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Filmmaker Interviews
Filmmaker Interviews
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Filmmaker interviews from the 53rd group of Teen Press Reporters – Winter, 2025.
Reporters from Team 53 are covered the 40th SANTA BARBARA INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, running from February 4th - 15th, 2024. In addition to attending red carpet award events and viewing and reviewing several films, they spoke with filmmakers and some of the subjects of documentaries!
Filmmakers of "PADDLE OUT"
Filmmakers of "PADDLE OUT"
SEBI LEE
SEBI LEE
Documentary filmmaker SEBI LEE shared some of her 7-year journey to complete the film about her co-director and friend, MELISSA PAPPAGEORGAS, who defied the odds and made a rich life despite cystic fibrosis, once she discovered surfing. Teen Press reporters ETHAN & WYNNE rated the film "11 out of 10"!
SEBI LEE, JIMMY COHEN,
LORI PAPPAGEORGAS
SEBI LEE, JIMMY COHEN,
LORI PAPPAGEORGAS
In the Teen Press's first interaction with the filmmakers from "Paddle Out", reporters ELSIE & XIMENA find out a bit about the amazing story of MELISSA PAPPAGEORGAS, who defied cystic fibrosis--for a time--by surfing. Director SEBI LEE spoke of a friendship that turned into a film, and Melissa's mother, LORI PAPPAGEORGAS talked about some of what her daughter wanted people to learn from her story.
WILLIAM “JOEY” RODRIGUES
WILLIAM “JOEY” RODRIGUES
Melissa's friend, surf partner and then husband JOEY RODRIGUES spoke with reporters WYNNE & ETHAN after the world premiere of "Paddle Out". Among the many questions the two surfing reporters inquired about was what JOEY would like to have known when he started surfing. "I wish that I knew that surfing wasn't an ultimate road to getting on a shorter board." And many more thoughtful responses were obtained!
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