Meet Ben Niu | Film Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Niu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
While proficiency in editing techniques is essential, the film and entertainment industry thrives on collaboration and relationships. Recognizing this, I made a deliberate effort to attend industry events, film festivals, workshops, and networking gatherings.

Meeting face-to-face allowed me to make a memorable impression and fostered a deeper understanding of the creative process from various perspectives. Conversations with directors enlightened me about their vision, while interactions with cinematographers and sound designers expanded my awareness of how my editing decisions influenced the overall production.

Furthermore, these interactions often led to collaborations and referrals. By forging authentic relationships and showing genuine interest in others’ work, I became a trusted collaborator known for understanding and respecting the holistic nature of film production. This reputation attracted high-quality projects and made my contributions invaluable to the success of the films I worked on.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve been editing for years.

I began my career as a trailer editor in Beijing, where I created many popular trailers for Chinese blockbusters such as *The Wandering Earth*, *Kung Fu Yoga*, *Little Door Gods*, and *Detective Chinatown*.

Although I enjoyed editing trailers, I always dreamed of cutting narrative films. In 2019, I joined the editing program at the American Film Institute, where I had the privilege of working with many unique and fascinating individuals. Cutting their films made me feel like the luckiest person in the world.

I’ve worked on numerous award-winning films, and this includes awards specifically for film editing.

The 25th Filial Exemplar is a short film that was selected for Tribeca Film Festival, featured in Variety and Hollywood Report, qualified for Best Live Action Short Film at the 95th Academy Awards.

The short film My Life Stopped at 15 was selected for the BronzeLens Film Festival, won Best Film at the Official Latino Film and Arts Festival, and won Best Editing at the Hollywood Gold Awards, among many other festival selections, awards, and nominations.

The short A Picture of Friendship During the Dark Ages won Best Editing at the Golden Short Film Festival, the Budapest Film Festival, the Paris Film Awards, and Indie House Festival.

While each project was different, I approached each one with the same level of dedication and attention to detail, striving to deliver the best possible outcome for each one. From start to finish, I poured my heart and soul into these projects, and I am proud of the final results.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Sure!

Things to do：

Exploring the Hollywood Walk of Fame and TCL Chinese Theater

Hiking to the Hollywood Sign on foot, enjoying the magnificent scenery

Watching the sunset at Griffith Observatory

Strolling along the Venice Beach Boardwalk and Muscle Beach

Biking along the Santa Monica Pier

Exploring the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA)

Going to Staples Center to watch a basketball game

Restaurants to go：

In-N-Out Burger

Taylor’s Steakhouse

El Cholo

Ruen Pair

Silverlake Ramen

Din Tai Fung

Little Sheep Mongolian Hot Pot

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely! I just wanted to take a moment to acknowledge the incredible work of the talented director, Paul Cadenhead. His unique vision and tireless dedication to his craft have inspired me and countless others who have had the pleasure of working with him.

Paul Cadenhead is an independent writer/director who is committed to eccentric, character-driven storytelling. Paul’s films often focus on themes of masculinity, family dynamics and individualism – all lined with a thread of dark humor. He is interested in discovering poignant human truths through a satirical lens. Paul’s greatest artistic influence comes from the spirit of Wyoming, where he was born and raised. Some of Paul’s previous work includes the award-winning short films: The Marvin Family Tortoise; Chekhov’s Gun; A Picture of Friendship During the Dark Ages; and The Cowboy Pecan Pie.

I met him three years ago while working on his project called The Last Step at the American Film Institute. Since then, we have continued to work together. He has been a very supportive collaborator throughout the process.