Editorial and post house Final Cut has signed acclaimed feature editor Spencer Averick for spots and branded content. His long-form credits include director Ava DuVernay’s Selma and 13th. For the latter, director/writer/producer DuVernay, editor/producer Averick and producer Howard Barish earned a Best Feature Documentary Oscar nomination earlier this year. Also on the strength of 13th, Averick became an ACE Eddie Award nominee for Best Editing in the Feature Documentary category.
“Ava [DuVernay] originally brought Spencer to our attention when she had him in to lead-edit an Apple Music spot last year,” said Final Cut LA executive producer Eric McCasline. “We immediately saw how gifted he was and how well he fit in with our gang. Final Cut was so happy for him and his Oscar nomination and we look forward to getting him busy on the right projects in advertising. He is a talent.”
Averick noted, “What drew me to Final Cut was the fact that they create such meaningful and forward-thinking content in the branded space. I’m excited to be collaborating with some of the most creative agencies and directors in the field.”
The addition of Averick to the roster is part of a flurry of recent activity at Final Cut. Longtime head of production Suzy Ramirez has been promoted to EP in the Los Angeles office, working alongside McCasline. Ramirez has been an integral part of Final Cut for the past seven years, described by company president Stephanie Apt as “the bedrock of the L.A. office.”
Meanwhile at Final Cut New York, Spencer Campbell has been promoted from assistant to rostered editor. Campbell said, ”Over the past six years I’ve been so amazingly inspired by Final Cut; the work, the staff and the fantastic spirit that it embodies. I’m very excited to join the tremendously talented group of editors in helping to create more of the spectacular work that my coworkers produce here day in and day out.”
Additionally, through a partnership with Third Coast Editorial, Final Cut has opened a Chicago outpost. Final Cut is teaming with Third Coast’s EP Lisa Long and leveraging her company’s River North studio to provide high-end editorial suites studio space, production assistance, client services and technical support to Final Cut’s visiting editorial artisans. The partnership brings Final Cut talent to Midwest agencies and clients’ doorsteps.
