Michael Shawver
Michael P. Shawver | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1984 or 1985 (age 40–41)[1] Rhode Island, United States |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | Film editor |
| Years active | 2013–present |
| Known for | Black Panther (2018) |
Michael P. Shawver (born 1984 or 1985) is an American film editor who is known for his longtime collaboration with director Ryan Coogler. After meeting at the USC School of Cinematic Arts, Shawver began editing Coogler's student films, including the HBO-aired short "Fig". He went on to co-edit Coogler's major feature films, including Fruitvale Station (2013), Creed (2015), Black Panther (2018), and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022). Their collaboration continued with the 2025 film Sinners, marking 15 years of partnership. Outside of his work with Coogler, Shawver has edited a range of feature films, including A Quiet Place Part II (2020), Honest Thief (2020), Blacklight (2022), and Abigail (2024).
Early life and education
[edit]Shawver was born around 1984 or 1985 and grew up in North Providence, Rhode Island.[1] He went to Greystone Elementary School then Ponaganset High School. He went to the University of Rhode Island,[2] where he majored in communications studies.[1] He graduated from URI in 2007,[3] and he then went to the Los Angeles–based USC School of Cinematic Arts to enroll in the Master of Fine Arts program.[1] He met Ryan Coogler in 2009 in a directing class, learned about Coogler's short films in the making, and asked to help edit them.[4] Shawver edited Coogler's student films, including "Fig", which aired on HBO.[3] Shawver completed the MFA program in 2012.[5]
Career
[edit]Shawver's first feature-film credit as editor came when Coogler began work on his first feature film Fruitvale Station with Claudia Castello involved as editor. Coogler recruited Shawver, and Castello and Shawver worked as a team.[6] The two collaborated as editors again for Coogler's follow-up Creed. For Coogler's third feature film Black Panther, Shawver teamed with Debbie Berman, and the two worked on editing over 500 hours' worth of footage. Since Berman was one of the editors for the 2017 film Spider-Man: Homecoming, Shawver learned from her how to work with visual effects in editing.[7]
Shawver collaborated with Coogler again for the 2025 film Sinners,[8] after which Coogler recognized Shawver for their 15-year partnership.[9]
Filmography
[edit]| Year | Title | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Fruitvale Station | Edited with Claudia Castello | [10] |
| 2014 | Tell | [11] | |
| Warren | [11] | ||
| 2015 | 4th Man Out | [12] | |
| Creed | Edited with Claudia Castello | [10] | |
| 2017 | All Summers End | [11] | |
| Dirty Dancing | [13] | ||
| 2018 | Black Panther | Edited with Debbie Berman | [14] |
| 2019 | Godzilla: King of the Monsters | Credited as additional editor | [15] |
| 2020 | A Quiet Place Part II | Commercial release in 2021 | [10] |
| Honest Thief | [11] | ||
| 2022 | Blacklight | [11] | |
| Black Panther: Wakanda Forever | Edited with Kelley Dixon and Jennifer Lame | [16] | |
| 2024 | Abigail | [17] | |
| 2025 | Sinners | [8] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Smith, Andy (March 3, 2018). "Rhode Islander Michael Shawver talks about editing 'Black Panther'". The Providence Journal. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ Shorey, Ethan (December 15, 2015). "NP native praised for editing work on 'Creed'". Valley Breeze. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Staff (April 11, 2018). "Michael Shawver '07". harrington.uri.edu. University of Rhode Island. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ Leland, Amy (February 19, 2019). "Black Panther editors Debbie Berman and Michael Shawver". postPerspective. Retrieved May 8, 2021.
- ^ Ruiz, Renato (December 10, 2015). "Creed creative team comes home to USC School of Cinematic Arts". USC News. University of Southern California. Retrieved April 13, 2020.
- ^ Staff (July 23, 2018). "The Art of Editing with Douglas Crise, Claudia Castello & Michael P. Shawver". NYFA Podcasts. New York Film Academy. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ Caranicas, Peter (January 9, 2019). "Editing Duo Worked Together to Raise 'Black Panther' to Blockbuster Status". Variety. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ a b Staff. "WarnerBros.com | Sinners | Movies". Warner Bros. Retrieved November 27, 2024.
- ^ Jackson, Angelique (April 22, 2025). "Ryan Coogler Reacts to 'Sinners' Box Office Victory in Thank You Letter to Fans: 'Your Response to the Film Has Re-Invigorated Me'". Variety. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Michael P. Shawver". bfi.org.uk. British Film Institute. Archived from the original on July 3, 2018. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e "Michael P. Shawver". TV Guide. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ "4th Man Out". cinema.usc.edu. USC School of Cinematic Arts. March 10, 2016. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ "Michael P. Shawver". Turner Classic Movies. Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ Bui, Hoai-Tran (December 27, 2018). "'Black Panther' Editor Michael Shawver on Working With Ryan Coogler and Being 'Popular' at the Oscars [Interview]". Slashfilm. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- ^ "Michael P. Shawver" (PDF). Worldwide Production Agency. Archived (PDF) from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ Weiss, Josh (December 1, 2022). "'Black Panther' editor and VFX crew unpack 'Wakanda Forever' secrets, including fabled 4-hour cut". Syfy. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- ^ Gleiberman, Owen (April 17, 2024). "'Abigail' Review: A Remake of 'Dracula's Daughter' Turns Into a Brutally Monotonous Genre Mashup". Variety. Retrieved June 18, 2024.