Browsing articles from "January, 2011"

The Healing Lens to screen in Germany

Jan 25, 2011 // by admin // In the Media // No Comments

Thunderstone’s “The Healing Lens” by Michelle Derosier will be screening in Stuttgart, Germany, February 20th, 2011 as part of a film block entitled HEALING POWERS OF MEDIA.

INDIANER INUIT: The North America Film Festival is the first and only of its kind in Europe. It takes place biannually in Stuttgart alternating with the BEST OF THE SAN FRANCISCO AMERICAN INDIAN FILM FESTIVAL. In cooperation with Michael Smith, director of the San Francisco Film Institute and Festival, the BEST OF exclusively presents award winning films of the last San Francisco Film festival to the European public. The North America Native Film Festival in Stuttgart is based on the cooperation of leading cultural institutions: Linden-Museum (State Museum of Ethnology), German-American Center/James Byrnes-Institute and the Volkshochschule with a focus on adult education. The events offer the unique opportunity to discuss new, exciting and unexpected aspects of Native American/First Nations cultures – far removed from one-dimensional stereotypes about indigenous peoples of North America.

More information here: http://www.nordamerika-filmfestival.com/en/best-of.html

Thunderstone Pictures films drum teachings for cultural communications research project

Jan 24, 2011 // by admin // Behind the scenes, Blog // 2 Comments

We were approached by Celeste Pedri, a graduate student in Inter-cultural Communications at Royal Roads University, to help her use film as a part of her Master’s dissertation. Celeste is examining the role of the drum in traditional Anishinabek teachings and regularly works with a group of drummers that spans the generations. She turned to video because she really couldn’t figure out “how to study song on paper” and she required our help not only because she was a full participant in her research (and needed to be in front of the camera) but also because she wanted the technical quality required by outlets that would help her research go public. Not only is she producing research, she wanted to create a lasting gift to her people that can be watched and used to learn from for generations.

That said, because this was research, the challenge for Thunderstone was to capture every word and every song on the first take during the six-hour gathering. Thanks to our great crew and some new technology we were able to document absolutely everything. Now comes the process of working with Celeste to edit the work.

Here are some production stills of the shoot which took place at the Learning Cafe in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Photos by Michelle Derosier.

Some screen shots from role models film

Jan 18, 2011 // by admin // Behind the scenes, Blog // No Comments

Here are a few screen shots from the soon-to-be completed “Leading the Way: NAN Role Models in Health Care“.

Project ENABLE complete

Jan 18, 2011 // by admin // Behind the scenes, Blog // No Comments

In November, we were asked to produce a short informational film by Paul Giles of Anishinabek Employment and Training Services and program manager for Project ENABLE. ENABLE is a unique Aboriginal skills and base-level education program that takes in to account the specific needs of the individual in order for them to overcome the barriers they are facing to employment of education.

He wanted something that could be used as proof of the effectiveness of the program to funders as well as something that could show off the program at trade shows and conferences.

A tight budget allowed for only a two day shoot. Day one was spent filming the program in action at Gull Bay First Nation, about 180km North of Thunder Bay. An early rise and some snowy roads added an element of adventure. Day two was spent conducting interviews at Thunderstone’s studio and filming the Little Bear Singers drum at Anishinabek Employment and Training Services.

Here’s the finished product: