About Us

At Thunderstone Pictures we craft award-winning drama and documentary films as well as commercial and educational products. We also collaborate with other filmmakers, broadcasters and clients (ie. CBC’s fifth Estate or The Ontario Arts Council) who are looking for professional filmmaking services including camera, production, location scouting, sound and post-production. Thunderstone is also in possession of it’s own HD Broadcast-quality camera, sound and post-production equipment making us your one-stop shop.

At the core of Thunderstone Pictures is the creative team of Dave Clement and Michelle Derosier. Unlike other film companies in Northern Ontario, Dave and Michelle bring a rich and unique skill-set set based on their rich set of life experiences, higher education and diversity of cultural backgrounds. Deeply rooted in their community, Dave and Michelle seek to make meaningful contributions both professionally and personally to the place they call home. Thunderstone Pictures has recently become widely recognized as a trailblazer for Northern filmmaking that pulls no punches on the social issues affecting our communities. The company was recently presented with the Mayor’s Community Safety and Crime Prevention Award from the City of Thunder Bay for our work with at-risk youth and for raising awareness on critical social issues like the prescription drug epidemic.

Michelle Derosier, HBSW

Named Female News-maker of the Year by Wawatay News, Michelle is an award-winning filmmaker who brings her twelve years of experience as a front line social worker to bear on her drama and documentary film work. Co-owner of Thunderstone Pictures, she works as a producer, director, writer, and occasionally even as an actor. She is Bear Clan originally from Migisi Sahgaigan, (Eagle Lake First Nation) in Northwestern Ontario. She has been a guest on TVO and CBC’s “The Current” speaking about First Nations issues, addiction, and the Indian residential school experience. In addition to her film work 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 focus has been on using film as a vehicle for healing and empowerment.  She produced and directed “The Life You Want: A Young Woman’s Struggle Through Addiction” and the youth arts education project “Eagle vs. Sparrow” which recently received an Honourable Mention for Best Canadian Short Drama at the 2011 ImagineNative Film and Media Arts Festival. She wrote and starred in the multiple-award-winning “Seeking Bimaadiziiwin” and made her directorial debut with the “The Healing Lens“, a documentary about the power of art and culture in healing First Nation’s Youth which won for Best Public Service Film at the American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco.  In addition to producing and directing, Michelle has also worked on many other productions in the capacity of Art Director, Script Supervisor, Researcher, Interviewer and on-camera host. She has also narrated several films including “To My Son In Spain“.

Michelle’s film Return To Minomin, a documentary chronicling the return of four generations of her family back to their traditional wild rice lake, is currently touring the festival circuit.

Education

Master’s of Social Work Degree (in progress), Lakehead University
Honours Bachelor of Social Work Degree Lakehead University

Film Awards:

Best Canadian Short – Honorable Mention – “Eagle vs. Sparrow” (2011), ImagineNATIVE Film and Media Arts Festival, Toronto
Best Public Service Film – “The Healing Lens” (2009), 35th Annual American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco, California, USA
Best Film Nomination - “The Healing Lens” (2009) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
Best Director Nomination - “The Healing Lens” (2009) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
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
Return To Manomin (2011) documentary, 72 min., HD
The Life You Want: A Young Woman’s Struggle Through Addiction (2011) documentary, 34 min., HD
Eagle vs. Sparrow (2011) comedy, 8 min., HD
The Healing Lens (2009) documentary, 46 min., HD

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

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

SOUND OP
CBC fifth Estate: Stories From The River’s Edge ((2011) documentary, 44min., HD

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Dave Clement, HBA, MSc.

Dave is founder and co-owner of Thunderstone Pictures and directs, shoots and edits his own work as well as collaborating with others as a cinematographer and editor.  In addition to extensive commercial work, he has produced and directed several drama and documentary films including the 20-minute drama The Remnant, the multi-award-winning drama Seeking Bimaadziiwin and the Thunderstone-NFB documentary co-production Woodland Spirits which premiered on TVO’s “The View From Here”.

Dave’s film work often deal with the relationships between humans, their environment and the institutions that govern this interaction. Issues of concern to First Nations people have become his focus over the years for a number of reasons that include him proudly becoming part of an Anishinabek family. Combining his skills in creating vivid cinematography with a knack for filming in rugged locations and the rigours of remote expedition logistics, Dave has quickly established himself as one of Canada’s truly talented northern filmmakers.  He has taught courses in Non-fiction Film Production at Confederation College and has taught courses in Glacial and Fluvial Geomorphology, Aerial Photography and Cartography at Lakehead University in the past.  In 2008, he was officially recognized by the Mayor and Council of the City of Thunder Bay as a Citizen of Exceptional Achievement.  In 2009, he beefed up his feature-film production skills working as Production Manager (mentored) on the critically-acclaimed feature film Oliver Sherman.

Dave now feels ready to take on a feature filmmaking and is currently developing two features. “Still Waters” with Dan Courtney, is a 90-minute film set in present-day Thunder Bay. Working title – “Angelique’s Isle” is an incredible true story of love and survival set on the wild and mystical Lake Superior frontier in the 1840′s. This project is a collaboration with co-writers James R. Stevens and Michelle Derosier.

Education:

Film Production Diploma (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 Public Service Film – “The Healing Lens” (2009), 35th Annual American Indian Film Festival, San Francisco, California, USA
Best Film Nomination - “The Healing Lens” (2009) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
Best Cinematographer Nomination - “The Healing Lens” (2009) MFM Northern Music and Film Awards, Sudbury
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
Best Short Film Nomination “Seeking Bimaadiziiwin” (2007) Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival, Winnipeg, Manitoba
People’s Choice Award “Seeking Bimaadiziiwin” (2007) 2007 Bay Street Film Festival
People’s Choice Award- “Woodland Spirits” (2007) 2007 Bay Street Film Festival
People’s Choice Award “The Remnant” (2006) 2006 Bay Street Film Festival
Best Non-Fiction Photography Nomination “Borealis” (2005), Golden Sheaf Award, Yorkton Short Film Festival;
Best Documentary on Nature/Environment Nomination “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;

Filmography:

PRODUCER
Return To Manomin (2011) documentary, 72 min., HD
Emerging From the Rubble (in post.) 12 min, documentary, HD
Valuing the Forest (2010) 24 min, documentary, HD
The Healing Lens (2009) 46 min, documentary, HD
To My Son In Spain: Finnish Canadians in the Spanish Civil War (2009), 42 mins, documentary, DV
Seeking Bimaadiziiwin (2007) 31 min, drama, 16mm
Woodland Spirits (2007) 28min, documentary, DV
Spirit of Shackelton: Antarctic Voyage (2006) 30 min, DV
The Remnant (2006) 20min, drama, 16mm

DIRECTOR and D.O.P.
Emerging From the Rubble (in post.) 12 min, documentary, HD
To My Son In Spain: Finnish Canadians in the Spanish Civil War (2009), 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

DIRECTOR (only)
Valuing the Forest (2010) 24 min, documentary, HD
The Remnant (2006) 20min, drama, 16mm

DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY (only)
CBC fifth Estate: Stories From The River’s Edge ((2011) documentary, 44min., HD
Return To Manomin (2011) documentary, 72 min., HD
The Life You Want: A Young Woman’s Struggle Through Addiction (2011) documentary, 34 min., HD
Eagle vs. Sparrow (2011) comedy, 8 min., HD
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

EDITOR
Emerging From the Rubble (in post.) 12 min, documentary, HD
The Life You Want: A Young Woman’s Struggle Through Addiction (2011) documentary, 34 min., HD
Return To Minomin (in-prod) documentary, HD, Directed by Michelle Derosier, Thunderstone Pictures
Valuing the Forest (2010) 24 min, documentary, HD
The Healing Lens (in-prod) documentary, HD, Directed by Michelle Derosier, Thunderstone Pictures
To My Son In Spain: Finnish Canadians in the Spanish Civil War (2009), 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

OTHER CREDITS
[Gaffer, Camera Op, Co-Editor] Undertow (in prod) 26min, HD, Photoplay Productions
[Gaffer] Free Press (2008) 8min, HD, Photoplay Productions
[Gaffer] Dorothea Mitchell: A Reel Pioneer (2006), 55min, DV/16mm, Shebandowan Films
[Camera Op] Perogy Nation Pilot (2006) 25min ea., DV, Shebandowan Films
[Supervising Editor] Spirit of Shackelton: Antarctic Voyage (2006) 30 min, DV
[Camera Op] Le Printemps de Voyageurs: La Genese (2005) 53 min, DVCam
[2nd A.D.] Morning In The Northwest : The Voyageur Dynasty (Le Printemps de Voyageurs) (2005) 53 min, DVCam
[Camera Op / Gaffer] Turning Points Series (2005) 300+min, Beta SP/DV