ACE is an honorary society of editors in pursuit of excellence within our artistry. We promote mutual respect, advocacy, and support for our peers. We endeavor to be ambassadors for our art.

THE ACE CREDO

The purpose of American Cinema Editors is:

~ to advance the art and science of the film editing profession;
~ to increase the entertainment value of motion pictures by attaining artistic pre-eminence and scientific achievement in the creative art of film editing;
~ to bring into close alliance those film editors who desire to advance the prestige and dignity of the film editing profession.

Our History

The society was the original idea of two Paramount Studio film editors, Warren Low and Jack Ogilvie, who arranged for an historic meeting of representative editors to discuss starting the organization.  It was held at the Masquers Club in Hollywood on October 26, 1950 and, besides Low and Ogilvie, was attended by George Amy, Folmar Blangsted, James Clark, Frank Gross, Richard Heermance, William Hornbeck, Fred Knudtson, William Lyon, Fredrick Smith, Richard Van Enger and Hugh Winn.

Beginning of ACE Membership

A Charter Membership meeting was held on November 28, 1950 attended by 108 of the industry’s top film editors followed by the first General Membership meeting on January 9, 1951 at which time a name for the society was adopted when Donn Hayes suggested “American Cinema Editors”, abbreviated to “ACE” as its acronym.  (Members are identified on screen credits with “ACE” following their names.)  On May 29, 1951 the AMERICAN CINEMA EDITORS became a non-profit corporation under the laws of the State of California.

ACE Roundtable

From its inception the ACE membership was committed to the encouragement of mutually-beneficial dialogue with other members of the motion picture industry and to educating the general public.  The first of several seminars, known as the “ACE Roundtable”, was inaugurated in 1951 to discuss problems shared with other industry groups.  A panel discussion on “Better Pictures Through Creative Cooperation” was held on June 5, 1951 at the Masquers Club moderated by Fredrick Smith with guest speakers: Delmer Daves, President, Screen Directors Guild;  Paul Groese, President, Art Directors Society;  William Perlberg, President, Screen Producers Guild; Ronald Reagan, President, Screen Actors Guild;  Ray Rennahan, President, American Society of Cinematographers; and Karl Tunberg, President, Screen Writers Guild.