Editors Kristin Yawata and Jake Swartz Bolster Studio’s Offerings
Republic, a premiere production, editorial, and design collective headquartered in Uptown Dallas, announces the addition of Kristin Yawata and Jake Swartz to their Republic Editorial studio roster. The two editors each bring unique perspectives to their craft – Kristin specializing in emotional storytelling, while Jake excelling in comedic timing – further diversifying the studio’s editorial offerings.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kristin and Jake to Republic,” says Carrie Callaway, Republic Partner and Managing Director. “Even though they come from different backgrounds and have their own unique editing styles, they share a passion, creativity, and dedication to their work that fits right in with our brand. Kristin’s love for heartfelt, docu-style storytelling and Jake’s knack for high-brow comedy increase our offerings and help us connect with audiences in fresh ways.”
Kristin Yawata grew up in Huntington Beach, California, where her father was a photographer who shot covers for Kung-Fu magazines in the 70s, which ultimately inspired her to attend film school at UC Santa Cruz. After graduating, Kristin joined Jump Editorial, starting in client services and working tirelessly to learn from senior editors. As an assistant, she built a client base, taking on significant projects for clients like Mazda and the Marine Corps, which in short time led her to a seat in the editor chair. In 2020, she co-founded Little Farm Productions, working with major brands including Lincoln, Nike, and Target and bands like Coldplay. Particularly passionate about the capabilities of evocative storytelling, Kristin says, “It’s amazing the emotion you can get from just a few frames of video, and even more amazing the emotion you can get from a well crafted story.” A spot she cut for The Ad Council five years ago is still being shown today, a testament to her exceptional talent.
Jake Swartz grew up in Chicago, where his father worked as an Art Director at Leo Burnett. Similar to Kristin, he knew from a young age that he wanted to be an editor, which led him to study film at Columbia College and intern at Cutters and Whitehouse. Upon graduating, he joined Cutters as an assistant, and quickly rose to the role of a cutting assistant juggling support duties with supervised editorial sessions. In the summer of 2022, he relocated to Austin for family reasons and joined The Den. There, he worked on large campaigns for clients such as State Farm, Fox Sports, Nissan, and McDonald’s. An Emmy winning artist who’s worked on multiple Super Bowl Spots, Jake’s love for comedy is clearly visible in his work, whether he’s crafting sharp, witty dialogue or using visual humor to enhance a scene. “There’s nothing more rewarding for an editor,” says Jake, “than hearing someone laugh out loud on cue at a well-timed comedic moment.” His work cutting on set for Will Ferrel’s latest PayPal campaign does a great job showcasing this.
Kristin and Jake join Republic Editorial’s roster of editors that includes Shaddai Berron, Chris Gipson, Andy McGee, Susan Munro, Dean Pelton and Parker Smitherman. “I’m thrilled to be in the company of so many talented cutters,” says Kristin. “They’ve got some really solid work – I can’t wait to share ideas and pick up new tricks.”
“I’ve known about Republic and its reputation for adaptive growth”, says Jake, “even while working in other markets. All across their studios they have nothing but talented directors, editors, and designers – I look forward to knocking out some amazing work together.”
