clear if the film will touch on all of that.

Writer and director Maria Capp's "The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma: The Lady of the Lake" is billed as a psychological thriller with themes of family, love, and loss, according to producers.

It is currently wrapping up production in the film's namesake — Lake Ronkonkoma — and around the Yaphank area.

The film stars Seth Gilliam of "The Walking Dead" fame, Nia Sioux of "Dance Moms and "Runnin From My Roots," and Emery Kelly, who appeared in "Alexa and Katie" and "Big Shot," Larry Saperstein of "High School Musical: the Musical: The Series," and Steven Thomas Capp of "Fat Camp," "Reach" and "How I Met Your Mother."

It also stars veteran actor Del Zamora who appeared as Don Bartolo in "True Blood."

The film tells the story of Jamie Schultz, who is played by Sioux, a recent high school graduate who wishes to enjoy her last summer home and her 18th birthday at the lake with her friends, but it is overshadowed by the one-year anniversary of her brother’s drowning, according to producers.

Also in the mix is that Jamie has an estranged relationship with her father, who is played by Gilliam, and the mental health issues of her mother, who is played by Sera-Lys McArthur of "Outlander" fame, producers said.

The film also explores unexplained supernatural occurrences that haunt the once-happy family, said producers, adding that "Jamie certainly will not get the summer she was hoping for, or expecting. Dare to take a dip?"

Capp said that as a filmmaker, she has always wanted to share her experiences growing up on Lake Ronkonkoma, "and in line with my interest in identity formation and personal experience with grief’s effect on the family; I wrote a psychological thriller."

She noted that Schultz's character happens to have lineage that is traceable to the original people of the lake.

"I combined the supernatural component with a family suffering from a tragic loss while being haunted by this so-called legend," Capp said.

Capp produced and co-wrote the feature film, “Reach” and had her directorial debut with the holiday feature, “Four Cousins and a Christmas."