The world premiere of “Paddle Out” at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on February 13th introduces audiences to the powerful story of Melissa Pappageorgas, a surfer who defied the odds while battling cystic fibrosis (CF), a progressive genetic disease that primarily affects the lungs and digestive system. CF causes thick mucus buildup in the airways, leading to frequent infections, difficulty breathing, and reduced lung function—challenges that make a physically demanding sport like surfing seem nearly impossible. Despite this, Melissa refused to let CF define her limits.
Directed by Sebi Lee, the documentary is both a testament to Melissa’s unbreakable spirit and a filmmaker’s promise fulfilled. What started as a simple project capturing her love of surfing evolved into a profound friendship and an extraordinary journey. “Paddle Out” doesn’t just document her passion—it immortalizes her strength, resilience, and the impact she left behind.
At its core, “Paddle Out” is an emotional and deeply moving film. Melissa, despite her declining lung capacity, refused to let CF dictate her limits. “When I’m surfing, I can’t think about anything else but surfing. It’s either you surf, or you sink,” she once said. Even as she required an oxygen tank to breathe, she found a way to continue paddling out. The ocean became her sanctuary, a place where she was not a patient but a surfer, and the documentary captures that unwavering determination. The result is not a story about illness but one of perseverance, love, and the healing power of the water.
From a production standpoint, “Paddle Out” is impressively well-crafted. Shot on a modest budget, much of it self-funded by Lee, the film boasts cinematic visuals that rival high-budget documentaries. The breathtaking surf sequences, raw personal footage, and Melissa’s own video diaries are seamlessly woven together to tell a story that is hopeful rather than melodramatic. The film rarely leans into sentimentality—it doesn’t need to. Instead, it allows Melissa’s vibrant personality and the incredible community that rallied around her to shine. The result is an inspiring documentary that feels as boundless as the waves she loved.
“Paddle Out” is more than just a film—it’s a tribute to the power of the human spirit, the bonds of friendship, and the way communities can lift each other up. Sebi Lee sat down with Awards Focus for an intimate and exclusive interview, sharing the challenges of making the film, the impact of Melissa’s story, and how a promise to a friend turned into something much bigger than he ever imagined.
Awards Focus: The heart of your film is Melissa Pappageorgas. Can you take us back to how you first met and the journey that led to making this documentary?
Sebi Lee: I met her around 2017. She came to the office where I was freelancing at a commercial advertisement firm because she had participated in a hospital commercial the company shot. She wanted footage for a personal project, and that’s how I first got to know her.
I asked about the project, and she told me about cystic fibrosis (CF). I had lost a good friend in college to CF, so I had some experience with it but never really knew the details. Melissa had such an amazing personality—always happy, always positive. We were both local girls, and it just felt natural to help her. I told her, “Whatever I can do, let me know. I have a background in documentary, so let’s do something.” Our friendship grew from there, and I became more involved.
AF: Surfing became such a profound part of Melissa’s life. Where did that love come from, and what did being in the water mean to her?
Lee: Mauli Ola was where it all started for her. They’re an incredible group of surfers who introduce kids with health conditions to the ocean. It’s more than just fun—it’s healing. When you’re sick, being in the ocean clears you out, your breathing improves, even wounds heal faster in saltwater.
For Melissa, surfing was everything. I asked her once, “Why do you love surfing so much?” She said, “When I’m surfing, I can’t think about anything else but surfing. It’s either you surf, or you sink.” That phrase really stuck with me.
I come from a strong Buddhist background and practice meditation daily. The key to happiness is learning how to live in the moment. Melissa embodied that on a surfboard. That’s when I told her, “We’re striving for the same thing. You do it on a surfboard, I do it sitting in meditation. It’s the same goal.” From then on, I knew I had to help tell her story.
AF: As we progress through the film, Melissa loses the strength to surf on her own. Yet that didn’t stop her. Can you talk about her husband Joey [Rodrigues] and the efforts of the community to enable Melissa to tandem surf?
Lee: Joey was incredible—not just as her boyfriend and eventual husband, but as someone who made her dream of surfing a reality. He’s a highly skilled surfer and instructor, so he had much more control in the water than most. But even for him, this was incredibly challenging.
The oxygen tank (Melissa needed with her) alone weighed about 20 pounds. Surfing is already about balance, but imagine doing it with another person and that extra weight. They tried using pedal boats, but they weren’t big enough. That’s when Bob Pearson stepped in and custom-built a larger surfboard. Even then, Joey had to work incredibly hard to keep them upright.
Then there was the oxygen tank issue. They first tried modifying a diving backpack, but it wasn’t stable enough. The tank hit Joey in the head a few times. That’s when O’Neill came in. Hans from Mauli Ola introduced us, and when we went to their office, Melissa gave this incredible presentation about CF. The designers were shocked, inspired—they were all in. They wanted to help however they could.
AF: The film is visually stunning and features music from artists like Jack Johnson. How did that all come together?
Lee: It started with iPhone footage. I had my own gear, but I knew I needed a professional team. I told my industry friends, “Here’s my budget. Would you help?” Over 100 people volunteered—cinematographers, editors, musicians. Everyone wanted to be part of it.
Jack Johnson’s team immediately said, “We’ll help you.” But it didn’t stop there. Once Jack was on board, it opened doors to securing additional music rights. His team personally reached out to the estate of John Prine to request the rights to one of his songs—Melissa and Joey’s wedding song. They explained Melissa’s story, and John Prine’s estate agreed to donate the song. That set off a chain reaction. Other musicians, once they heard about the project, wanted to contribute as well.
Then, Lisa Andersen, the legendary surfer, narrated a poem in the film. Her voice brought an emotional depth to the story, and having her as a part of it meant so much because she understood the connection between the ocean and healing.
This film was a divine project. It came together because of the love people had for Melissa and the impact her story had on them. And through it all, Melissa’s story continues to inspire.
AF: The goal of the film was to capture her love of surfing and to raise awareness around CF. But was it ever your plan to capture her final moments?
Lee: As we were filming, she was getting a new oxygen tank. I understood why she needed it, but I didn’t fully grasp how much her health was deteriorating. When I met her, she already had a little oxygen support, but she had also had a lung transplant before. She never really complained, so I assumed she was doing okay. It seemed like a phase she would get through, and then she would get better. She was always so forward-thinking, always making plans. Many people thought the same—she was preparing to surf with her oxygen, so it felt like things would be okay.
On December 2nd (2017), we talked about going to Hawaii. The Mauli Ola Foundation was going to have a big event. She had such fond memories of them and kept telling me, “You’re going to be a surfer. We’re going to go there and surf.” That was our big dream.
But things deteriorated. That day, I got a call from her mom: “Come over. Things aren’t going well.” So I went to Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California to see her. She wasn’t in the ICU yet—just a regular hospital room. She had a BiPAP mask on, so she couldn’t really talk. When she saw me without my camera, she gestured for me to start rolling. I took it in two ways: Okay, she’s doing okay. Okay, I’ll go get the camera.
So I did what she asked. I got the camera and started rolling. That’s where I captured the next ten hours of her life. Nobody knew what was about to happen. About three hours in, they told me her heart was failing, and they moved her to the ICU. That’s when I realized: Oh my God, this is it. This could be it.
I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to keep the camera rolling if things were turning for the worst. So I stepped outside and asked her mom and dad, as well as her friends and family, “What should I do? What’s happening?” They were all crying, but they looked at me and said, “You know exactly what she wants you to do.” That was it. I gathered my courage, picked up the camera, and went back inside.
Melissa was talking, saying goodbye to everyone, making decisions. CF patients have a great fear of dying by suffocation—coughing up blood, struggling to breathe. But as you saw in the film, she passed so peacefully.
For me, capturing that footage wasn’t just for the documentary—it gave comfort to so many people. It became something much bigger than I ever imagined.
AF: Can you expand on that last thought about providing comfort?
Lee: I will never forget what Melissa’s brother Nick told me. He said, “Watching her pass peacefully was the greatest gift she could have given me.” For CF patients, the biggest fear is dying by suffocation—coughing up blood, struggling to breathe. But Melissa didn’t go like that.
I remember Nick telling me, “I always thought about the way it would happen—what it would be like. I worried it would be terrifying, painful. But when I saw her go peacefully, I realized I didn’t have to be afraid anymore.” That was such a powerful moment for me. It made me understand how deeply CF families carry that fear every day, how much anxiety they live with. Melissa’s final moments gave Nick, and so many others in the CF community, a sense of peace.
That’s why this film is so important. It’s not just about Melissa’s life, but about offering comfort to people who have lived with CF, people who are scared of what’s ahead. Melissa’s story shows that peace is possible.
AF: After her passing, it took some time before you could return to the film. Can you share what that process was like?
Lee: That day at the hospital, I promised her, “I will finish your film.” But after that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to look at the footage. It took me over a year and a half.
Then, when I finally revisited it, I saw something I hadn’t remembered. When I made that promise to her, she nodded. I hadn’t seen it in the moment, but it was there on the footage. That hit me so hard. It was like she was sealing our agreement.
I remember telling people, “Think really hard before you make a promise to someone—because you have to keep it.” I knew I had to keep mine. I maxed out my credit cards, found every resource. But I also call this project a divine project—there was no way I could have done this alone. So many people came together to help.
AF: Melissa’s family, as well as Joey, have been instrumental in keeping her legacy alive. Can you talk about their impact?
Lee: Her parents, Chris and Lori, and her brother Nick are incredible. They work full-time jobs and still dedicate themselves to this cause. At a recent fundraiser, they raised over $4 million. They do everything themselves, running this entire foundation out of their home garage. They don’t have a big team. It’s just them, pouring their time and energy into making a difference.
I tell people all the time—Chris and Lori feel like my own parents now. I’ve spent so much time with them, and they’ve treated me like family from the start. The love they have for Melissa didn’t end when she passed. It continues in every action they take, every person they help. When I see their dedication, it reminds me that this is bigger than a film. It’s a movement to honor Melissa’s life and help others facing the same struggles she did.
And Joey—he wasn’t just Melissa’s boyfriend and husband. He was an incredible caregiver, not just to her but to her whole family. Even now, at every fundraiser, he’s still there. He’s married now to another amazing woman, and she’s just as involved. At one fundraiser, she had a broken leg, and she was still helping, setting up tents, making sure everything ran smoothly. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would feel seeing Joey there now, with someone else. But honestly? She’s the coolest woman in the world. She supports everything Melissa believed in. She’s there for her legacy.
That’s what’s so special about this community—it’s not just about one person. It’s about showing up for each other. That’s what Melissa would have wanted, and that’s exactly what’s happening.
For more information, visit The Living Breath Foundation at www.livingbreathfoundation.org, “Paddle Out” at www.paddleoutfilm.com, and the Mauli Ola Foundation at www.mauliola.org.