Film screening highlights impact of WWII on Golden Isles

Brunswick, GA – On Tuesday, January 24 at 6:00 p.m., the College of Coastal Georgia hosted a screening of the film documentary, “The Golden Isles at War” in the Stembler Theater of the Brunswick campus. Members of the Board of Trustees, along with Regent Jim Bishop and several community members, attended the showing. A later showing was held at noon and 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 27 for students and the public.

Following the screening, a panel discussion was held with panelists Dr. Christopher Wilhelm, Assistant Professor of History, Tyler Bagwell, MFA, Assistant Professor of Speech Communications, and Mr. Toland.

As the title suggests, “The Golden Isles at War,” produced by Lance Toland – with the help of Broadcast Solutions’ Jack English and Russ Jaimeson – and narrated by John Weatherford, explores the impact of World War II on Georgia’s Golden Isles through the eyes and narratives of more than two dozen people who lived here during that time.

The one-hour documentary, Toland said, details the carnage of U-boat attacks off the eastern seaboard — particularly the Georgia coastline — as well as the building of “Liberty Ships” on the south side of Brunswick and the construction of enormous blimp hangars on Glynn County’s north side.

It includes archival and newsreel footage, several photographs and memorabilia from subjects interviewed for the project, as well as historical items from publications and organizations such as The Brunswick News, Georgia Coastal Historical Society, Jekyll Island Museum Archives, Sea Island Archives, author Sonja Olsen Kinard and historian and CCGA Associate Professor of Speech Communications Tyler Bagwell.

Toland said the idea for “Golden Isles at War” was birthed about 25 years ago from a conversation in an airplane cockpit. After spending some time on Sea Island and around the Isles and hearing the untold stories of the war, he decided to document it.

In Toland’s words, “This is a part of history that would have been forgotten had we not done this (documentary) … I think what you will find is that you’re looking through the eyes of a child, and young adults and people who made a difference and it will prove to you that they too were part of the Greatest Generation,” he said.

The project included research, writing and editing by Emmy award-winning editor Beth Galvin, cinematography by Kevin Maggiore, and field production by Lisa Goodman and Leslie Faulkenberry.

Pictured is Mr. Lance Toland, film producer of “The Golden Isles at War.”

Contact: Brittany Tate

(912) 279-5938