Meet Chao Han | lead editor for vertical shorts

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chao Han and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chao, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
The single most important decision I made was to embrace being open-minded and humble enough to keep learning. I studied animation in my college, but after learning how animation is done, I became curious about how filmmaking works in the real world. So, I found a job as a producer for commercials, gaining hands-on experience in every phase of production, from development to post-production. I was good at it, but it wasn’t enough for me. I wanted to go deeper, to see how filmmaking was really done—especially in Hollywood. Quitting my job to study filmmaking in Hollywood was a turning point. It allowed me to grow, expand my vision, and find clarity about what I truly wanted: to become an exceptional editor. With the rapid rise of vertical shorts, I saw a new opportunity to carve out a niche, and that’s where my new career began.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As I mentioned before, I’ve worked in nearly every role within filmmaking and commercials, giving me a comprehensive view of each project. I focus on the big picture, ensuring that every detail adds value. With my background, I’m passionate about bringing Chinese culture to the West and introducing more diversity to the industry. Though we come from different cultural backgrounds and may think or react differently, at our core, we share the same human emotions. My goal is to highlight these cultural nuances because even if audiences don’t fully understand the culture, they can still connect through emotion.

As a lead editor at Reelshort, I infuse these insights into every cut I make. I have a strong understanding of the intentions behind directors’ and producers’ visions, which allows me to fully harness the potential of their visuals. Since vertical shorts originated in China and many scripts are adapted from Chinese content before being localized for U.S. audiences, I’m able to recognize the distinctly Chinese dramatic elements and amplify them in ways that resonate with viewers. This cultural lens is what sets my work apart and adds a unique layer to each project I touch.

Achieving my success today hasn’t been easy. I’ve kept moving forward, learning, and stepping into new, unknown areas—starting from animation, to producing TV commercials, to filmmaking, and now editing vertical shorts, moving from Shanghai to Los Angeles. I aim for perfection in each phase before moving on to the next. The ultimate goal remains the same: to be an artist in filmmaking, to be unique, and to show people something they haven’t seen before.

How have I managed to transition between different roles and places? I’d say it comes down to staying humble and embracing the unknown. When I was younger, I was afraid to admit what I didn’t know, so I pretended I did. For instance, when I was in charge of a sound mixing project for the first time, there were VOs that needed to be recorded by a professional artist. I wasn’t sure what kind of performance we were looking for, and even though the first take was excellent, I felt the need to act like I knew better in front of the clients. In the end, my unnecessary adjustments extended the process, costing more money and teaching me little.

Since then, I’ve learned that if I don’t know something, it’s better to ask and learn from others. You’ll find that their insights are invaluable, and soon enough, you’ll know more and won’t need to pretend. Everyone has their first time, after all.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Since I’ve been living in Los Angeles for four years, I can offer some advice from a Chinese perspective. Let me share a few viewpoints. I always recommend my friends take studio tours like Warner Brothers, Sony, Universal, Paramount, and others. These tours are unique to LA, and that’s one of the main reasons to visit here. For attractions like Disneyland or other theme parks, I usually don’t recommend them, as we have similar ones in China. Instead, the studio tours, along with hiking and exploring natural landmarks, are truly worth experiencing. I still remember my first visit to Joshua Tree—the landscape was so different, and the cacti were so unique. Even though it’s a two-hour drive, it’s absolutely worth it. By the way, if you visit LA, make sure to rent a car!

Now, let’s talk about food. Los Angeles is a diverse city with a wide variety of restaurants from different cultures. Besides American food, there’s excellent Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian, and Mexican cuisine all over the city. What I recommend depends on where my friends are visiting from. If they’re from other U.S. states, not from China, I take them to a Chinese restaurant called Hunan Spicy Taste. This place in LA is just as good as the restaurants back in China, I’d say. However, if my friends are visiting from China and want to try something different, I’d suggest IHOP for a taste of classic American dining. For dinner, I’d recommend So Ban, a Korean restaurant. It’s a unique spot, and they even have a photo of Bong Joon Ho holding his Oscar in the restaurant!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
’d like to give a huge shoutout to my wife, Yueshen Xi. She has always believed in me, even during the years when I was in school and couldn’t contribute financially. Not only does she support me emotionally, but she also trusts me and my talent completely. Yueshen watches all of my work and gives me solid, thoughtful feedback. I often feel like I’ve been as fortunate as Ang Lee, whose wife stood by him for over eight years, supporting his dream of becoming a successful director. Yueshen, thank you for being my constant source of strength and for believing in me every step of the way.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chao_kan/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chao-han-a524a0291/

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