"St. Simons: Surviving Success" - Full Documentary
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Facebook.com/SSIsurvivingsuccess
DOWNLOAD our "TAKE ACTION TOOLKIT" at Tinyurl.com/SSI-Toolkit
Two filmmakers living on Saint Simons Island, GA (SSI) produced a 15-minute documentary in 2019 that they hope will motivate island residents to play a more active role in preserving SSI’s character and charm. The video “St. Simons: Surviving Success” is the creation of George Crain (Producer) and Lance Lipman (Director), both longtime creative production professionals. They produced the project solely on their own, with no sponsors or grants.
The documentary was inspired by Crain, who moved to St. Simons in 2005 after a career as a top producer of national commercials. After attending numerous island meetings, he became frustrated with the lack of progress in solving many of the island’s challenges. “We’re attempting to promote island pride and make the issue of preserving its charm and natural beauty at the top of everyone’s mind. The documentary is intended to be a call to action”, says Crain.
Lipman moved to St. Simons after many years as a corporate and documentary producer-director in Atlanta and agrees with Crain that the island is at a critical point. “We wanted to create this documentary to inform and move people emotionally. We don’t have all the answers, but we hope islanders will think about the questions surrounding St. Simons’ future”, says Lipman.
Among those appearing in the documentary are Susan Shipman, former Director of Georgia DNR’s Coastal Resources Division; Urban Planner Denise Grabowski, Principal of Symbioscity; Bill Walker, Chairman and CEO of Golden Isles Aviation; Roland Daniel, Owner of Roland Daniel Properties; and Cap Fendig, Owner of Lighthouse Trolleys and Cap Fendig Boat Tours.
“We are sharing this documentary with everyone who loves St. Simons to spur community involvement and discussion, even online, about how to preserve and enhance what’s special about this island community. Coming together to assess the health and future sustainability of our communities is more important than ever. We think that time has come for St. Simons,” say the documentary producers.
“St. Simons: Surviving Success” was a 2020 Official Selection and Best Documentary Short nominee of the Beaufort International Film Festival and a 2019 Official Selection and Best Documentary Short nominee of Amelia Island’s Rendezvous Film Festival. The documentary was also screened at St. Simons’ Island Cinema, where a crowd of over 500 was shown the documentary and presented with information about the island’s future growth and development.
I visited SSI just last week for the very first time and I am just now seeing this video. I was totally enamoured with the island, only being there 3 days. I went to College and Savannah and it did the same thing to me the first time I visited there. Being from the midwest, I had never imagined such a place. Now I live near DC and it is the absolute worst part about my life. We visited Savannah on this trip as well and I was a little sad. I saw so many new developments which are attracting too many people. They are building high rise hotels and I hate that for Savannah. There have been some tasteful improvements, but I felt like it had lost a little bit of it's charm. I hope the people of SSI continue to carry out this message and preserve this gem.
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. SSI, not being an incorporated city, isn't in complete control of it's destiny, so the fight goes on...
My grandparents moved to SSI 30 years ago, and it was so much fun as a kid. I'm 35 now and my last visit over the summer was very sad. Far too many people and too much development. When i walked my dog in the morning, i walked past clearcut spaces and a new development.
I'm proud of everyone for coming together to do what they can to preserve this breathtaking place.
wow officer lacey! I remember him when I was growing up there mainly he would remember me from playing music!
I remember watching the movie ' The Abominable Snowman 'at the Island Theater (a drive in) on St Simons in the late 1950's. Have ventured there from Atlanta virtually every year since.❤🙏🤗
They seem to be doing so many things right, so hats off to them.
We just returned from our first trip to St Simons and can clearly understand the pressure the Island is under with growth vs preservation. After just 24 hrs. we could the special spirit of this place. Great video!
Thanks for your thoughtful comment. It is indeed a treasured place and our desire to preserve SSI's charm is strong. How did you hear about our documentary? Please come back soon!
@@st.simonssurvivingsuccess5625 We do travel videos and was preparing to document our recent travels to St Simons Island and your video come up in our google feed/suggestions.
I’ve loved this island my whole life. I say no more building. Period. No new houses, no more condos. Just stop...
But as someone who loves the island so much and dream of living there, I am so happy to hear that they all feel as I do and are taking the steps in the right direction. I do think Glynn County is a problem. Over decades the county has used development on the island to boost tax dollars. Taxing African Americans who were descendants of slaves off of the land given to them by former masters and passed down through generations; that’s just wrong. It happened to many older locals in the 80’s. Because Glynn county wanted an upscale resort community, they found many ways to run off locals and take their land for a little bit of nothing or force them to sell because they couldn’t afford the taxes; all so developers could put up ugly condos or strip malls. Eminent Domain was used in the 30’s to confiscate prime beach front property from the residents of the Waycross Colony after a very suspicious fire burned every house down one winter. So, voting for commissioners who have the same vision and who have nothing to gain from developers and their shady ways is going to be crucial to changing zoning and getting infrastructure taken care of. Infrastructure costs money but development brings in money...
I am visiting St. Simon's for the first time next week. I know I'm going to love it. I lived on the coast of Florida for ten years. I grew up in tidewater Virginia.
You have to keep the criminal developers OUT. Ironclad environmental law. Goodlooking construction, not the usual builder spec trash. NO clearcutting.
I think that's a start.
Hard to argue with those goals, but not so easy to enforce. Enjoy your stay!
Sweet, magical place...love it
this is a great project to showcase the town, love the story telling and the rhythm. yes i would call it a retirement project thanks for sharing this masterpiece.
I lived in the condominiums behind The Village. (A-5 Skiff Landing) went to Fredrica Academy & hung out at East Beach/Sea Island every weekend. *Fun fact* the largest Eastern Diamondback rattlesnake population in the world is right there in the marshes !
It's 2023 & the Boom has begun.😢
Too little, too late!
Thanks for your encouragement! People said the same thing in 1970, 1980 and every year since. We can never stop trying to preserve what we have.
@@st.simonssurvivingsuccess5625 Well, isn't it truth? And yes I would keep trying. Sorry, didn't mean to be so blunt but I have an opinion too.
@@flowerpeddler8306 Sorry for the late reply. :) Yes, everyone is entitled to their opinion. But every desirable community is not the same place it was 30 years ago and has growth issues. We have to keep up the good fight. Cheers.