Tanxuan Shi, a prominent young film editor in the Chinese community in California, has been making waves in the film industry. Born in China, Tanxuan received a bachelor’s degree in management from the prestigious Beijing Film Academy. During his time there, he directed an independent film called “Misdirection,” produced by Beijing Young Film Studio. This film was the first commercial film to be part of the Cooperation Graduation Projects at the Beijing Film Academy. Tanxuan started studying editing in 2012, which is one of his favourite courses in Beijing Film Academy, and he has also worked on many film and television projects as an editor or editorial assistant. When he worked on Misdirection in 2015, he was not only the director of the film, but also the editor of the film; many scenes were shot with 9 cameras at the same time, which was relatively complicated for editing in post-production, but Tanxuan’s excellent editing work was still recognised by Beijing Young Film Studio. From that day on, Tanxuan seemed destined to become an editor with a penchant for challenging edits. In 2017, Tanxuan moved to the United States to study at the New York Film Academy, where he earned two master’s degrees in Filmmaking and Screenwriting.
Over the years, Tanxuan has focused on telling Chinese stories with a Hollywood touch. His short film “Lip Reader: Game of Detective” won him nearly 30 international awards, including the “Best New Chinese Filmmaker” at the Oscar-qualifying LA Shorts Film Festival, the best editing award in the 7th Glendale film festival, American Golden Picture International Film Festival Best Editing, Best Editing of the Student LA Film Awards, INDIEX FILM FEST Best .Tanxuan also directed and edited “Magician: Game of Detective,” which garnered more than 40 international awards, including First Place in Best Short Film at the 15th Chinese American Film Festival.
In “Lip Reader: Game of Detective,” I’ve had more difficult challenges as an editor. Usually, some movies are to show multiple split screens at the same time but what I encountered is in the same time, using 18 split screens at the same time to tell the story, there’s a scene that the heroine Lin in front of a video wall composed of 18 screens to analyze the case, each screen needs to be placed in the video, and these videos are interrelated. The difficulty of editing can be imagined, but this is the editor’s life, creating the unique way for storytell. Also, I found that some scenes were not exactly as I had envisioned during the filming process. This prompted me to take a more creative approach as an editor to ensure the emotions and atmosphere of the scenes were expressed as I had initially intended. I had to adapt and find solutions to make the most out of the available footage, enhancing or altering the narrative as needed to create the desired impact.
As an editor, I believe that understanding the intricacies of storytelling and pacing is essential for achieving the best possible results. By rearranging the sequence of events, emphasizing key moments, and adjusting the rhythm of the film, an editor can greatly influence the overall flow and impact of the story. This creative flexibility allows the editor to enhance the director’s vision and bridge the gap between the initial concept and the final product.
Editing has helped me grow as a director, as it provides a unique perspective on the storytelling process. It has taught me the importance of being adaptable and open to change, as well as the value of precise decision-making when it comes to crafting a compelling narrative. I have learned how to make the most out of the material I have, even if it doesn’t perfectly align with my initial vision, by finding creative solutions that still convey the essence of the story.
“The director and editor are both Storyteller. Many talented directors were also very creative editors, such as Quentin Tarantino and Alfred Hitchcock. That’s what I want to work on.” said by Tanxuan. Moreover, being able to edit my own films has given me a better understanding of the entire filmmaking process, from pre-production to post-production. This knowledge allows me to make more informed decisions during the shooting phase, as I can anticipate potential challenges and find ways to minimize their impact on the final product. In turn, this holistic understanding of filmmaking has made me a more versatile and effective director. Caption: Tanuxuan Shi
Tanxuan’s talent has not gone unnoticed. He has been honored with several awards, such as the “AACYF Top 30 under 30 list” in 2022, hosted by LA Post and the All-American Chinese Youth Federation. He was also signed by Starlight Culture Entertainment’s “Stars Collective Program,” which aims to sign young promising directors from minority groups worldwide.
As Tanxuan continues to make a name for himself in the industry, his work as a editor is highly sought after by well-known Chinese cultural events. He is often invited to direct, produce and edit commercial and promotional videos, showcasing his talent and versatility. With a growing list of accomplishments and awards, Tanxuan Shi is indeed one of the most well-known young Chinese Film editors in California.
