Karen Schmeer

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Karen Schmeer
Born(1970-02-20)February 20, 1970
DiedJanuary 29, 2010(2010-01-29) (aged 39)
NationalityAmerican
Occupationfilm editor

Karen Schmeer (February 20, 1970 – January 29, 2010) was a film editor who frequently collaborated with filmmaker Errol Morris.

Early life and education[edit]

Schmeer was born in Portland, Oregon.[1] She was the daughter of Michael Schmeer and Eleanor DuBois, as well as the granddaughter of photographer Ray Atkeson.[1]

In 1988, Schmeer graduated from Portland's Lincoln High School. In 1992 she graduated from Boston University with a degree in anthropology.[1]

Career[edit]

The year she graduated from college she was hired for an unpaid internship with Errol Morris.[1] Schmeer edited a number of his films, including The Fog of War, a 2004 portrait of Robert S. McNamara that was nominated for an Eddie award and Fast, Cheap and Out of Control.[1] She also edited Sergio, a 2009 film by Greg Barker about Sergio Vieira de Mello. Schmeer won the award for best documentary film editing at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival for Sergio.[2][3][4] Other work included editing Sydney Pollack's 2005 documentary, Sketches of Frank Gehry.[3]

Death[edit]

Schmeer was killed on the evening of January 29, 2010, in a hit-and-run as she was crossing New York City's Broadway Street at 90th Street.[3] The driver that struck her was the getaway driver for the robbery of a nearby pharmacy.[2][4]

Posthumous tributes[edit]

The Karen Schmeer Award for Excellence in Documentary Editing is awarded by the Independent Film Festival Boston.[5]

The Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship, created in 2010, is awarded annually.[6][7]

Awards[edit]

Filmography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Navas, Melissa (January 31, 2010). "Portland native Karen Schmeer, 39, remembered as loyal friend, talented film editor". The Oregonian. Retrieved 1 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b Wheaton, Sarah; Baker, Al (January 31, 2010). "Driver Is Arrested in Fatal Hit and Run on Upper West Side". The New York Times. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  3. ^ a b c "Famed Film Editor Struck, Killed by Car in NYC". The Columbian. Associated Press. January 30, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Cohen, Stefanie; Montero, Douglas; Doyle, John (January 31, 2010). "'Fog' editor killed; Thugs run down docu filmmaker". New York Post. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  5. ^ "IFFBoston Announces 2017 Jury Awards – Boston Reel – Medium". Medium.com. 2 May 2017. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  6. ^ Open Call Announced for the 2016 Karen Schmeer Fellowship
  7. ^ "About — The Karen Schmeer Film Editing Fellowship". Karenschmeer.com. Retrieved 2017-11-29.

External links[edit]