Interview with Rosanne Tan, ACE Editor
In the dynamic world of film and television, Rosanne Tan, ACE, is making a name for herself as a talented editor. Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, but raised in Los Angeles, CA, Tan's passion for storytelling and editing has been a constant in her life.
Tan discovered her love for editing at a young age, experimenting with VHS-to-VHS editing to compile her favourite programs. This early introduction to the craft set the stage for her successful career. After college, she landed on the online/finishing side of post-production, working mainly on unscripted projects.
A Versatile Portfolio
Tan's portfolio is as diverse as it is impressive. Her favourite TV series span from the critically acclaimed Mad Men and The Pacific, to groundbreaking shows like The Wire, Six Feet Under, and The Sopranos. More recently, she has worked on hit series such as The Killing, Succession, The Walking Dead, The White Lotus, and Hawkeye.
Tan's work on Hawkeye and Ahsoka is particularly noteworthy, and she is very proud of her contributions to these projects. For Hawkeye, she used a combination of Chroma Key, Gaussian Blur, and Film Glow for temp backgrounds in blue screen shots during the car chase and bridge sequence.
Embracing Technology
Tan primarily uses Boris FX’s Sapphire plug-ins within her Avid-based editing workflow. She relies heavily on Sapphire’s effects and features for enhancing her edits, particularly for stylized looks and color grading, light and glow effects, stylized transitions, texture and film effects, and more. This integration of powerful visual effects directly inside Avid Media Composer streamlines her creative process without the need for separate compositing software.
A Balanced Approach
When it comes to maintaining a work-life balance, Tan advises her younger self to exercise to stay healthy, network whenever possible, don't be shy and make friends, and try to maintain a work-life balance. When she feels creative burnout, she takes walks with or without music to clear her mind and get some exercise.
Artistic Inspiration
For artistic inspiration, Tan turns to rewatching films from her favourite filmmakers. Her list includes classics like The Last Emperor, LA Confidential, Schindler's List, and The Shining, as well as modern masterpieces such as Parasite and Jurassic Park. Among her favourite artists she would like to collaborate with, living or dead, are Steven Spielberg, Kate Winslet, Denis Villeneuve, Tom Hanks, Kathryn Bigelow, David Fincher, Bong Joon-Ho, Antoine Fuqua, Guillermo Del Toro, Denzel Washington, and George Clooney.
A Go-To Keyboard Shortcut
In her day-to-day work, Tan's go-to keyboard shortcut is Cmd + Z, a testament to the importance of flexibility and adaptability in her craft.
Tan's dedication, talent, and versatility have earned her two ACE Eddie Award nominations for her episodes in Mr. Robot in 2020 and 2021. As she continues to make her mark in the industry, there's no doubt that we'll be seeing much more of Rosanne Tan, ACE, in the future.
- A successful career in finance would allow Rosanne Tan, ACE, to invest in various business ventures, thereby diversifying her portfolio similar to her impressive editing work.
- As her careers in entertainment flourish, Rosanne Tan, ACE, dreams of sitting through movies-and-tv, such as favorite films from her list of creative inspirations, on weekends, gaining relaxation and artistic insights.
