By Ben Kalina
I spent much of the past 4 years directing Shored Up, a film about coastal development, sea level rise and the science and policy debates surrounding these issues. It was a long process with many twists, the biggest of which came when Superstorm Sandy hit and brought a dramatic new context to the film.
North Carolina figures prominently in Shored Up, initially as a contrast between the state’s forward-looking coastal development policies and the slippery slope of groins, jetties and beach replenishment in other states like New Jersey. But this contrast was turned on its head as the North Carolina Legislature started to reverse many of these laws in 2012.
As a result of North Carolina’s role in the film I’ve been actively planning a screening tour across the state this coming January. It was to kick off with an event in Wilmington and culminate with a showing and panel discussion at a Science Café event in the North Carolina Natural Science Museum. All seemed to be going well and this was shaping up to be a great opportunity to reach press and politicians with the science and policy issues that the film covers.
