John Carter (film editor) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Carter
Portrait of John Carter
Born	(1922-09-22)September 22, 1922 Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Died	August 13, 2018(2018-08-13) (aged 95) White Plains, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Film editor
Years active	1956–2018

John Neares Carter (born September 22, 1922 – died August 13, 2018) was an amazing American film editor. He helped create movies and TV shows by putting together all the video clips. John made history at CBS on The Ed Sullivan Show. He became the first African-American film editor to work for a TV network in New York City. For four years, he was the main editor for a special documentary team called Eye On New York. Later, John started his own company, John Carter Associates, Inc.

John Carter's Early Life and Military Service

John Carter was born in Newark, New Jersey on September 22, 1922. He was one of four children in his family. In 1927, his family moved to Asbury Park, New Jersey.

Sports and Family Life

Growing up, John was a talented athlete. He played basketball, football, and ran track at Asbury Park High School. During the summer, he loved to swim along the Jersey shore. John was also a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Temple. There, he acted in plays that his father directed.

Serving His Country

In 1943, John joined the U.S. Army during World War II. He served in Europe as a staff sergeant. John earned several important medals for his service. These included the Soldier's Medal of Valor and the World War II Victory Medal.

After the War

After leaving the Army in 1946, John studied film. He trained at the New York Institute of Photography. He also learned at the Brooklyn Institute of Motion Picture Production. Then, he joined an apprenticeship program. This was at the Signal Corps Pictorial Center for film editing.

While training, John met Carole at a dance in Harlem. They fell in love and got married on August 22, 1954. They had three children and six grandsons. John Carter passed away at his home in White Plains, New York on August 13, 2018. He was 95 years old.

John Carter's Amazing Career in Film

In 1956, John Carter started working at CBS-TV. He became the first African-American film editor hired by a TV network in New York. For 12 years, he worked at CBS. For the last four of those years, he was the main editor for a special documentary team. This team was called Eye On New York and won many awards.

Starting His Own Company

In 1968, John decided to start his own company. It was called John Carter Associates, Inc. His first movie as an independent editor was Paper Lion. This film was about George Plimpton and starred Alan Alda.

Working on Famous Films

John went on to edit many other important films. One famous documentary he worked on was King: A Filmed Record…Montgomery to Memphis (1970). This film was even nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.

He also edited the original movie Solomon Northup's Odyssey. This film was directed by Gordon Parks. Later, it was remade into the well-known movie 12 Years a Slave.

Mentoring and Collaborating

John Carter helped many young filmmakers learn the craft. He also worked with many famous directors. Some of these included Tyler Perry, Tim Story, Bill Duke, and Elaine May.

In 1984, John directed his only film, Zombie Island Massacre. It was a slasher movie set on a Caribbean island.

Breaking Barriers and Earning Awards

John Carter was the first African-American person to join the American Cinema Editors society. This is a very important group for film editors.

In 1972, he was nominated for a BAFTA Award. This was for best editing for the movie Taking Off.

John was a member of several important film organizations. These included the American Cinema Editors, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, and the Motion Picture Editors Guild. He retired at 85 years old, after editing more than 50 feature films!

John Carter's Filmography

Here are some of the movies John Carter helped edit: