Richard Franklin Chew (born June 28, 1940) is an American film editor, best known for his Academy Award-winning work on Star Wars (1977), alongside Paul Hirsch and Marcia Lucas. Other notable films include One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Risky Business (1983), Waiting to Exhale (1995), That Thing You Do! (1996), and I Am Sam (2001). His career over a variety of films spans more than four decades.

Early life and career Born of Chinese immigrant parents in Los Angeles, Chew attended its inner-city schools, served in the U.S. Navy, and graduated from UCLA with a B.A. in Philosophy. After a stint at Harvard Law School, Chew, inspired by the independent cinema of the 1960s, left school to pursue a film career.

Starting with camera and editing work on documentaries, such as The Redwoods, an Oscar winner for Best Short Documentary in 1967, he eventually transitioned to editing feature films as co-editor on Francis Ford Coppola's The Conversation, Miloš Forman's One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and George Lucas's Star Wars.

During his varied career, he has edited films for actor-directors such as Jack Nicholson, Tom Hanks, and Forest Whitaker. Other writer-directors with whom Chew has worked include: Cameron Crowe, Paul Brickman, Bruce Joel Rubin, and Emilio Estevez.

Chew was Oscar-nominated for One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He also won British Oscars (BAFTA) as co-editor on both The Conversation and One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. His work on Shanghai Noon was nominated for Best Feature Comedy by American Cinema Editors.

At various times throughout his editing career, Chew has taught and lectured with the goal of enhancing audience appreciation for the cinema arts. For over thirty years, he has appeared at art schools and colleges, churches, and community groups.

On January 27, 2011, he was honored at the Detroit Institute of Arts with “An Evening with Richard Chew,” a program featuring clips of some of his extensive work plus an interview conducted by DIA film curator Elliot Wilhelm. Additionally, Chew was named Allessee Visiting Professor of Media at Wayne State University for the 2011 Spring semester. In September 2013, Chew was selected as a Duncan Littlefair Great Speaker in the Creation Talks Series (http://www.creationtalks.org/about-us/duncan-littlefair-great-speakers/), joining the ranks of renowned speakers from the worlds of politics and arts. He spoke about the power of music in film at the legendary Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. . In November, 2016, Chew received the Third Annual Andrew V. McLaglen Lifetime Achievement Award from Friday Harbor Film Festival (Washington).

For his body of work, American Cinema Editors, an honorary society of film editors, presented to Chew the ACE Career Achievement Award during its annual Eddies Award show in March, 2022.Beatrice Verhoven, [article_link "American Cinema Editors to Give Career Achievement Awards to…"], "The Hollywood Reporter, January 25, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022.Carolyn Giardina, [article_link "ACE Eddies Lifetime Achievement Honoree Richard Chew: ‘We Are Essential…"], "The Hollywood Reporter, March 4, 2022. Retrieved March 20, 2022. In closing his acceptance speech, Chew said, “I’m thinking maybe we (filmmakers) could make movies to entertain and send a message. Maybe we could use movies to encourage the better angels of our nature.”Denise Petski, Fred Topel, [article_link "ACE Eddie Awards… Full Winners List"],"The Hollywood Reporter, publication date. Retrieved March 5, 2022.

He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, Motion Picture Editors Guild, and American Cinema Editors.

Selected filmography + Editor Year Film Director Notes1974 The ConversationFrancis Ford Coppola1977 Star WarsGeorge Lucas1978 Goin' SouthJack Nicholson 1979 When You Comin' Back, Red Ryder?Milton Katselas1982 My Favorite YearRichard Benjamin1983 Risky BusinessPaul BrickmanFirst collaboration with Paul Brickman 1985 Real GeniusMartha CoolidgeFirst collaboration with Martha Coolidge CreatorIvan Passer 1986 Where the River Runs BlackChristopher Cain Streets of Gold Joe RothFirst collaboration with Joe Roth1987 Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in ParadiseSecond collaboration with Joe Roth1988 Clean and SoberGlenn Gordon Caron1990 Men Don't LeavePaul BrickmanSecond collaboration with Paul Brickman1991 Late for DinnerW. D. Richter1992 SinglesCameron Crowe 1993 Mi Vida LocaAllison Anders My LifeBruce Joel Rubin 1995 Tall TaleJeremiah S. Chechik Waiting to ExhaleForest WhitakerFirst collaboration with Forest Whitaker1996 That Thing You Do!Tom Hanks1998 Hope FloatsForest WhitakerSecond collaboration with Forest Whitaker2000 Shanghai NoonTom Dey2001 I Am SamJessie Nelson2004 First DaughterForest WhitakerThird collaboration with Forest Whitaker2005 The New WorldTerrence Malick2006 BobbyEmilio EstevezFirst collaboration with Emilio Estevez 2010 The RunawaysFloria Sigismondi LouisDaniel Pritzker The Way Emilio EstevezSecond collaboration with Emilio Estevez2018 The PublicThird collaboration with Emilio Estevez2019 I'll Find YouMartha CoolidgeSecond collaboration with Martha Coolidge

+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestMiloš FormanSupervising film editor2003 Shanghai KnightsDavid DobkinAdditional editor2013 SugarRotimi RainwaterConsulting editor

+ Additional crew Year Film Director Role1992 SinglesCameron CroweTitle supervisor

+ Producer Year Film Director Credit1987 Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in ParadiseJoe RothAssociate producer1992 SinglesCameron CroweCo-producer

+ Second unit director or assistant director Year Film Director Role1992 SinglesCameron CroweSecond unit director

+ Sound department Year Film Director Role1975 SmileMichael RitchieSound editor

+ Thanks Year Film Director Role2001 MonkeyboneHenry SelickThe producers wish to thank2009 The Red MachineSpecial thanks

Documentaries

+ Editor Year Film Director1967 The RedwoodsTrevor Greenwood1968 Have You Heard of the San Francisco Mime Troupe?1969 The Medium Is the Massage, You KnowTrevor Greenwood1970 Imogen Cunningham, PhotographerJohn Korty

+ Camera and electrical department Year Film Director Role1970 WoodstockMichael WadleighAdditional photographer1974 JanisHoward AlkAdditional photography

+ Cinematographer Year Film Director1967 The Redwoods Trevor Greenwood1969 The Medium Is the Massage, You Know

Shorts

+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role2012 Lil Tokyo ReporterJeffrey Gee ChinEditing consultant

+ Thanks Year Film Director Role2011 Pass the Salt, PleaseTatjana NajdanovicVery special thanks

TV movies

+ Editorial department Year Film Director Role1972 The PeopleJohn KortyAssociate film editor

+ Thanks Year Film Director Role1984 The Ratings GameDanny DeVitoSpecial thanks

TV series

+ Editorial department Year Title Role Notes1982 American PlayhouseEditorial consultant1 episode

TV shorts

+ Editor Year Film Director1974 The Music SchoolJohn Korty1976 The Other Side of VictoryBill Jersey

TV specials

+ Thanks Year Film Director Role1976 TVTV Looks at the Academy AwardsWendy AppleThanks

Awards

Film

+ Awards Year Film Role1975 The ConversationBAFTA Film Award - Best Film Editing1976 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestBAFTA Film Award - Best Film EditingNominated - Academy Award for Best Film EditingNominated - Eddie Award for Best Edited Feature Film1978 Star WarsAcademy Award for Best Film EditingSaturn Award for Outstanding EditingNominated - BAFTA Film Award for Best Film EditingNominated - Eddie Award for Best Edited Feature Film2001 Shanghai NoonNominated - Eddie Award for Best Edited Feature Film - Comedy or Musical

Shorts

+ Awards Year Film Role1968 The RedwoodsAcademy Award for Best Documentary (Short Subject)

References

External links

"Interview with Richard Chew", Editors Guild Magazine, July 25, 2010