M
ars native Jillian O’Neil has
definitely made her imprint in the
film world. As an actor, writer,
producer and director, she creates visual art
spherically, from concept to completion.
O’Neil’s short film, A Separate Life, was
screened at the Cannes Film Festival in
2011 and eventually distributed in several
countries around the world. Her work on
the film also garnered a Best New Director
award at the Action on Film International
Film Festival Awards. Lately though, O’Neil
has focused her attention on projects a little
closer to home.
One summer day, she decided to take her
children to Glade Run Lake for a fishing
trip. She loaded up the fishing tackle and the
kids, but upon arriving at the lake, O’Neil
was taken aback when she saw it had been
completely drained! The site of so many
happy childhood memories was now an
ugly, empty pit. The Pennsylvania Dept. of
Environmental Protection had determined
that the lake must be drained, due to the
precarious condition of its earthen dam.
The body of water that once breathed with
aquatic life now lay barren and silent.
O’Neil decided to use her considerable
film talents to produce a public service
announcement that would catch the
attention of local residents and inspire them
to action. In late 2013, she wrote, produced
and directed a 30-second announcement,
which is at least somewhat autobiographical.
In the film, a grandfather and his grandson
grab their fishing tackle and start walking
toward the site of Glade Run Lake. The pair
are stunned to find the local fishing hole
drained, very similar to O’Neil’s experience
with her own children.
“I learned to fish on that lake,” says O’Neil.
“My father taught me how to fish there. It
was just part of our regular routine...I just
decided that something had to be done to
bring back that lake.”
Her announcement ran on local TV
channels and also at local movie theaters.
The ad has definitely helped to stir up
interest in the campaign. The Glade Run
Lake Conservancy, which was formed
in 2011, has been steadily generating
contributions toward the $4 million goal of
restoring the lake. But the conservancy has
noticed a recent surge in interest since the
announcement aired. O’Neil hopes to make
additional ads which will be a more lighthearted appeal to save the lake.
Continued on page 14
Mars Area | Spring 2014 | icmags.com 13