Indie filmmaker to move to Fallbrook

Patricia Thio (“Tee-o”) works in the Office of University Relations at Loma Linda University. That is her day job. She also moonlights as an independent filmmaker and has recently produced a 27-minute documentary entitled “Footsteps of the Unknown.” The executive producer is Dr. Richard Hart, but Thio served as the producer, director, screenwriter, cinematographer and editor of the piece. The film will be used by Adventist Health International as well as by Loma Linda University.

Thio, who plans to move to Fallbrook, flew to the western highlands of Ethiopia to film the movie in the village of Gimbie. The village has been a place where volunteers from the United States help out at the local Gimbie Adventist Hospital.

The movie features Chandra and Charlie Baier, Americans who came to Gimbie shortly after their honeymoon as short-term help for the hospital. They had a plan to spend only three months there, but the three months became three years. Also featured in the film are Sister Suzy and Sister Maty, who are nuns from Ecuador, as well as Penny, a midwife from London. The group rides in off-road vehicles as they minister to the people of Gimbie. Thio captures the rich color of the landscape and the rich color of the people. With her skillful use of African hues she tells the fascinating stories.

The emotional impact when Thio highlights the Americans who have come to serve the Ethiopians and help to transform their lives, is incredible. However, the Americans are not the real heroes of the story — that honor belongs to the people themselves, who are open to positive change and are willing to work toward a better future.

One of the Ethiopian heroes captured in the film is Sarika, a boy of about 12, who lives with his two sisters in a small apartment with a dirt floor. Sarika’s mother recently died leaving he and his sisters orphaned. Through the generous gifting from an anonymous donor, Sarika now sleeps in a bed instead of curling up on the earthen floor. This person continues to send him $50 a month. Sarika attends school and studies even though he has no parents to prompt him. He keeps a smile on his face and a cheerful countenance.

Patricia Thio has a love for documentary filmmaking, not only for the impact, but because it is “fun.” On the 22-hour plan ride to Ethiopia Thio experienced both “nervousness and excitement.” “But once I arrived at the Addis Ababa airport, Chandra and Charlie were there [even at the grueling hour of 3:30 a.m.]. It was then that I knew that everything would be just fine. After an hour’s sleep, we left for the 10-hour road and off-road trip to the western highlands of Gimbie.”

In Gimbie she found people who were survivors, and were actually thriving in poverty. She was also impressed with those who were involved with the hospital, those who traded their comfortable lives to bring hope to the locals. “It is there where I followed the footsteps of these unknown survivors, unknown heroes.”

The film screened at the Temecula Valley International Film & Music Festival in September and the Newport Beach Film Festival in April. It was also nominated for the Mayor’s Award at the Heart of Gold International Film Festival in Queensland, Australia. “Footsteps of the Unknown” won Honorable Mention for Short Documentary at the Ole Muddy Film Festival in Arcadia, WI.

Thio is looking forward to moving to Fallbrook after her marriage to a native Fallbrook resident. “After I say ‘I do’ I’ll be living in Fallbrook, so Fallbrook already feels like home to me,” she related.

For further information on “Footsteps of the Unknown” contact Patricia Thio at [email protected].