Our Editors | IATSE Damn Good Editors

Daria Ellerman

Daria Ellerman is a versatile, award-winning editor who brings her talent to features and television series across genres. She is skilled at editing music and making an edit session flow in person or remotely. Mentoring is a core principle whether it is day-to-day with her assistants or participating in mentoring programs with emerging editors. When not working Daria loves jazz music, hiking, and traveling.

See Daria's work: IMDB

Jamie Alain

Jamie Alain is a happy man. He loves his job, and has three young kids who, he says, “seem to like him”. Jamie thinks a good editor is someone who listens and absorbs what the footage is saying, what the directors and producers are asking for, and translates all that into something that “sings.” The long list of directors that he’d love to work for include Sean Baker, Denis Villeneuve, Edgar Wright, Bong Joon-Ho, and the ghost of Robert Altman.

See Jamie's work: IMDB

Lisa Robison

An acute asthma attack ended Lisa Robison’s 10-year career in the camera department, but it also meant that she discovered her true passion, editing. Lisa believes that her on-set experience is invaluable in the post world that she now works in. The film that made the most impact on Lisa is Steven Soderbergh’s Out of Sight. She says its originality stopped her in her tracks and helped her realize that she could edit using her instincts. That realization was spot on, and Lisa now has 4 Daytime Emmy nominations, 7 Leo Award wins, and a number of international award nominations to her credit. Her other passions are cycling, her two rescue dogs, and exploring Hawaii and Italy.

See Lisa's work: IMDB

Trevor Mirosh

Trevor Mirosh, ACE is a Canadian born picture editor specializing in action and thriller films. He has been creatively influenced by Thelma Schoomaker’s editing style in films like “Raging Bull” and “The Departed”. He also has a fetish for monster in the house films from watching “Jaws” and Jordan Peele/Guillermo del Toro films. Trevor believes editing is about entertaining the viewer, finding character nuances to create quality character performances while maintaining a cohesive story. Trevor’s wife and his two young girls keep him honest and humble. His morning cravings for something sweet requires the editing suite to be far away from pastry shops as possible.

See Trevor's work: IMDB

Nicole Ratcliffe

Nicole Ratcliffe first saw the power of editing while attending film school. From that moment, her path was clear – she wanted to be an editor. During her 20-plus year career, she has easily moved between genres. From drama, comedy, sci-fi and her favorite, horror, Nicole has had the opportunity to work with some of the best talents in television. “To me, the single most important part of my work is serving the story. The story has to come first and crafting an engaging story through performance and shot choice is never boring.” Says Nicole. While collaborating with directors and producers, Nicole brings a laid-back, calm and optimistic vibe to her editing suite. When she isn’t editing, Nicole can be found on local rivers and lakes, fly fishing with her partner, Tony, and their Belgian Malinois/Dutch Shepherd mix, Levi.

See Nicole's work: IMDB

James Ilecic

Falling asleep to the sounds of his father’s band practising in their basement, James always thought he was destined for a career in music. A spark of cinematic love grew quickly as a teenager watching his favourite TV host Elwy Yost, dissecting classic films each weekend on Saturday Night at the Movies. Years later, James' college cinematography instructor told him, "If you really want to know how to make films, you should learn to edit." Heeding this advice, James called fifteen editors before one took a chance on him and set him on a 25-year career as an editor in Canada and the USA working on comedy, drama and music-oriented genres. In between rainstorms on the Sunshine Coast, James married his wife Andrea and has traveled extensively through North and South America, Australia and Europe. In his down time, James plays guitar, bass, keyboards, ukulele, mandolin and banjo.

See James's work: IMDB

Luis Lam

Luis puts how he feel about his job quite simply: “Being part of the movie industry has been a dream come true.” Luis is acutely aware that editing can make or break a movie and that a great editor always elevates their material. A huge film and TV buff, Luis’ favourite viewing includes The Twilight Zone (for its strange mix of horror, science fiction, drama, comedy and superstition), The Tree of Life (because he felt like he was in someone’s dream), and Six Feet Under (for its drama, comedy, horror and beauty). Luis loves to cook and feed people. At the Burning Man Festival in Nevada, he hands out bagels, lox, and cream cheese to other revellers, just for the sake of it.

See Luis's work: IMDB

Richard Schwadel

Richard’s editing career began in Hollywood, working as a runner on a network show where he became drawn to narrative storytelling— particularly through editing. Intrigued by how an editor could craft actors’ performances and execute ‘the final rewrite’, he knew he’d found his calling.

Now based in Vancouver, Richard’s resume ranges from independent features to comedy, science fiction and procedural series. His broad experience allows him to move fluidly between genres, approaching each new project with an arsenal of storytelling skills and a zeal for fresh challenges.

Over the course of his career, he’s had the good fortune to have collaborated with such notable talents as David Steinberg, Nora Ephron, Jason Alexander, Penny Marshall and the Farrelly brothers.

Richard's website: rschwadel.com

See Richard's work: IMDB

Sabrina Pitre

Sabrina is an award-winning editor with a natural instinct for storytelling and over 15 years of experience across a wide variety of formats and genes. She approaches her work with unfailing dedication, and thrives on the creative challenges that each project can afford her. Armed with a personable and collaborative spirit, she has formed many professional relatiobships over the years with a number of talented industry creators. Outside of editing, Sabrina holds a second career as a voice actor for cartoons. In her spare time, she is secretly training to become an Olympic Curling Champion. Hurry Hard!

Sabrina's website: sabrinapitre.com

See Sabrina's work: IMDB

Nancy Rosenblum

Nancy started taking photos at age 7 and quickly graduated to films on her dad’s 8mm Bell and Howell. If she had an editing hero it would be Jill Bilcock, the editor of Baz Luhrmann’s Red Curtain series as well as Muriel’s Wedding, A Cry In The Dark and Elizabeth. Understanding story, character arcs, and pacing are keys to good editing, according to Nancy. When she’s not working, Nancy loves road biking, pickleball, travel, and food. Despite all of her career success, Nancy says that caring for of her mom in the last three months of her life has given her the most satisfaction, made her a more evolved person, and has enriched her editing and all that she does.

See Nancy's work: IMDB

Jacqueline (Jackie) Dzuba

What drew Jackie to editing? Editing, she says, is the perfect vantage point for all things film: composition, direction, character, and the design of a good story. Jackie’s intuitive storytelling style and strong sensibility about human nature keeps her in steady demand on projects from features to television series to documentaries and art films. She digs deep to find the most subtle nuance to push emotion and drama to the surface – be it human, polar bear, or animated pup. It has proven to be a good fit for this Gemini award winner. Outside of work, Jackie loves great food with good friends, a good political debate, floating on Okanagan Lake, and watching a Canadian women’s soccer match.

See Jacqueline's work: IMDB

Lisa Binkley

The link between the filmmakers that Lisa most admired when growing up was that they were all, at one time, film editors. Known for her compassion and understanding of human nature, Lisa tries to find the hidden truth behind a scene. Thinking outside the box and pinpointing the essence of the story enable Lisa to excel at her craft and her passion for editing has garnered her a Gemini and numerous other. Lisa loves the great outdoors - skiing, hiking, and gardening – where her two German Shepherds are her constant companions.

Lisa's website: lisa-binkley.com

See Lisa's work: IMDB

Dan Krieger

At a young age Dan knew he wanted to work in film and television. He consumed behind the scenes documentaries and interviews, hungering to learn more about how his favorite movies were made. In film school he was immediately fascinated with editing and still remembers the satisfaction of his first cut. Now, an Emmy award winning editor, he is still inspired by the magic of filmmaking and continues to study the craft. No matter the genre, while cutting, Dan focuses on creating an emotional connection to the characters, knowing that it is through their eyes that the audience will see the story. To him, these stories tell us who we are and who we could be. When not editing or watching films, he enjoys other artistic passions like painting and writing and building models.

See Dan's work: IMDB

Gordon Rempel

Once upon a time, Gordon Rempel was “that guy who worked at the video store”, devouring every frame in the films on the shelves. As a musician, he knows that it’s the tempo and rhythm that move people. For Gordon, editing captures the essential elements of both those loves. Whether he’s behind the keyboard of his piano, or the keyboard of his editing system, he knows it’s his job to keep things moving and shaking. He has numerous Canadian, American and International credits with an esteemed collection of directors and producers. Gordon deems himself a very lucky guy to make his living as a creative person.

See Gordon's work: IMDB

David Richardson

You could say that editing is in David’s blood – his father was an Academy nominated editor. With four award wins (Golden Horse x2, Hong Kong Film Award, Asian Film Award) and 20 nominations for feature film and sound design to his name, David has done his father proud. Based in both Vancouver and Thailand, David has worked extensively on North American as well as Asian productions. Not surprisingly, he loves travelling throughout Asia. Creativity, technical knowledge and diplomacy are, says David, the key factors to editing success.

See David's work: IMDB

Jason Pielak

Jason is a happy man. He has a job he loves, a wonderful partner, two awesome kids, and he loves living in Vancouver. Jason is such an admirer of Scorsese – he’d love to see the original footage of Goodfellas so he can see how the masterpiece was crafted – that “Goodfella” is part of his email address! An avid sports fan, Jason actually won tickets to Superbowl 32 via a radio trivia contest – a great payoff for what he describes as all the trivia floating around in his brain.

See Jason's work: IMDB

Eric Hill

A love of movies and television, and the discovery of an 8mm film camera, have led to a lifelong career. Homemade claymations, sci-fi epics and high school film projects led to a Bachelor’s Degree in Film Production. After several years of working in various capacities in production and post-production, Eric finally settled in as a picture editor. For more than 25 years he has been an award-winning editor of Feature Films, Televisions Dramas, and Documentaries.

See Eric's work: IMDB

Charles Robichaud

Charles – nominated for two Emmy Awards - took mastering the art of editing so seriously he took acting lessons to learn performance from the other side of the screen. Charles recently edited two series of a TV sit-com and said the experience was so fantastic he’d “do comedy again and again.” Regardless of genre, for Charles, storytelling is a “vast world of insane riches” and he relishes every chance to work with talented crew and directors. Charles lives in the country, keeps chickens and bees, has planted a fair sized and thriving orchard, and gets enormous satisfaction from keeping his wood shed fully stocked and all his tools sharp.

See Charles's work: IMDB

Mark Shearer

Finding the best possible story in any project is Mark’s passion. The technical skills he’s honed and his sociable nature help bridge creative differences to produce the best possible story for a given project. Mark has worked on features, television and short form projects and he’s equally comfortable working in all genres – he just loves exercising his craft. When he’s not in the editing suite, Mark skis, mountain bikes, sails, windsurfs, travels and watches movies. His greatest satisfaction in life? Raising his kids.

Mark's website: markalanshearer.com

See Mark's work: IMDB

Michael Bateman

A farm boy at heart, Michael has strayed a long way from the home range when it comes to his work and life. An accomplished editor and musician, Michael has worked for major film studios in the US and the UK for over 25 years. He's particularly proud of the work he did to help Marcel Ophuls complete his documentary, The Memory of Justice, about the Nuremburg Trials, the Vietnam War and the nature of war atrocity. Michael manages to combine his perfectionism with a huge sense of fun and a wide range of interests. He makes his own films, restores cars, is an accomplished finish carpenter, sings baritone in a charity show choir and has an amazing collection of Cooke, Leica and Switar lenses.

See Michael's work: IMDB

Garry MB Smith

Garry was born in Glasgow, Scotland and later brought up on a farm in Kent. Literature, theatre and travel were an important part of the Smith household; with frequent visits to London’s West End theatre district. Having immigrated to Canada, Garry found a new sense of freedom to explore creative avenues. Largely influenced by the underground culture of the time in film, music and art, Garry went to live in San Francisco for 2 years while studying cinema.

With over 50 titles to his credit, Garry’s work has spanned over a variety of genres from action, drama, comedy, and horror, westerns to science fiction, documentary, and animation. His awards include the NAACP for best mini-series and recently the New York Big Apple International Film Festival for Best Feature. Garry is based both in Vancouver and Los Angeles. He is a member of The American Editor’s Guild Of America (700) and the Television Academy. Garry loves immersing himself in other cultures and the stories told. He traversed by land across Africa from West to East via the Sahara desert.

Garry's website: garrymbsmith.com

See Garry's work: IMDB

Stein Myhrstad

With a resume including merchant marine seaman, paragliding instructor, and Cessna pilot, you’d be correct to expect Stein to be a high achiever in everything he undertakes. This award-winning editor combines an inspired technical knowledge – he’s on his seventh editing system – with confidence and humility; the confidence to know he is on the right path and the humility to explore all the options available. Stein says that this formula, coupled with a working speed that allows extra time for creativity, produces diamonds from rough dailies. Stein also plays guitar, is fluent in Norwegian, and can get by in Spanish.

See Stein's work: IMDB

Kelly Herron

Ever since he was a child, Kelly loved movies and knew he wanted to be involved in making them. Not many people realize their childhood dream, but Kelly, with features ranging from a number of Disney products to adult crime and drama on his resume, certainly has. Outside of work, Kelly is a huge sports fan, is addicted to social media, has two small children, and a cat called Lily.

See Kelly's work: IMDB

Mark Adams

After graduating from the renowned QCA film program in Australia, Mark followed his dreams and moved to Hollywood North. His first job was as an editorial PA on a science fiction series, where he learned the Avid, prepared dailies and chased after FedEx trucks to meet deadlines. His technical skill and passion for editing saw him quickly get promoted; and he spent 8 years as a sought-after Assistant Editor before becoming an Editor. Mark has experience in cutting drama, comedy, action and horror, but above all, he loves “crafting amazing stories with highly creative people, no matter the genre. It’s all about working with a great team

See Mark's work: IMDB

Jon Anctil

Jon, is a well-rounded guy. A self-confessed tech nerd, he finds film editing the perfect blend of the creative and the technical. His desire to see the "why" of a scene creates impactful and emotionally fulfilling cuts, and he puts a premium on clear communication with directors and producers. This ensures the footage goes in the right direction and keeps the story strong. Jon considers Mad Max: Fury Road to be a masterclass in action direction and editing and would love to have worked on it. When he's not plying his skills in the cutting room, Jon takes part in powerlifting and strongman competitions, bakes sourdough, plays classical guitar and loves retro video games. Check out Jon's work here www.jonanctil.com

See Jon's work: IMDB

Mauri Bernstein

A life-long storyteller with wild enthusiasm for creating the illusion of life, Mauri brings a remarkably creative perspective to the editing suite. Her early career is distinguished as a performer in television, film, and theatre, spanning from a supporting role on Doogie Howser, MD to eleven years as a principal performer with ComedySportz Los Angeles to puppeteering dozens of characters in Team America, World Police. With all this experience, it’s not surprising that Mauri knows how to edit for impactful storytelling. She jokes that she can detect any pea lurking under the mattresses – whether it’s that one line of dialogue that keeps the scene from working, or that singular glance that’s too brief, she'll smooth out the lumps.

Mauri's website: mauribernstein.com

See Mauri's work: IMDB

Jason Dale

In his final year of music school, Jason took a summer job in a cutting room. He found the experience intoxicating – the sounds of splicers cutting film, splicing tape being applied, and the constant buzz of rewinds. It changed the course of his career from music teacher to film editor. Two decades later, the magic of the craft has only increased for him and he's racked up an impressive list of credits. Like many editors, Jason's musical background contributes to the pace and dynamism of his cuts. That sense of rhythm, an acute attention to detail, and a strong work ethic are all traits of a skilled editor says Jason. Outside work, he loves jazz, travel, scotch and Sci-Fi movies.

See Jason's work: IMDB

Alison Grace

Crazy about films, Alison Grace determined to be a film editor in her teens. It's not surprising that she succeeded, her personal motto is "failure is not an option". Proud that she was able to turn her passion into a highly successful career, Alison has been recognized with Genie, Gemini and Leo Awards. When she started out, she worked as a dialog and ADR editor and says those skills have proved invaluable in her work. A film Alison particularly admires is The English Patient.

See Alison's work: IMDB

Alexander (Kirk) Hay

Kirk Hay was such a fan of the BBC car show Top Gear, he quit his job in Vancouver, moved to London, coach surfed, and hustled to work on the production. Three months later, he landed a job doing whatever he could. For a self-confessed “attention to details” sort of guy, that was quite some act of spontaneity. Years later, Kirk brings that level of enthusiasm to his work as an editor: He likes to refine the story down, find its pace and get into a character’s frame of mind. Editing isn’t Kirk’s only enthusiasm. He restores vintage cars, is an avid woodworker, gardener, fisherman and hiker. Oh, and also digs for gold in the small mine that he owns.

See Alexander's work: IMDB

James Lawson

James lives his life immersed in the visual. As well as being a seasoned editor, his other passion, photography, has led to a number of successful exhibitions. Clearly multi-talented, he's also done voiceover work for several of the productions that he's worked on. In the editing suite, James thrives on collaboration and he's not afraid to take risks by trying crazy ideas. "Duds are easy to discard and successes are rather rewarding," is his philosophy. James is also a huge fan of jazz, classical music, his wife and two wonderful daughters!

See James's work: IMDB

Justin Li

Justin is a thoughtful, generous spirited man. It shows in his work. Anything that connects one human being to another interests him. He believes that all great art captures the "why of what we are." His love of editing also stems from taking the responsibility of assembling and elevating the work of hundreds of other artists into a singular vision. He admires and would love to work with Jordan Peele, Denis Villeneuve, Edgar Wright and Guillermo Del Toro – all masters of genre who subvert expectations.

See Justin's work: IMDB

Jesse Lyon

According to Jesse, a great editor should excel in emotional understanding, have the desire to explore alternate realities, and be an ace at time management. A tall order for most people but, like many editors, Jesse has the winning combination of left brain, right brain balance. Asked which filmmaker he'd most like to work with, Jesse gives a surprizing response. He'd spend time with Dr. Karen Pearlman, acclaimed academic and author on the psychological effects of editing on audiences. Although Jess like to dig deep with everything he does, when it comes to work, his formula for success is simple: great work gets you recognition; a great attitude gets you hired.

See Jesse's work: IMDB

Rick Martin

Rick's love of filmmaking was sparked by making Super 8 movies as a kid. Since then, he's notched up credits for scores of productions in a range of genres. His other interests are as eclectic as his resume. They include collecting the iconic Nash Metropolitan car, riding Honda Mini Trail bikes (hard tails only), reading up on the early history of Hollywood, neon signs, and music (Bowie, Costello etc.). In the editing suite, his formula for success is to work effectively at speed, and to keep things light.

See Rick's work: IMDB

Lara Mazur

At the Winnipeg Film Group, Lara discovered the magic of editing. So she took a hiatus from teaching art, for what was going to be a year, and apprenticed as an editor. Fast-forward three decades, Lara is now a recipient of a CCE Lifetime Achievement Award. Lara believes that at the heart and soul of an editor is someone who has a curiosity about human nature and a love of storytelling. She has moved seamlessly through all genres, embracing each new project with the joy of discovery and the collaborative process of movie making. At the end of the day in the editing room, Lara enjoys a walk in the woods with her family and dog, or a bike ride, topped off with a movie. See Lara’s work: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0563387/

See Lara's work: IMDB

Gregory (Greg) Ng

If Greg wasn't an editor, he might be an inventor. He has that combination of zany creativity,
resourcefulness, and determination that you'd likely need. A few years ago, Greg and some friends attempted to build a hyperspace telephone booth. After a struggle, (they weren't phone booth scientists) it actually worked. Greg brings that same combination of qualities, along with a great sense of humour, to the editing booth. He believes that being a great editor requires technical wizardry, master storytelling, impeccable timing, and an easy-going nature. His lifelong pursuit is to perfect his craft.

See Gregory's work: IMDB

Jason Schneider

It’s amazing how life can change in an instant. When, a few decades ago, Jason Schneider walked into a university bar to meet a bandmate, his long-term plan was to be a school teacher. During the evening, someone mentioned that you can make a living as film editor. When he left the bar, his career plan had done a 360. He was going to be an editor. Since then, he has forged an impressive resume, the highlight of which was working with Denys Arcand. He loves to take a story someplace beyond original expectations and says his musicality – he has a background in song writing and recording -- helps with pacing and structure.

Jason's website: jcschneider.com

See Jason's work: IMDB

Christopher Smith

Well told stories are all about evoking emotion in the audience. That's something Christopher Smith understands, and always strives for. An emotional person himself, he confesses to misting up every time he watches Field of Dreams and, because he always "feels" his films, he'd love to work with director Danny Boyle. As well as being an editor, Christopher plays rock music, loves Maui, is a devoted dad, and claims that one of his notable achievements is tricking his wife into marrying him. But that’s another story.

Christopher's website: editmeamovie.com

See Christopher's work: IMDB

Christine McLeod

Christine McLeod loves the challenge of editing dialogue -- selecting the best tracks and fixing mic bumps, mic crackle, dropouts and distortions -- it's all grist to the mill to this seasoned editor.
With Wu Assassins, Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Snow Walker, and The Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting on her list of extensive credits, Christine puts a premium on building rapport and getting to know what each client expects, instead of repeating the same style for every job.
Christine particularly admires Better Call Saul because of all the small details which draw in the audience and allow for a fuller viewing experience. She also likes the fact that the music doesn't interfere with the dialogue, or force emotion from the audience.
When she's not applying her passion to her work, Christine loves to garden, play piano, cook, and travel.

See Christine's work: IMDB

Kevin Barron

Kevin Barron has an appreciation of soundscapes way beyond his work in the editing suite. He loves the sound of wind through trees, the sounds of happy dogs at play in local parks, and the sounds of laughter and conversation in his neighbourhood at night. When he is working, Kevin relishes scrutinizing sound dailies in search of the perfect consonant to replace part of an inaudible word, or looking at a scene or an object to figure out the best way to make it sound how it looks, without sacrificing the integrity and intelligibility of the important dialogue. Aside from his sound editing skills, Kevin is a writer, avid skier and snowshoer, experienced veterinary technician and, having grown up on a ranch, he can still milk a goat.

See Kevin's work: IMDB

Jo Rossi

Joseph Rossi feels blessed. Blessed with a fulfilling career, with a happy family life, and with having lifelong friends. He loves the creative investment that editing involves and how a great edit makes him feel. As a veteran sound editor, he has close to 1,000 hours of aired content to his name. When not in the editing suite, Joseph loves to cook, travel, watch soccer, follow Formula One, play tennis and golf, and hang out with his kids on gorgeous beaches. If having a rich life contributes to becoming a great editor, Joseph makes the grade.

See Jo's work: IMDB

Paul Shatto

When you combine a natural talent with decades of skill development, you pretty much hit the right note – every time. Award-winning Music Editor Paul Shatto has created stories with audio for Motive, The Terror, Unspeakable, My Little Pony, and The Shack. Not only that, this well-rounded audiophile is also an acclaimed music producer for country-pop artists. When he’s not immersed in sound waves, Paul loves to sail in his yacht throughout the fabulous Pacific North West.

See Paul's work: IMDB

Dona Noga

After graduating from Ryerson (Toronto Metropolitan) University in Media Arts, Dona began her film editing career cutting for The Discovery Channel; a mini-series on the Ocean and Climate Change. Soon after Dona moved to Los Angeles and worked as an assistant editor on the Mask of Zorro and helped with the film conform. While working Dona was hired to move to Vancouver to edit Ninja Turtles - The Next Mutation and The New Addam’s Family. Dona made her home in Vancouver for the next 4 years, and edited various shows for Fox Family, Lifetime, ABC Family, Disney and MGM Studios. In 1998 Dona edited her first feature called Dangerous Attraction and it was nominated for a Leo award. In 2003 Dona edited a pilot for MGM studios called Dead Like Me, which was nominated for an Emmy and became a cult hit. In 2003 Dona moved back to Toronto and edited, The Great Polar Bear Adventure, a scripted drama that consisted of 900 hours of stock shots. Later VFX were added to the polar bear’s mouth to animate them talking to one another. There was no main unit for this show. The Great Polar Bear Adventure was nominated for a Daytime Emmy. The Jane Show was also nominated for a DGC award as well as the Good Witch Family, for a CCE award. In 2016 Hello It’s Me was nominated for a CCE and DGC awards. Dona cut 5 seasons of the Good Witch which was Hallmark Channel #1 show. In 2022 Dona edited the Accused created by Howard Gordon, which is set to be released on Fox TV/Sony in January 2023.

See Dona's work: IMDB