Vale editor and photographer Richard Clark

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Richard-Clark-editor.jpgMany in the advertising and production industries on both sides of the Tasman and the US will be saddened to hear of the passing of film and TVC editor and photographer Richard Clark, who died yesterday in Wellington, aged 70.

After a stellar career as a top film and TVC editor in Australia, New Zealand and the US, Kiwi-born Clark was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2010.

After moving to Australia in 1964 Clark started his editing career in 1967 at Ross Wood Productions in Sydney, learning his craft from master editor John Hoskins. After three years he worked for APA & RKP before freelancing, then Fontana Films for a very short spell before founding Kiwi Film Company in 1971, Australasia’s first boutique film editing company servicing the Advertising and Film Industries.

In 1987 he closed the business and headed to New York, first at Jay Gold Films followed by two years at First Edition. He then headed to Hollywood and later founded his own business in Venice Beach. After three years he joined Rye Films in LA for a five year stint followed by a year at Anchor Editorial.

In 1998 he decided to become a freelance ‘gun for hire’, and in 2001 he built Kiwicafe, a digital studio at Venice Beach, editing for advertising agencies, film production and motion pictures. Then in December 2003 he began exploring the American West between editing film projects. He filmed and photographed as he went, starting small and then investing in equipment as he became more adventurous. Finally in May of 2005 he went on the road full time until he relocated to New Zealand in January 2006.

During his editing career he worked on 5000+ commercials including work for American Express, Mastercard, Singapore Airlines, Saturn Car Co, Ford, General Motors, Mercedes Benz, Helene Curtis, Cathay Pacific, Coca Cola, US West, Range Rover/Land Rover, Toyota, and Budweiser. Saturn sits in the Permanent Collection, Museum of Modern Art, New York.

He worked with great directors, including Ray Lawrence, Richard McCarthy, Steve Horn, Leslie Dektor, Richard Donner, Hugh Hudson, Barry Myers and Pete Sillen.