Yu Han “Hank” Chang, an award-nominated visual effects artist in Hollywood, didn’t grow up in Los Angeles or London. He began his journey in Taiwan, inspired by a film that blended technical brilliance with emotional storytelling: Life of Pi.
“I was stunned not only by its amazing visual effects, but also by how director Ang Lee, also from Taiwan, was able to craft such a beautiful and profound film,” says Chang. “That film showed me what visual effects could do and made me believe it was something I could be part of, even coming from Taiwan.”
Now based in Hollywood, Chang works as a Senior/Lead Compositor on major film, television, and commercial projects. His specialty is Nuke compositing, and his strength lies in combining technical precision with a cross-cultural artistic sensibility. That duality, he says, is central to his work.
“In East Asian culture, there’s a stronger emphasis on meticulousness and elegance, while Western culture tends to be broader and multidimensional,” he explains. “You can imagine one as vertical and the other as horizontal. I believe balancing both is deeply ingrained in me when I create visual effects. It guides me to always think about how I can visually serve the story.”
His early training in Taiwan, however, was structured and rule-bound. “We relied a lot on what teachers taught us and followed the rules strictly when working on shots,” says Chang. “But after coming to the U.S., I found that I could make mistakes and have more freedom exploring. Most of my work hours are spent on trying, failing, and completing tasks. That’s a huge difference.”
That shift toward experimentation proved invaluable, not just creatively but in how Chang approaches problem-solving and team collaboration. On international teams, cultural diversity isn’t just a background detail; it shapes the creative output.
“I think a cross-cultural background allows artists to see a project from diverse perspectives,” he says. “That helps the team create visuals that resonate with a global audience.”
Chang points to one recent project, still unreleased, as a perfect example. “Japanese teams worked alongside U.S. artists, and one of the most impressive aspects of the film was its Manga-inspired scenes,” he says. “I couldn’t imagine this being done by anyone other than the Japanese artists, whose 2D Manga animation techniques are so unique and difficult to replicate. As a viewer, I immediately resonated with that style because it reminded me of my childhood.”
As a Lead Compositor, Chang works closely with a wide range of artists, producers, and technical staff. In that dynamic environment, communication becomes just as important as artistic skill.
“With a team from various backgrounds, ensuring that everyone is on the same page and feels heard is crucial,” he says. “Good communication not only avoids misunderstandings but also helps us integrate the best ideas from everyone to solve problems.”
For international artists entering the Hollywood scene, Chang emphasizes the importance of learning how to express yourself clearly. “It’s not just about language. It’s about how you present your ideas so that others can understand them easily,” he says. “I learned a lot from friends and coworkers who are native English speakers, listening to how they describe things, observing the differences, and slowly imitating their way of communication.”
Looking to the future, Chang sees global collaboration as an inevitable part of post-production. “In our industry, time is money, and the key is to distribute the pipeline to the teams that are most skilled and efficient for each task,” he says. “With the rise of AI, I believe the traditional pipeline is slowly evolving, blending automation with global talent to achieve even faster and more creative results.”
Asked what keeps him motivated in a fast-moving industry, Chang points to that same cross-cultural collaboration. “That project with the Japanese team really opened my eyes,” he says. “It reminded me of my original passion for VFX and the importance of continuous learning. Staying curious and learning new things is what keeps us inspired and thriving.”
For emerging artists outside major hubs, his advice is simple but practical: “Be curious about everything, even if you think you already know it,” he says. “And network. Reach out to people in the industry and ask questions. They may not always answer, but at least it puts you on their radar. You never know when your next opportunity might come from someone you’ve connected with.”
Spencer Hulse is the Editorial Director at Grit Daily. He is responsible for overseeing other editors and writers, day-to-day operations, and covering breaking news.
