Michael Clowater

Michael is an award-winning writer, director and producer of films and commercials and is based in Toronto, Canada. He was born in Nashwaaksis, New Brunswick.

The first time he failed a grade in school was grade 8. However, that same year, he also won a national essay writing contest, and his work was presented to Queen Elizabeth II so they pushed him through. Determined, he went on to Fredericton High School where he repeated grade 10 anyway. After high school, he got accepted at St. Thomas Catholic University by forging his priest’s signature. From there, he improved his grades enough to go to the University of New Brunswick where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration in 1994. While at school, he worked at the National Video rental store and discovered the films of Martin Scorsese, Hal Ashby, David Lean, Sydney Pollack and Billy Wilder.

After graduation, he began his career at E.W. Clowater & Sons Plumbing and Heating and whilst contemplating a life in plumbing, he joined the New Brunswick Filmmaker’s Co-operative and wrote, produced, animated and directed his first short film “Alfred’s New Dog”.