Crew Cuts has added Matt Chessé to its Santa Monica roster of editors. The company also maintains shops in New York and San Francisco. Chessé joins a West Coast editors’ lineup that includes David Lee, Bob Jenkis and San Francisco-based Eric Johnson.
Chessé came on staff at Crew Cuts as an assistant editor this past spring, shortly after the first feature film he cut, Everything Put Together, debuted in competition at the Sundance Film Festival in Jan. 2000. Crew Cuts’ Santa Monica-based executive producer/strategist Valerie Petrusson described Chessé’s promotion to editor as "another key element" in the shop’s plan for the new year. Chessé already has to his editing credit a pair of spots for BBDO New York: Visa’s "Tattoo" and Schwab’s "Mascots," both directed by David Cornell of bicoastal Headquarters.
Originally from San Francisco, Chessé began his career in Bay Area production. While production-assisting for then-Hollywood-headquartered (now Santa Monica-based) Stiefel+ Company, he connected with director Peter Kagan, who invited him to Los Angeles to be his assistant. At Stiefel, Chessé was included in all aspects of Kagan’s shoots, from casting and location scouting, to art department work and eventually assistant directing. After a year and a half at Stiefel, Chessé had the opportunity to assist editor Angus Wall at Rock, Paper, Scissors, Los Angeles. It was here that he found his calling, and decided to pursue becoming an editor.
As a freelancer, Chessé worked as an assistant editor to David Lee at now defunct Us 2 Editorial. Reuniting with Lee at Crew Cuts, Chessé said of the editor, whom he described as a mentor: "David has always been in my corner, encouraging me to stretch out and try new things, whether finishing a 35mm film, cutting documentaries, [working on] a snowboarding movie—anything that would strengthen my chops. It made sense to follow him to Crew Cuts, and I’m just really glad the company has noticed my dedication to this craft."
