Michael P. Shawver

Biography

Michael P. Shawver is an American film editor renowned for his collaborations with director Ryan Coogler. Born around 1984 or 1985 in Rhode Island, United States, Shawver pursued his undergraduate studies at the University of Rhode Island, graduating in 2007 with a major in communication studies. He furthered his education by obtaining a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California's School of Cinematic Arts in 2012.

During his time at USC, Shawver met Ryan Coogler in 2009 during a directing class. This meeting marked the beginning of a fruitful professional relationship. Shawver edited Coogler's student films, including "Fig," which later aired on HBO.

Shawver's first major feature film editing role was for Coogler's directorial debut, "Fruitvale Station" (2013), where he collaborated with editor Claudia Castello. The trio continued their partnership with the critically acclaimed "Creed" (2015). In 2018, Shawver teamed up with editor Debbie Berman to work on Marvel's "Black Panther," a film that received widespread acclaim for its storytelling and cultural impact.

Beyond his collaborations with Coogler, Shawver has contributed to various other projects. He served as an additional editor for "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" (2019) and was the primary editor for "A Quiet Place Part II" (2020). His filmography also includes titles like "Honest Thief" (2020), "Blacklight" (2022), and "Black Panther: Wakanda Forever" (2022).

Throughout his career, Shawver has been recognized for his meticulous editing style and his ability to enhance narrative depth through visual storytelling. His collaborations with Coogler, in particular, have been lauded for their seamless integration of character development and plot progression, contributing significantly to the films' successes.

As of 2025, Shawver continues to be an influential figure in film editing, with upcoming projects that are highly anticipated by audiences and critics alike.