Check Out Chao Han’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chao Han

Hi chao, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was 8, I watched Titanic with my family, and I was captivated by the beautiful cinematography and the love story of Jack and Rose. It was also my first glimpse of a naked woman! Thankfully, my parents let me keep watching, unknowingly sparking my passion for cinema—a passion they have always supported.

After graduation, I began as an assistant editor for a reality show and later transitioned to a commercial production company. It was a polished company, and I had to wear many hats. I worked as a production manager and assistant director on big-budget projects, while also independently creating viral videos, behind-the-scenes content, interviews, and tutorials for smaller productions. I loved every role, even though it wasn’t as glamorous as I had envisioned in college. Instead, it was about problem-solving, taking care of the crew, effective communication, and often just waiting for client feedback. There was constant pressure from clients, budgets, and time constraints, but I thrived in the challenge and learned to be creatively flexible. As my superior once told me, this job is like “building a temple inside a snail shell,” meaning that despite limited space, we still had to make something great. After a few years, I realized it was time to pursue my deeper goal.

I enrolled in NYFA’s MFA program, where I truly discovered the heart and soul of filmmaking. I met people just like me, passionate about storytelling. After creating several narrative shorts, I realized that editing was where my heart lies. I could spend entire days immersed in the editing process. Editing is where scattered clips merge into a cohesive narrative, much like nurturing a child into adulthood. Plus, editing allowed me to experiment with different storytelling approaches without the limitations of a production budget.

After completing my MFA, I joined Reelshort, one of the leading companies in vertical shorts, a new and rapidly growing content industry. As the lead editor, my role is more than just cutting footage together—my style focuses on enhancing the dramatic elements and creating a strong connection with the audience. Vertical shorts are unique because each episode is only 1-2 minutes long, and viewers watch them everywhere, often in busy or distracted environments. This means we have to grab their attention instantly and hold it. Unlike traditional series or films, every second in a vertical short counts, and I aim to amplify the emotional impact within that tight frame. I love the challenge of telling compelling stories within this format, and I take pride in creating content that resonates deeply with audiences.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
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 vocals 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 client. 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.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve worked in most roles within filmmaking and commercials, which has given me a broad perspective on projects. I like to see the whole picture and ensure every cent counts. Given my background, I’m always striving to bring Chinese culture to the West, adding more diversity. We come from very different cultural backgrounds, and sometimes we react or think differently, but at our core, we all share the same human emotions. My goal is to showcase these differences, because even if people don’t fully understand the culture, they can always connect through emotion.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was born and raised in Shanghai, China, in 1991. That was a time when China had just opened its doors to the world, allowing us to experience an influx of global information. During my childhood, I had access to a wide range of influences—watching Japanese anime and American movies on TV—giving me a glimpse of the world without barriers.

I started attending boarding school in elementary school. While many kids cried for their parents at night, I enjoyed staying at school with my classmates and friends. Being in that environment taught me independence and allowed me to observe and understand different kinds of people. I still remember drawing comics and sharing them with my friends, discussing the plot and characters. Looking back, I think that’s where my dream of becoming a filmmaker first began. I love telling stories, though I’m not great at speaking. Instead, I prefer using images to communicate, as that’s where I feel most comfortable expressing myself.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chao_kan/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@chaohan2857