Meet Jing Han | Film Editor

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

Hi Jing, looking back, what do you think was the most difficult decision you’ve had to make?
To me, moving to the US is the most difficult decision. To pursue a career as a film editor, moving to the US is an obvious choice. However, that means living away from my family, building connections from the ground, totally different culture, and a lot of things I need to adjust myself to. I still don’t think I’ve thought everything through now that I am here. It was really scary when I made the decision. But I’m glad I did anyway.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’ve edited a feature film called “Continue” that I’m very proud of. It’s a unique film about the internal struggle of a suicidal character. It deals with deep emotions and feelings that could really connect with people who have experienced depression. And hopefully this film could help people in some way to overcome what they’ve been experiencing. The director Nadine stared in this film and she plays the main character. It goes without saying that she did a great job in this film, both directing and acting wise, even though this is her first feature as a director.

Editing this film is not easy. Editing is about manipulating the audience’s mind. As for the editor, the most significant and difficult thing is to get out of the constraints of a script, watch the film as the audience that have no knowledge of the story and see how it goes. I found it very helpful to take a small break from time to time. Staying in a dark editing room for a whole day can be stressful, sometimes even a two minutes break can take my mind off the story, and it gives me fresh eyes when I get back to work. Furthermore, film editors must understand and adhere to the original intention of the director, too. Communication is key. It’s rather common to have differences with the director, that’s why communication is key. What I always keep in mind is, editing is all about serving the story that the director is telling, knowing what he/she wants is the first step.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Living in Glendale for the last few year has been a great experience for me. Glendale has a lot to offer – Americana being my No.1 favorite spot. It’s a great place for shopping and there’re a lot of great restaurants there too. I love Trattoria Amici’s lasagna and Din Tai Fung’s Xiao Long Bao. Bea Bea’s is my to-go place for Sunday brunch and Porto’s has just the best cheese rolls and cakes.

Glendale Public Library is a great place to read and study.
Brand Library Hiking Trail and Whiting Woods Trailhead are both great places for hiking on weekends.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wanted to shoutout to my parents for the love, support and guidance they’ve been giving me. I’m extremely lucky to be able to living the life I want, chasing my dreams far far away from home and feeling loved on a daily basis.

Website: jinghaneditor.com