Richard Chew Chats by Fireside
by Lisa
Reardon and Sharon Smith-Holley
Jack Nicholson is saved from the hangman's noose by Mary Steenburgen. Rebecca DeMornay offers her services to Tom Cruise. Chris O'Donnell is fed an afterschool snack by Joan Cusack.
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Richard began his career in Seattle in the '60s, working as an assistant cameraman at a local TV station, but it was in the documentary division that he discovered his editing skills and developed his craft. During this time he also formed his early philosophy about film, namely that the medium should be used to instill a social consciousness to provoke political and social change.
After a successful start in documentaries, he moved to San Francisco in the early '70s and progressed into features. Spanning three decades, his film credits now include 'The Conversation', 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest', 'My Favorite Year', 'Risky Business', 'Clean and Sober', 'Singles', 'That Thing You Do!' and most recently, 'Hope Floats'.
During his chat, Richard said that as he learned to master his craft, he realized that the ideas he helped spread were not particularly political or social, but mythological. He felt he helped perpetuate on screen "the popular notion of romantic love, and the myth that you can meet that special person of your dreams."
In addition to the clips of Jack Nicholson ('Goin' South'), Tom Cruise ('Risky Business') and Chris O'Donnell ('Men Don't Leave'), Richard showed how the romantic spark can be ignited in examples from four of his other films. The clips were variously hilarious, erotic or moving. "The movies entertain and instruct us with the variety of ways people link up romantically when they first meet, and its appeal is hard to resist," he commented. "This myth promises a deferred love, and is constantly retold around the cinematic campfire."
Richard preceded each of his clips with explanatory remarks, and after them he included amusing behind-the-scenes anecdotes. There were lively question-and-answer exchanges throughout the evening.
In closing, Richard professed the hope that we, as editors and assistants, can continue to preserve the idea that in addition to cutting, we are also able to create something meaningful. He received a rousing and respectful ovation from all those in attendance.
Fireside Chats are generally held monthly,
and are open to all assistant and apprentice editors in the Guild.
Reprinted from
The Motion Picture Editors Guild Newsletter
Vol. 20, No. 2 - March/April 1999
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