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Michelle Claase is a filmmaker and visual storyteller, specializing in screenwriting and post-production editing. Her commitment to the narrative craft is evident in a diverse portfolio, encompassing award-winning short films, music videos, internationally exhibited art, collaborations on unscripted projects for global brands, and teaching filmmaking classes to students ranging from high school to master's level.

Originally hailing from South Africa, Michelle is currently based in Como, Italy, following a decade in Hong Kong. She seamlessly transitioned from the world of international fashion modeling to behind-the-scenes production, and holds a master's degree in Screenwriting and Production from UCSC International (Cattolic) in Milan, complimented by a BFA in Painting where she graduated as valedictorian from Savannah College of Art and Design.

Proficient in coordinating shoots and aligning brand identity, she brings a wealth of experience to all stages of production. Her mission is to harness her skillset to breathe life into projects, whether crafting the first draft of a script or perfecting the final cut in the edit – placing the narrative at the core of her work remains her primary focus. Her role as an editor has not only contributed to polished final cuts but has also enhanced her scriptwriting skills. The application of an editor's mindset while writing has proven to be a valuable asset in creating compelling narratives.

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“From First Draft
to the Final Cut”
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Among Michelle's notable achievements are winning her first award for Best Editing (Siphonophore, 2019) at the South Film and Arts Academy Festival, being awarded an illycaffè S.p.A artist grant to attend an artist residency at the UNIDEE - University of Ideas at Cittadellarte Fondazione Pistoletto in Biella, Italy, in 2017, and most recently, securing a position in the Top 5 for the Shore Scripts Development Fund with her project "Making Waves."

Michelle's meticulous eye for detail has been instrumental in her work as an editor and her role as an author for the Technogym app’s video content over the last few years. On-set, she collaborated with talent and crafted copy for promos, but her main role was supervising post-production, working directly with editors to ensure the highest possible quality outcome for every project. Additionally, Michelle has served as an editing consultant for various film directors, strategically assisting them in trimming minutes from films to enhance viewer clarity.

Creative production and concept development fuels her passion, evident in her portfolio of high-concept narrative projects, currently in development, spanning diverse genres. Additionally, she is also developing several unscripted TV show formats. Drawing inspiration from her experiences in the world of art, fashion, fitness and film, coupled with a global perspective, she is adaptable and motivated to tell unique and compelling stories inspired by her insights, while always ensuring relatability to the audience.

Her next aspiration is to immerse herself in the realm of unscripted TV, specifically documentaries, where the art of storytelling gracefully unfolds in the editing room.

Michelle is open to new opportunities and is available for remote work within Italy/Europe, where she is currently based.