Taiwanese film editor Hu Yang-hua reflects on Hollywood journey

Los Angeles, July 8 (CNA) "Editing is an invisible art," Taiwanese film editor Hu Yang-hua (胡仰華) told CNA Tuesday, after the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited him and four other Taiwanese film professionals to join the prestigious American movie related association.

"The highest state is hiding oneself," Hu said. "When the audience walks out of the theater and says, 'That was a great film,' instead of 'That was well edited,' the editor has succeeded."

Hu has worked in Hollywood for more than a decade, with roles across film, theater and music videos.

He received the Robert Altman Award at the 2022 Independent Spirit Awards for his work on the film "Mass," which explored the issue of school shootings in the United States.

The Academy, a Los Angeles-based organization that produces the Oscars, extended invitations to five Taiwanese -- Hu, Peggy Chiao (焦雄屏), Mong-Hong Chung (鍾孟宏), Wei San Hsu (許瑋珊), Vincent Wang (王琮) -- as part of a larger cohort of 534 film professionals.

"This journey -- from Xinzhuang to Hollywood, becoming one of more than 10,000 Academy members -- is unbelievable," he said during an interview with CNA.

Born and raised in Xinzhuang District, New Taipei, Hu attended Xinzhuang Elementary School, Xinzhuang Junior High School and Hsin Chuang Senior High School.

He studied with the School of Theatre Arts at Taipei National University of the Arts before heading to the U.S. in 2010 to pursue a master's degree at the University of Southern California.

Starting as an assistant, he gradually built a career as a professional film editor in Hollywood.

"In the filmmaking process, the editor is the final gatekeeper," he said.

"We combine all the prepared ingredients and 'stir-fry' the rhythm and emotional direction of the story," Hu added, likening his role to that of a chef.

He described the essence of editing as working with the director to "find the DNA of the piece," constantly exchanging ideas, letting go of ego, and repeatedly testing different versions.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed how audiences consume content, Hu remains committed to the traditional theatrical experience.

"A movie theater is like a black box," he said. "It locks the audience inside, and they laugh and cry with the characters until the story ends."

"Films can convey deep messages and touch people emotionally, prompting thought about social issues and human relationships -- this is something short-form videos cannot replace," he said.

Reflecting on challenges he faced in the U.S., Hu said that language and cultural gaps turned out to be sources of growth.

"America is a cultural melting pot," he said. "If you're willing to open your heart to different pop music, TV series and films, you become more complete, and your work will have more depth."

"I'm like a seed brought from Asia -- after absorbing sunlight and water in the U.S., I've grown into a different kind of flower," he said.