In this latest episode of the “Editors on Editing” podcast, Glenn Garland interviews Michael P. Shawver, best known for his collaborations with director Ryan Coogler on projects including Fruitvale Station, Creed, Black Panther, and most recently, Sinners.
Shawver details how his long-standing relationship with Coogler has evolved from closely examining takes in early projects to managing complex, large-scale productions where he often represents the director’s vision in the editing room. That relationship defined the collaborative creative process behind Sinners, a film that blends horror elements with an exploration of race, identity, and personal trauma.
Unlike their previous films, Sinners presented unique challenges due to its intensely personal subject matter and absence of a pre-existing narrative framework to lean on, requiring numerous edits and versions before settling on a structure that balanced narrative momentum with emotional depth. It also required a mindset that fostered openness to ideas and options, connecting them to a collaborative vision that was greater than any individual part.
“If you think you know the answer to something, that’s automatically going to eliminate any other option to find something that’s even better,” Shawver said.
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