Superstorm moves theoretical ideas in documentary on barrier islands’ vulnerability to reality

PHILADELPHIA – Superstorm Sandy is giving a dramatic finish to a Philadelphia filmmaker’s documentary about the vulnerability of barrier islands.

Ben Kalina had been working on “Shored Up” for three years and was close to finishing when the storm pounded the East Coast last month.

He says he learned from making the movie that with rising sea levels, sinking barrier islands and more dramatic weather, more should be done to decide how to protect the islands and whether to allow development on them.

But the storm moved those questions from theoretical to immediate.

Kalina is aiming to finish “Shored Up” by early next year.