Mark Helfrich is an American film editor and director. He is known for his work on action films, and with director Brett Ratner.
Life and career
A graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, he began his career at New World Pictures as an assistant editor. His first film as editor was the Cannon Films production Revenge of the Ninja (1983).
Helfrich has edited over thirty films such as Stone Cold (1991), Showgirls (1995) with Mark Goldblatt. Helfrich is also the primary editor for director Brett Ratner's films, such as Money Talks (1997), Rush Hour (1998), The Family Man (2000), Rush Hour 2 (2001), Red Dragon (2002), and After the Sunset (2004), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) with Mark Goldblatt and Julia Wong, Rush Hour 3 (2007) with Dean Zimmerman and Don Zimmerman, Tower Heist (2011), and Hercules (2014) with Wong. Helfrich directed Good Luck Chuck.
He has also edited, with Brett Ratner's direction, a version of the Hollywood film production titled Kites:The Remix a.k.a. Kites (2010), as well as the pilot episode for Prison Break, an American-based TV drama series produced by Brett Ratner. Helfrich edited Brett Ratner's music video Beautiful Stranger featuring Madonna.
He is an elected member of American Cinema Editors (ACE) and serves on the board as an associate director. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Filmography
Film
Editor Year Title Director NotesRef. 1979 Rock 'n' Roll High School Allan ArkushAssistant editor The Lady in Red Lewis Teague 1982 The Last American Virgin Boaz Davidson 1983 Revenge of the Ninja Sam Firstenberg1984 Breakin' Joel Silberg Supervising editor Baby Love Dan Wolman Ninja III: The Domination Sam Firstenberg Additional editor1985 Rambo: First Blood Part II George P. Cosmatos with Mark Goldblatt The Return of the Living Dead Dan O'BannonAdditional editor 1986 Jumpin' Jack Flash Penny Marshall 1987 Predator John McTiernan with John F. Link1988 Action Jackson Craig R. Baxley License to Drive Greg Beeman Additional editor 1990 I Come in Peace Craig R. Baxley1991 Rich Girl Joel Bender with Richard Candib Stone Cold Craig R. Baxley The Last Boy Scout Tony Scott with Stuart Baird and Mark Goldblatt1993 Nowhere to Run Robert Harmon with Zach Staenberg Midnight Kiss Joel Bender with Bender Striking Distance Rowdy Herrington with Pasquale Buba1995 Showgirls Paul Verhoeven with Mark Goldblatt Money Train Joseph RubenUncredited 1996 The Juror Brian Gibson1997 Money Talks Brett Ratner Most Wanted David Glenn Hogan with Michael J. Duthie 1998 Rush Hour Brett Ratner2000 Scary Movie Keenen Ivory Wayans The Family ManBrett Ratner 2001 Rush Hour 2 2002 Red Dragon2003 Honey Bille Woodruff with Emma E. Hickox Shanghai Knights David Dobkin Additional editor 2004 After the SunsetBrett Ratner 2006 X-Men: The Last Stand with Mark Goldblatt and Julia Wong 2007 Rush Hour 3 with Dean Zimmerman and Don Zimmerman2008 Four Christmases Seth Gordon with Melissa Kent New York, I Love You Brett Ratner Segment: "5" 2010 Kites: The Remix Anurag Basu Re-edited version of Kites2011 Season of the Witch Dominic Sena with Dan Zimmerman and Bob DucsayAlso second unit director Tower HeistBrett Ratner2013 Movie 43 Segment: "Happy Birthday" R.I.P.D. Robert Schwentke 2014 Hercules Brett Ratner with Julia Wong 2016 Nina Cynthia Mort 2017 Jumanji: Welcome to the JungleJake Kasdan with Steve Edwards 2019 Jumanji: The Next Levelwith Steve Edwards and Tara Timpone2024 Red One Harold and the Purple Crayon Carlos Saldanha with Tia Nolan 2026 Jumanji: Open World Jake Kasdan Mark Helfrich Resume Director Year Title NotesRef.2007Good Luck ChuckDirectorial Debut 2nd unit director Year Title NotesRef.1986Critters2009The Final Destination2011Season of the WitchAlso editor
Television Editor Year Title NotesRef.1987Max Headroom2 episodes1990Parker KaneTV movie1992Tales from the CryptEpisode: "Split Personality"1994Rebel Highway3 episodesShake, Rattle and Rock!TV movie1995The Avenging Angel2005Prison BreakEpisode: "Pilot"2011CHAOSEpisode: "Pilot" Director Year Title Notes2008Prison BreakEpisode: "Just Business"2010BonesEpisode: "The Shallow in the Deep"
Awards and nominations Award Year Category WorkResultAmerican Cinema Editors Award2006Best Edited Drama SeriesPrison Break ("Pilot")CableACE Award1995Editing a Dramatic Special or Series/Movie or MiniseriesThe Avenging AngelSatellite Award2006Best EditingX-Men: The Last Stand
References
External links