By Jane Kahn
For Coastal Senior

Left, Jason Siegler, owner of Siegler Productions who shot some of the video for the project, and right, Mark Albertin.

"Savannah Remembers," the story of Savannah in the 20th century, as told by some 80 or 90 Savannahians, will premiere in October at Trustees' Theatre as part of the Savannah Film Festival.

A private reception and VIP screening of the 80-minute documentary film will kick off the 2004 Film Festival on Oct. 14. A public showing will be held later in the month, also in conjunction with the Savannah Film Festival.

Mark Albertin, a former Savannahian who has produced similar stories for Augusta, Ga., Topeka, Kan., and St. Augustine, Fla, spent several months interviewing Savannahians from all walks of life, all facets of the community and photographing countless archival images from their collections.

The project, which was sponsored by the Savannah Morning News and Morris Communications, opens with a brief historical overview, from Gen. Oglethorpe's arrival in 1733 through World War I. This part of the film progresses quickly, since, Albertin explains, the project is based on living history and focuses mainly on the oral histories of the people who lived them.

In a segment entitled "Saltwater and Sand Gnats," the fast-paced video describes life on the coast, seafood, the weather, shrimping and the communities of Tybee, Sandfly, Pin Point, Isle of Hope and Thunderbolt. Another segment remembers Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts. "Sounds of Savannah" covers the musical heritage, from both the black and white communities, from jazz on West Broad Street to the big bands at Tybee, and, of course, Savannah-born Oscar winning song writer Johnny Mercer.

Through intensely personal recollections, Albertin uncovers the impact of the Great Depression on Savannah, the affects of World War II, the peaceful transition civic leaders were able to accomplish during the Civil Rights era, the restoration of downtown and the lost places that led to its revitalization.

"We can only go forward if we learn about the past," Albertin said. "If we blink, tomorrow they'll be gone. Time is not going to stop." His goal has been to hear about change, "about how life was different and many times much simpler from those who remember."

In trying to strike a balance of Savannah's population, Albertin has interviewed and video-taped some 86 people, the "whole mix that is Savannah"-- African Americans, Chinese Americans, and countless who are of Irish, Jewish, Greek or Italian descent.

"There are gems in each of these interviews," he said, adding that he believes the lessons learned from the stories will provide a time capsule for years to come.

In "Savannah Remembers," Albertin has culled personal reminiscences of "The Place We Call Home," warm memories of Savannah --"how it was, how it is, why they stayed, why they came back." His goal in promoting history from the 20th century is "to get people thinking about why we need to preserve it. I feel it was important to record them now!"

Albertin, 42-years-old, became interested in recording oral histories when he moved nine years ago from Savannah to Augusta to work for Morris Communications Co. as a color separator for the magazine division. It gave him the opportunity to research his grandmother, who was born and raised in Augusta during the early part of the 20th century.

"Although I had never met her, I felt as though learning about the city would teach me about her," he recalled.

As he continued the Augusta project, he met his grandmother's contemporaries. Many remembered her.

"It was great to learn about another time period and a person I have always wanted to know," he says. He thought he was only helping to preserve history, but found he was learning history from "some of the best teachers around."

It's important, he believes, that people in some way or some form record their stories, "even if they don't think they're important. We can learn so much from people who have been down that road. I have become a lot wiser from the people I've talked to. It makes you appreciate what you have and appreciate life," he said.

Only a fraction of each hour-long interview could be used in the final "Savannah Remembers" production. The Savannah Morning News will donate the individual unedited broadcast quality tapes to local colleges, libraries and historical groups for future archival research.

Albertin worked on the St. Augustine and Topeka documentaries before he tackled the Savannah project. Unlike the three other locales, here he has been able to tap into the memories of friends he made when he lived here, in 1986-88 and 1990-1995.

During several terms as president of the Coastal Bicycle Touring Club here, Albertin was responsible for an increase in membership and activity. Some of his Savannah cycling friends have been referrals and sources - three he features on screen. His current project focuses on Jacksonville.

A native of Waukesha, Wis., Albertin has an associate degree in printing and publishing from the graphic arts school at Milwaukee Area Technical College. He moved to the Lowcountry when his parents lived in Rose Hill, S.C., later moved to Savannah, and finally to Augusta.

"Savannah will always be my home," he remarked. "The people here are exceptional."