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Civic activist tries hand at filmmaking

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By KENNETH KNIGHT

kknight@tampatrib.com

Published: May 20, 2009

TEMPLE CREST - Terry Neal, a well-known guardian of River Hills Drive and the other canopied streets that crisscross this neighborhood, has taken on a new role as a documentary filmmaker.

The debut of Neal's documentary, "Orange Lake - Nature's Beauty," begins at 7 p.m. Thursday at Temple Terrace Community Church, 210 Inverness Ave. in Temple Terrace. Neal is making a presentation to the Temple Terrace Preservation Society.

"This is what I had hoped for," said Neal, who serves as president of the Temple Crest Civic Association.

"I didn't expect there would be a screening at Cannes," he said in jest, referring to the annual film festival held in southern France.

"I was hoping it would be something to educate people about wetlands, what they are, and what they do to save our Earth."

Similar to his concern about speeders on River Hills Drive and unwavering support for the 40th Street widening, Neal is passionate about Orange Lake.

The marsh wetlands known as Orange Lake connect to the Hillsborough River across from the Rogers Park Golf Course. The small body of water has floating islands of dense vegetation and has been identified by the Tampa Audubon Society as a primary roosting site for many species of birds.

The commitment to help save Orange Lake doesn't just stem from Neal's love for the serene, marshy area where wild animals feed, but also because of what it means to the environment, he said.

Careless acts of some boaters and nearby residents, along with the stress of helping to provide Tampa's drinking water supply, threaten the existence of the wetlands.

"The way to save the world is to save little bits and pieces of it," Neal said. "We have to save little pieces of wetlands.

"Orange Lake is one of the little pieces."

Using a home computer, photographs, video camera and movie software, Neal decided he had the tools to produce a documentary.

"The last three years I have been tracking the 40th Street widening," he said. "I have that all on tape, so I decided why not do the same thing with Orange Lake."

Neal produced the documentary in about six weeks.

"For a first-time documentary done on a home computer, I'm amazed," said the civic activist who serves on the 40th Street and Temple Terrace River Watch task forces.

Using the same technology, Neal plans to share his work with environmentally conscious online users around the world.

A 9-minute version of the documentary is posted on YouTube and at Neal's Web site, www.terryneal .com.

Reporter Kenneth Knight can be reached at (813) 731-3612.

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