At Thunderstone Pictures, we use our award-winning filmmaking to change the way people see the world around them. We produce a variety of unique media including drama, documentary and institutional films for national broadcast, professional use, therapeutic use, film festivals and Internet applications. We employ our diverse backgrounds to make films about important issues and that tell meaningful stories about the rich history, traditions, and characters of Northwestern Ontario.


At the core of Thunderstone Pictures is the production team of Michelle Derosier and Dave Clement.

Dave is an earth scientist and teacher, turned filmmaker. He has directed several award-winning drama and documentary films including "Seeking Bimaadziiwin" and "Woodland Spirits", the latter which premiered on TVOntario's prime-time program "The View From Here".

His films tend to deal with the relationships between humans, their environment and the institutions that govern this interaction. Issues concerning First Nations people have become Dave's focus over the years for a growing number of reasons. Through vivid landscape cinematography and filming in rugged locations, Dave is quickly establishing himself as one of Canada's talented northern filmmakers.

Dave has taught courses in "Non-fiction Film" at Confederation College and has taught courses in Geomorphology, Aerial Photography and Mapping at Lakehead University in the past.

In the fall of 2008, Dave was officially recognized as a "Citizen of Exceptional Achievement" by the Mayor of the City of Thunder Bay.

Education:

Diploma, 2-year - Film Production (2005) - Confederation College

Master's of Science Degree (MSc) - Fluvial Geomorphology (1999) - University of Calgary

Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree (HBA) - Geography (1997) - Lakehead University

Film Awards:

Best Live Action Short Film - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007), 32nd Annual American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco, California, USA
Best Film- "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
Best Director- "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
Best Cinematographer- "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
Best Film- "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) Algoma International Film Association Awards
Nominated, Best Short Film "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Winnipeg, Manitoba
1st People's Choice Award "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) 2007 Bay Street Film Festival
2nd People's Choice Award- "Woodland Spirits" (2007) 2007 Bay Street Film Festival
People's Choice Award "The Remnant" (2006) 2006 Bay Street Film Festival
Nominated Best Non-Fiction Photography "Borealis" (2005), Golden Sheaf Award, Yorkton Short Film Festival;
Nominated Best Documentary on Nature/Environment "Borealis" (2005), Golden Sheaf Award Yorkton Short Film Festival;
Best Documentary "Borealis" (2005) (2005) Toronto Student Shorts International Film festival;
2nd Place "Borealis" (2005), MCTV VideoMaker’s Awards, Sudbury, 2005;
Best Cinematographer "Borealis" (2005), Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards; ;
Best Film Editor "Borealis" (2005), Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards;
Best Sound "Borealis" (2005), FlashFrame Persian Awards;
2nd Place "Borealis" (2005), North of Superior Film Association Awards;

Selected Film Festival Screenings

Sami Film Festival, Guovdageaidnu, Norway - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco, California - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
Bay Street Film Festival- "Woodland Spirits" (2007)
Heard Museum Film Festival, Phoenix, Arizonan - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
Native Revolution Film Festival, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
International Rights Protection Film Festival, Kiev, Ukraine - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
Dawson City International Short Film Festival, Dawson City, Yukon - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
Weenebeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Moose Factory, Ontario - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
Shadows of the Mind Film Festival, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario - "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007)
Montreal World Film Festival - "Borealis" (2005);
Yorkton Short Film Festival - "Borealis" (2005);
Regina Cinema Arts Festival - "Borealis" (2005);
Bay Street Film Festival - "Borealis" (2005);
Claremont Film Festival, California, USA - "Borealis" (2005);

Filmography:

DIRECTOR/D.O.P.
To My Son In Spain: Finnish Canadians in the Spanish Civil War (in-prod), 42 mins, documentary, DV
Sharing Tebwewin (2008) 30 min, documentary, DV
Seeking Bimaadiziiwin (2007) 31 min, drama, 16mm
Woodland Spirits (2007) 28min, documentary, DV
Borealis (2005) 13min, doc/experimental, 16mm
Power and Pet-Coke (2004) 52min, documentary, DV
Story of the Grassy Narrows Blockade (2003) 53min, documentary, DV
Thunder Bay Says No to War (2002) 18min, documentary, DV
Opposing the First Nations Governance Act (2002) 24min, documentary, DV
Global Day of Action Against The War (2002) 12min, documentary, DV

DIRECTOR
The Remnant (2006) 20min, drama, 16mm

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
The Healing Lens (in-prod) documentary, HD, Directed by Michelle Derosier, Thunderstone Pictures
On The Rails In Red (2006) 23min, 16mm, Directed by Piotr Skowronski, Photoplay Productions
Cat and Mouse (2005) 21min, 16mm, Directed by Piotr Skowronski, Photoplay Productions

OTHER CREDITS
[Gaffer, Camera Op] Undertow (in prod) 26min, HD, Photoplay Productions
[Gaffer] Free Press (2008) 8min, HD, Photoplay Productions
Juokko Tolonen and Cool Train (in post) 25min, DV [Camera Op]
Action for Neighborhood Change (2006) NFB Doc [Sound Op]
Dorothea Mitchell: A Reel Pioneer (2006), 55min, DV/16mm, [Gaffer/Camera Assist]
Perogy Nation (2006) 25min ea., DV [Camera Op]
Spirit of Shackelton: Antarctic Voyage (2006) 30 min, DV [Editor/Producer]
Destination Nor’Ouest (2006) HD, Broadcast [Props Assistant]
Voyageur Legacy : Our Story (Le Printemps de Voyageurs: La Genese) (2005) 53 min, DVCam [Camera Op]
Morning In The Northwest : The Voyageur Dynasty (Le Printemps de Voyageurs) (2005) 53 min, DVCam [2nd Assist. Director]
Turning Points Series(2005) 300+min, Beta SP/DV [Camera Op / Gaffer]
Finnish Immigrants in the Decade of the Depression (2004) 240min, DV [Camera Op/Editor]

Michelle is co-owner of Thunderstone Pictures and works as a producer, director, writer, and actor. She is originally from Migisi Sahgaigan, (Eagle Lake First Nation) in Northwestern Ontario. With Master's level training in Social Work, Michelle has ten years of front line experience working in mental health with First Nations people. She has delivered workshops on innovations in group therapy for youth, using art as a healing tool, parenting, and violence in Aboriginal communities. She has also published on the topic of Historical and Social Influences on Violence in Aboriginal Communities.

Michelle's interests expanded to include the use film as a vehicle for healing and empowerment. And she is currently Directing "The Healing Lens", a documentary about the power of art and culture in healing First Nation's Youth.

Michelle wrote the screenplay, played a lead role and worked as co-producer for the award-winning drama "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin". She also worked as researcher, interviewer and the host of the documentary "Sharing Tebwewin".

Education

Master's of Social Work Degree (in progress), Lakehead University

Honours Bachelor of Social Work Degree Lakehead University

Film Awards:

Writer/Co-producer/Lead Actor - Seeking Bimaadiziiwin

Best Live Action Short Film "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) - 32nd Annual American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco, California, USA
Best Film- "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
Best Film- "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) Algoma International Film Association Awards
Nominated, Best Short Film "Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007), Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Winnipeg, Manitoba
1st Place, People's Choice Award"Seeking Bimaadiziiwin" (2007) Bay Street Film Festival, Thunder Bay, Ontario

Filmography:

PRODUCER/DIRECTOR
The Healing Lens (in-prod) documentary, HD

WRITER/HOST/RESEARCHER
Sharing Tebwewin (2007) documentary, 30min., DV

WRITER/ACTOR/CO-PRODUCER
Seeking Bimaadiziiwin (2007) drama, 31min., 16mm




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