'Sisu' complete credits

Moxie Films and Dacian Productions
with the assistance of

Saskatchewan Communications Network
Calgary Finlandia Cultural Association
and the Sukanen Pioneer Village Museum

present

a Chrystene Ells film

Sisu - the death of Tom Sukanen

written and directed by
Chrystene Ells

with
Don Wood
Brian Dueck
Megan Fries
Lori Abbott
Jonathan Bragagnolo
Mark David Claxton

producers
Chrystene Ells and Chantel Sim

executive producer
Jarrett Rusnak

executive producers
Frank McEachern and Outi McEachern

director of photography
Andrew Jay Schlussel

line producer
Dauminique Napier

music
David Lawlor

visual effects supervisor 
Brian Andrews

supervising sound editor
Rusty Dunn

art director
Kristine Dowler

costume designer
Candace Bank

assistant director
Raul Viceral

editor
Chrystene Ells

CAST
(in order of appearance)
Tom Sukanen
Constable Fisk
Tom’s mother (voice)
day nurse
young Tom Sukanen
Annika Sukanen (Tom’s mother)
priest
minister
Taivo Sukanen, 3 years
Taivo Sukanen, 10 years
Eno Taivo (Tom’s uncle)
old man in hospital
New York bartender
old man in bar
Katja Sukanen
Vic Markkula
Lloyd
thresher salesman
fiddler
guitar player
boy with toy horse
younger Sukanen daughter
older Sukanen daughter
Marge
night nurse
night nurse #2
Troy
tough guy #1
tough guy #2
doctor
mother in cold cabin
Robert (boy in cold cabin)
farmers
   Don Wood
Rod McLeod
Leena Petaja
Geri Hack
Zach Ford
Megan Fries
Art Gillies
Wayne Slinn
Dawson Markus
Jonathan Bragagnolo
Gerry Coulter
Wayne Slinn
Stephen Pocock
David Cramer
Lori Abbott
Brian Dueck
Mark David Claxton
Jerry Paul
Al Hack
Lorne Perehuda
Chayse Boan
Gracelyn Lisik
Amanda Gooding
Lili Zwart
Ellie Pierce-Ell
Jacqueline Patron
Lorne Allan Fries
Derek Finnik
Mike Staffen
Dylan Dowler
Kelly Liberet
Keenan Fafard
Al Bank
Kirk Brow
Patrick Cherneski
Sheldon Demeria
Derek Finnik
Jason Kirby
Mike Staffen
Greg Stephenson
threshing crew
Roy Clemenshaw
Lawrence Ganzhorn
Paul Johnson
Dean Redman
Alex Rhead
Gord Ross
harvest party
 Al Bank
Jack Beth
Manon Beth
Brenda Boan
Kirk Brown
Flo Byblo
Patrick Cherneski
Roy Clemenshaw
Diane Comeau
Sheldon Demeria
Alyshia Douglas
Russ Eckstein
Derek Finnik
Lea Fritzke
Susan McKay
Pam Perry
Mike Staffen
Greg Stephenson
Jamie Stephenson
truckers


percheron horses
 Wade Fiecher
Jason Kowolyshyn
Phillip Longman
Jody and Kim

PRE-PRODUCTION
Production Designers

Script Consultant
Script Consultant
Concept Art Consultant
Graphic Designer
Storyboards and Animatics
Research Consultants

Finnish Maritime Consultant
Finnish Translators


Storyboard Consultant
   Chrystene Ells
Raul Viceral
Dr. Mary Blackstone
Professor Gerald Saul
Professor Leesa Streifler
Kevin Dowler
Raul Viceral
Dr. Christine Ramsay
Dr. Randal Rogers
Pauli Kivistö
Maria Lahtinen
Saara Muikku
Sanna Ruotoistenmäki
Mark Andrews
SASKATCHEWAN CREW
Director of Photography
Line Producer
Location Manager
Art Director
Assistant Art Director
Gaffer
Grip/Boom Operator
Grip/Boom Operator
Best Girl
Hair and Makeup
Still Photography

Script Supervisors

B-Unit Camera
Set Costumers


Location Scouts


Carpenter
Prop Makers

Prop Assistants

Wardrobe Stitchers










Wardrobe Assistants



Mr. Wood Double
Stand in for Mr. Ford and Mr. Bragagnolo
Grip truck driver
Dialect coach
Catering
Production Assistants


Extras casting
Antique cars provided by



Flat bed truck provided by
Equipment truck and trailer
Horse teamsters


Additional costumes donated by



Locations donated by




Video and Grip Equipment
graciously supplied by


Recreational Vehicles

Directing Consultant
Production Consultant
   Andrew Jay Schlussel
Dauminique Napier
Paul Johnson
Kristine Dowler
Kevin Dowler
Geoffrey Yates
Trevor Anderson
Bernie Hernando
Jacqueline Patron
Clara Edvi
Kevin Dowler
Raul Viceral
Dauminique Napier
Jacqueline Patron
Raul Viceral
Candace Bank
Janet Weisgerber
Daniela Zerr
Kristine Dowler
Brett Gabel
Dauminique Napier
Chris St. Amand
Kristine Dowler
Chrystene Ells
Dauminique Napier
Don Wood
Candace Bank
Evelyn Bank
Sheri Hennig
Karen Ivanochko
Desiree Kirby
Cathy Mearns
Elaine Miller
Rose Ruecker
Janet Weisgerber
Emma Young
Daniela Zerr
Al Bank
Reynaldo Cardoso
Jessica Kirby
Desiree Kirby
Raul Viceral
Dauminique Napier
Jacqueline Patron
Juha Kukkonen
Kali Saltibus
Dylan Dowler
Lorne Allan Fries
Jerry Paul
Wayne Slinn
Roy Clemenshaw
Richard Fraser
Lorne Hart
Paul Johnson
Wee Haul Trucking
Eagle Steel
Wayne Cozart
Sue McNutt
Bob McNutt
The Globe Theatre
Motherwell Museum
Regina Little Theatre
University of Regina Theatre Dept.
Sukanen Pioneer Village Museum
Beverly and Max Baldwin
Janet and Stoody Harding
Myrna and Greg Nichol
Chris St. Amand
PS Production Services
University of Regina
  New Media Studio Lab
  Media Production & Studies Dept.
Wendy Gooding
Bill Johnstone
Professor Kathryn Bracht
Professor Mark Wihak
SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA CREW
Assistant Director
Director of Photography
Camera Operator
Green Screen Supervisor
Production Manager
Sound Technician
Grip
Production Assistant
Makeup and Hair
Video and Grip Equipment supplied by
Location donated by
   Raul Viceral
Andrew Jay Schlussel
Mike McCormick
Brian Andrews
Andrew Jay Schlussel
Brian Webb
Dustin Boldt
Jacob Warren
Marisa Viramontes
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts
Deb Folsom
Raub Shapiro
POST PRODUCTION

Music by



Finnish folk songs

Supervising Sound Editor,
Sound Design, and Re-recording Mixer

Sound Effects Editor
Additional Sound Effects
Additional Foley



Background voice talent








Audio Consultant

Visual Effects Supervisor

CG Modeling Artists



CG Texture Artists





3D Animators




2D Animator/Motion Graphics Artist
Motion Graphics (New York sequence)
Matchmove Artists


Compositors






Simulation Artist
CG Technical Advisors


Colour Correction
Online Editor
Closed Captioning

Online Video Post Services provided by
Closed Captioning Services provided by
Audio Post provided by

  

David Lawlor
Annette Campagne
Michel Chammartin
Calvin Vollrath
Me Naiset

Rusty Dunn


Allan Levy
Eric Powell
Chrystene Ells
Kristine Dowler
Dauminique Napier
Raul Viceral
Vitaliy Charkovskyy
Adam Finnik
Allyssa Finnik
Derek Finnik
Kelly Liberet
Susan McKay
Petro Nakutnyy
Wayne Slinn
Andrii Torn    
Professor Charlie Fox

Brian Andrews

Mike Bailey
Nic Dunbeck
Jeff Fausz
Amy Massuret
Brian Andrews
Jeff Fausz
Luke Graves
Jessica Gilliland
J. Patrick Li
Mike Macklin
Edward Brugge
Vlad Bykov
Aaron Fetherkile
Mike Macklin
Mariah Robinson
Chrystene Ells
Raul Viceral
Brian Andrews
Geoff DuQuette
Collin Tullius
Brian Andrews
Ben Cassiman
Geoff DuQuette
Aaron Fetherkile
Juan Lopez
Collin Tullius
Jordon Youney
Collin Tullius
Andrew Osiow
Fernanda Veloso

Jack Tunnicliffe
Trevor Bennett
Maureen Bennett

Java Post Production
Vertical Sync
Shatterglass Productions
SONGS

Peace River Valley
written and performed by Calvin Vollrath
SOCAN


Peltoniemen Hintriikan Surumarssi
traditional
arranged and performed by David Lawlor

Threshing Machine
written by Michel Chammartin
performed by Michel Chammartin
and David Lawlor
SOCAN

  

My Other Brother Darrell Polka
written and performed by Calvin Vollrath
SOCAN

José McKay
written and performed by Calvin Vollrath
SOCAN

In Deep
composed by Rusty Dunn
SOCAN

So Happy
composed by Allan Levy
SOCAN

Finnish folk songs by ‘Me Naiset’
(courtesy of Me Naiset and Anna-Kaisa Liedes)
singers: Eila Hartikainen, Maari Kallberg, Maija Karhinen, Anneli Kont-Rahtola,
Eila Kosonen, Sirkka Kosonen, Anita Lehtola, Anna-Kaisa Liedes, Outi Pulkkinen,
Meri Tiitola, Pia Rask, Äänitetty Meri-Rastila

Kuulin Äänen
traditional, arranged by Maari Kalberg

Tulkaa Tytöt
traditional, arranged by Anna-Kaisa Liedes

  

Päivän Päästö
traditional, arranged by Outi Pulkkinen

Sinä Saat
traditional, arranged by Outi Pulkkinen
Mieli Miehelle
traditional, arranged by
Outi Pulkkinen, Anna-Kaisa Liedes

SPECIAL THANKS

University of Regina Fine Arts Faculty

Interdisciplinary Studies Deparment
Media Production and Studies Department
Visual Arts Department
Theatre Department

University of Regina Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research

Ex'pression College for Digital Arts

Brian Andrews
Trevor Bennett
Mary Blackstone
Rusty Dunn
Rebecca Gibbons
Paul Johnson
Frank and Outi McEachern
Randal Rogers
Jarrett Rusnak
Gerald Saul
Andrew Schlussel
Randy Shumay
Chantal Sim
Leesa Streifler
Jack Tunnicliffe
Raul Viceral
Don Wood

Sukanen Family and Neighbours
Elmer Sukanen
Helen Sukanen
Marj Ingell
Nina Peacock
Shirley Shetterley
   Edith Redden
Lloyd Redden
Marianne Rintala
Olavi Rintala   
Private Donors
Rose Duignan
John Persson
Jarrett Rusnak
   Elizabeth Spreen         
Reynaldo Cardoso
Gardiner C. Funo O'Kain
Organizations and Institutions
Calgary Animated Objects Society
University of Regina Conservatory
Royal Canadian Mounted Police


Town of Macrorie, Saskatchewan
   Toronto Finnish Theatre Company
Speers Funeral Services
Ramada Inn, Regina
Regina City Police

Rural Municipality of Estlin, Saskatchewan
Thank you for everything else
Derek R. Audette
Maureen Bennett
Don and Lorraine Book
Roland Bourgeois
Mark Briggs
Gerry Carline
Dannyll Challis
Cavan Cunningham
Thierry DiDonna
Sarah Ells
Katrina Ewing
Patricia Flood
Professor David Garneau
Luke Graves
Natasha Halvorson
Bryan Higgins
Trenna Keating
Maarit Koivunen
Sylvain Larue
Tuula Leinonen
Frank Lloyd
Brian and Leone Lyttle
Francis Marchildon
Stephen Martin
Bruce McCulloch
Dan McDonald
Barbara Meneley
Ken Mitchell
Ritva Myllynen
Veli Niinimaa
Professor Wes Pearce
Margot Regan
Dale Schoffer
Carle Steele
Scott and Darla Terlson
Professor Rachelle Viader-Knowles
Alexander Wells
   Heidi Backström
Margaret Bessai
Rick Book
Lyne Bragagnolo
Logan Burkett
Joe Caron
Xstine Cook
Steven Dexter
Kevin Dunn
Arja Ewing
Jim Fisk
Tracy Ford
Bill Hale
Kelly Handerek
Lorraine Hope-Penny
Dr. Kathleen Irwin
Dr. Murray Knuttila
D.D. Kruger
Anna-Maija Lehtinen-Kluth
Professor Gerald Lenton-Young
Memere Lloyd
Dave and Heather Marcus
Keith Marshall
Rod McLeod
Kathy Mearnes
Georgia Morgan
Kalyn Neuls
Loretta Paoli
Tristan Ramin
Kirsi Rinne
Rich Simon
Joan Speirs
Garrett Terlson
Karen Vandervaart
Joanne Weber
Professor Sean Whalley
Brenda Yung

Vintage photographs of the Sontiainen
taken by Don Book of Outlook, Saskatchewan in 1938
and graciously supplied for the title sequence by the Book family.

Vintage photograph of Tom Sukanen with violin
graciously supplied by Nina Peacock.

Vintage portrait of Tom Sukanen
and other photographs of the Sontiainen
graciously supplied by Elmer and Helen Sukanen.

SHOT ON LOCATION

Saskatchewan, Canada

Avonhurst area
Fort Qu’Appelle area
Municipality of Estlin
Old University of Regina College building, Regina
Sukanen Pioneer Village Museum, Moose Jaw

San Francisco Bay Area

The Homestead Bar, San Francisco
Ex’pression College for Digital Arts, Emeryville

Finland
City of Rauma and area

No animals were harmed in the making of this production.

This motion picture is based upon certain actual events and persons.
Some of the characters, incidents and names are fictionalized.

This film was made as an MFA thesis project for the Interdisciplinary Studies program in the Faculty of Fine Arts at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

This motion picture is protected under the laws of the United States, Canada, and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution, or exhibition is prohibited.

in loving memory of Jerry G. Ells
thank you, Dad, for making this film possible

© 2009 Chrystene Ells