Jay Wade Edwards

{{short description|American film director and editor|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{BLP sources|date=March 2020}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Jay Wade Edwards

| image = Jay_Edwards.jpg

| caption = Edwards at the Dracon Con in 2008

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|09|12}}

| birth_place = Lakeland, Florida, U.S.

| education = Bachelor's degree, Radio/Television/Film

| alma_mater = Auburn University

| occupation = Film director, TV producer, editor

| years_active = 1991–present

| website = https://www.jaywadeedwards.com

}}

Jay Wade Edwards (born September 12, 1968) is an American film director, television producer and editor.{{Cite web |title=Topcount |url=https://www.topcount.co/tv/people/614810/jay-wade-edwards |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=www.topcount.co}}

Jay Edwards started as professional television and film editor in 1991 after receiving a Bachelor's degree from Auburn University. He was a staff editor at Turner Studios before he joined Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim and worked as editor and producer on several series.{{Cite web|url=https://www.savannahnow.com/article/20080118/NEWS/301189899|title=Adult Swim producer in town to screen movie|last=Weickgenant|first=Joel|website=Savannah Morning News|date=January 18, 2008|language=en|access-date=2020-03-10}} He edited Space Ghost Coast to Coast, with Ned Hastings using recycled clips from the original series and reorganized them on the Avid non-linear editor, even animated lips, for a "talk show" style program.{{Cite web|url=https://www.laweekly.com/space-ghost-coast-to-coast-reunion-at-cinefamily-with-actors-and-animators-from-cartoon-networks-superhero-talk-show/|title=Space Ghost Coast-to-Coast Reunion at Cinefamily, With Actors and Animators From Cartoon Network's Superhero Talk Show|last=Whalen|first=Brendan|date=2011-12-05|website=LA Weekly|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://creativeloafing.com/content-184925-cover-story-a-cartoon-is-born|title=Cover Story: [a cartoon is born]|last=Kuldell|first=Heather|date=November 10, 2004|website=Creative Loafing|language=en|access-date=2020-03-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/space-ghost-coast-coast-changed-141312009.html|title=How Space Ghost Coast to Coast Changed Cartoon Network Forever|last=Melis|first=Matt|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=30 April 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-07}} He was the senior editor and producer of the animated series, The Aqua Teen Hunger Force and for the feature Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters.{{Cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/entertainment/calendar/love-comics-cartoons-this-con-for-you/lkiTc9JhzXNuazWHOwOJJL/|title=Love comics, cartoons? This 'con' is for you|last=Kloer|first=Phil|website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=english|access-date=2020-03-07}}{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2007/scene/markets-festivals/aqua-teen-hunger-force-colon-movie-film-for-theaters-1200560157/|title=Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters|last=Harvey|first=Dennis|date=2007-04-13|website=Variety|language=en|access-date=2020-03-07}} He also directed the live-action Assisted Living Dracula clip for Season 1's Bus of the Undead and was an occasional voice actor, using his own name. He also edits Squidbillies{{Cite web|url=https://www.connectsavannah.com/savannah/when-skunk-apes-attack/Content?oid=2158847|title=When Skunk Apes Attack!|last=Sickler|first=Linda|website=Connect Savannah|language=en|access-date=2020-03-13}} and Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell for Adult Swim. Animation editor Brad Lee Zimmerman said about mentors, "Jay Edwards, Ned Hastings, Dave Willis, and Matt Maiellaro are production cornerstones at Adult Swim and have been since it began."{{Cite book|last=Incorporated|first=Facts On File|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GXwBT9CuU-sC&pg=PA82|title=Animation|date=2010|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=978-1-4381-3249-5|language=en}}

Edwards’s television credits include editing work on Disney's Gravity Falls, Wander Over Yonder, and Star vs. the Forces of Evil. He has also worked on documentaries for CNN and TBS, and numerous promotional campaigns.

Edwards’ filmmaking career began when he wrote, directed, and edited three short science fiction films—Mountain of Terror Day of Dread (1998), Project: Tiki Puka Puka (1999), and Esta Noche We Ride! (2001)—known collectively as The Monster Trilogy.{{Cite web|url=https://filmthreat.com/uncategorized/lunch-with-jay-edwards-girls-skirts-garage-rock-and-monster-movies/|title=Lunch with Jay Edwards: Girls, Skirts, Garage Rock and Monster Movies|website=Film Threat|date=2005-11-29|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-07}} The Monster Trilogy has been shown at film festivals in Liverpool, England; Ontario, Canada; and Austin, Texas. Edwards has overseen promotion for the film, which has received positive reviews.

Edwards co-produced and edited Y’all Come! The Hell Hole Swamp Festival, a 2002 documentary profiling Jamestown, South Carolina, home of the annual Hell Hole Swamp Festival. The film has screened in ten film festivals, including The Rural Route Film Festival in New York City, The Maryland Film Festival, and Detroit Docs, receiving two Best-of awards.

The beach-party rock-'n'-roll monster movie Stomp! Shout! Scream!, Edwards’s first feature film as writer/director, premiered at the Austin Film Festival in October 2005 to more good reviews.{{Cite web|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/screens/2005-10-21/301910/|title=The Indelibles: What to see at the Austin Film Festival|last=Savlov|first=Marc|date=October 21, 2005|website=www.austinchronicle.com|language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-11}} The film has gone on to screen at more than twenty film festivals. Awards include Best Feature Film at the Toofy Film Festival and The Magnolia Independent Film Festival, and nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Set Design at the B-Movie Film Festival. The movie has been distributed under the title Monster Beach Party.

He was selected as a juror for the 2011 Atlanta Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/atlff-news/2011/05/08/2011-atlff-jury-and-audience-award-winners|title=2011 ATLFF Jury and Audience Award Winners|website=Atlanta Film Festival|date=7 May 2011 |language=en-US|access-date=2020-03-13}}

His anthology web series, Kino-Edwards Picture Show, won Best Web Content at the 2016 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreelindependentfilmfestival.com/2016/feb_29.php|title=HRIFF 2016 Program Guide|website=www.hollywoodreelindependentfilmfestival.com|access-date=2020-03-11}}