know, we used local musicians. Used my church choir for the credits at the end, and it’ s a very East Texas film,” she said.
Temple said she wrote the script with Thad Sitton, who also grew up in Lufkin and has written and co-written more than 15 books.
“ He is very much a backwoodsman of the Neches River Valley,” Temple said.“ He is the guy to speak to about the overflow bottomlands and their values.”
Ron Kabele, who worked with Craven in the past, was the editor for this project. Temple said Associate Producer Adrian F. Van Dellen served as Craven’ s guide for the film.
She also noted that the narrator, W. F. Strong, has“ a beautiful voice.”
“ It was a lot of fun. I’ m so proud of it, and so I’ m so grateful to all the people,” Temple said.“ Kids absolutely love it.”
The movie premiered in Lufkin on May 31 at the Pines Theater to a full house, 450 people.
The film has already been picked up and aired by PBS, both statewide and national, and the producers have hosted several community viewings around the state.
Temple said getting the film aired on PBS was a major goal for the group.
“ I’ ve worked with them for years, with other films,” she said.“ They’ re really a good way to get the word out. They can bring you more viewers than you can reach through a theater. And you know all of PBS’ s films are authentic. They’ re not AI generated; they’ re real films. They have high standards. I wanted PBS. I also wanted the film to be free. That’ s another reason I wanted PBS.” Temple said upcoming public screenings include: – Sunday, Sept. 6- Premiere Screening at the
Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin
– Thursday, Sept. 17 – Michelson Museum Screening at the Michelson Museum of Art in Marshall
– Tuesday, Sept. 29 – Film Screening at the Turner Auditorium at Stephen F. Austin in Nacogdoches
For more information, log onto the film’ s website at www. nechesriverfilm. com.
Temple said you can find all of Craven’ s films and all but her organ film on PBS, the organ film can be found on YouTube.
SUMMER EDITION 2026 17