MIDDLESEX TWP — An actress and filmmaker donated her time and talent to help restore a cherished childhood memory.

Jillian O'Neil is a 1992 Mars High School graduate who has acted in television and films and produced a short film that was featured at the 2011 Cannes Film Festival.

She returned to the area in 2011 to open Wright Road Productions in Adams Township. She decided to take her two young children to Glade Run Lake to show them the place where many of her happiest childhood memories were formed.

“That's when I saw it was drained,” O'Neil said.

She then learned of the Glade Run Lake Conservancy and its efforts to have the faulty dam rebuilt and the lake restored.

O'Neil immediately wondered if her production company could help raise awareness of the conservancy and its efforts.

With the conservancy board's blessing, O'Neil produced and directed a 30-second commercial deploring the drained lake and encouraging viewers to support the conservancy.

The commercial was shown regionally on Nickelodeon, Fox, CNN and sports channels between Thanksgiving and New Year's. It was also played during previews at five movie theaters, including Regal Moraine Pointe Cinema 10, the South Pike Cinemas, and Cranberry Cinema.

O'Neil donated her time and equipment for the commercial, which shows a young boy and his grandfather, played by O'Neil's father, Robert Pergl, arriving at the lake with their fishing poles in hand.

“I remember when my grandpap brought me over here to Glade Run Lake to teach me how to fish,” Pergl's character said as he and the boy gather their gear from the back of a truck. “Now it's your turn. C'mon, lets go catch some fish!”

The pair then sadly approach the dry lake bed, their family day in the sun ruined. The narrative on the screen explains that the lake had to be drained, but hope exists to bring it back.

The scene then cuts to O'Neil's own children, Justin, 12, and Amber, 9. They implore viewers to help bring back the lake.

“Will you help us?” asks a pigtailed Amber.

A large group, which includes Pergl and his “grandson” Luke Henderson, shouts “Help us bring back our lake!” before the conservancy's website, www.gladerunlakeconservancy.org, appears on the screen at the end.

O'Neil said the entire 25-person cast and crew donated their time, as did the editor and cinematographer. The commercial was shot in one day in September at the lake.

“It would have cost thousands to do this,” she said.

O'Neil said the commercial was the first of three she hopes to make for the conservancy. She said the first ad was aimed at conservancy awareness, and the next two will be more lighthearted.

“Now I want to get in there and make some fun commercials to garner more support,” O'Neil said. “I'm looking forward to doing more for them and furthering that campaign.”

Bonnie Chappel, vice president of the conservancy, said she and her fellow board members have received positive feedback from those who have seen the commercial.

Chappel said the conservancy board looks forward to additional commercials from O'Neil and appreciates her efforts.

“It's just a constant reminder that we're there,” Chappel said. “That's what we're aiming for.”

O'Neil recalls family time at the lake during her childhood, when her family cared for her grandparents.

“We would go up there almost daily,” she said. “It was a recreation we did all the time to get a sense of peace and calm.”

The filmmaker was pleased with the initial commercial's outcome, and looks forward to making the other two with the cooperation of the conservancy.

“There are so many people working so hard to bring back the lake, that I was just happy to be able to contribute to their efforts,” O'Neil said.