‘This is the moment for change.’ – Senior Editor, Chee-Han Kartosen-Wong

Chee-Han Kartosen-Wong, Senior Editor at Editing With Chee-Han, joins this year’s Craft – Cinematography / Editing / Film Direction / Production Design / Visual Effects / Young Directors Jury. As a strong spokesperson for and activist against Asian racism in The Netherlands, we speak with Chee-Han about her recent awareness video, her inclusive children’s book and what kind of work she is looking forward to seeing in this year’s entries.

What are you most looking forward to as a Jury Member for this year's Dutch Creativity Awards? Will you be looking out for anything in particular?

As an Editor, I look forward to seeing new edit styles and techniques in the Craft category. I also hope new talents will enter this year’s award – more females and more people of colour.

What’s your ‘must see’ work from last year?

I would say my awareness video Ik Zie Wat Jij Niet Ziet (I Spy With My Little Eye). The video is about anti-Asian racism in The Netherlands. Since the outbreak of Covid-19 there's been a massive growth in verbal and even physical attacks globally against people of East and South East Asian descent. Here in The Netherlands we also see a rise in racism against Asian Dutch.

With Ik Zie Wat Jij Niet Ziet (created by and with the Asian Dutch community) we have put anti-Asian racism, that has been happening for decades, on the map. We connected the diverse Asian communities and together we have forged a powerful voice against racism. The video went viral last year and is still being shared today.

Image credits:

First image: Rui Jun Luong

Second image: Sioejeng Tsao

Who is your current ‘one to watch’?

There are so many! I can’t name just one but definitely make-up artist Xiu Yun Yu and her beautiful project Monolids about eye shaming and racism.

Image credits: Monolids

What’s your biggest takeaway from last year?

Since the killing of George Floyd we finally realise that we have a huge inequality problem in the advertising industry. Whether it’s about your gender, your sexual orientation or your ethnicity, people and their daily struggles are not taken seriously enough and still put aside as “the other”. We realise that we should find a lasting solution as it has an impact on all of us, personally or in (the outcome of) your work.

A lot of agencies and production companies started to have conversations about diversity, inclusion and representation and some even created podcasts, talks, workshops and their own advertising agencies! A lot of people acknowledge the industry has a problem which is a huge step forward. Slowly we are starting to wake up and listen to different perspectives. This is the moment for change.

Who would you define as a creative visionary? What qualities should that person have?

Good question... Director Michael Middelkoop is definitely one of them.

Where do you seek inspiration from?

I get inspired by fellow film editors but also from reading design magazines like IDN world as well as interior, photography and packaging magazines. I like to read and do other stuff so I can be more creative in editing as my mind is fuelled with all sorts of different inputs. Sometimes you have to take a break from your main skill so you can be better at it.

Do you have any creative mantras?

I don’t have a specific one of my own but I love this quote (apparently not from Pippi Longstocking but nobody knows whose quote it actually is): “I have never tried that before, so I think I should definitely be able to do that.” It’s very empowering.

How do you deal with (the fear of) failure? Any tips?

I don’t like the word failure, I find it very depressing. I believe there’s no such thing as failure. A failure can be considered as a mistake, a mistake becomes a lesson you can learn from. In the end the lesson turns into an experience. We often forget to put things in perspective.

What drives you to pursue your career goals?

Besides a commercial editor I’m also a children’s book author. I became an author as I was looking for a children's book for my oldest son where he could recognise himself. But there were no children’s books with an Asian Dutch main character that wasn’t portrayed in a stereotypical way. I realise if I want my kids (and other non-white kids) to have diverse books or other forms of media where they could see themselves in (mirrors & windows) I had to create them. So actually, my main drive is my kids and their generation. I want to make content that doesn’t portray people as “the other” but include them. Whether it’s for children in children’s books or women over 40 in ads.

Image credits: Where Is My Noodle Soup?!? illustrated by Maria Koutamanis

How can we, in the creative industry, help to build a better tomorrow?

I have been involved with diversity and inclusion for some years now. I talk about the impact of stereotypes in commercials and other forms of media. A lot of people in our industry don’t realise how harmful stereotyping can be and how it affects the daily lives of e.g. non-white people in the society. It’s time we should undo the stereotyping and be aware of our biases. Speak up when you see an idea, script, casting etc. that portray people in a stereotypical way and stop reproducing them. Realise what power advertising has on people. You can do so many diversity and inclusion workshops and talks, but don’t just talk about us. Start talking with us and offer people of colour a seat at the table.

Best piece of advice?

When I was working at 180 Amsterdam, a colleague editor once said to me during a huge pitch in the middle of the night: “We’re working in advertising. You’re not a surgeon. We’re not trying to save lives. Relax.” That was the best thing he said to me. Together we created great work that night and won the pitch.

Entries to the Dutch Creativity Awards 2021 are open until 25 June. For more info, check out our website.