- Delon Ho, 24, has been involved in some of Marvel’s latest films, such as Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings
- He shares the challenges in his journey, from language and cultural barriers to loss of motivation and pressure from parents
Delon Ho brought his father to Marvel Studios, where he works to map out how stories are filmed. Photo: HandoutDelon Ho is one of the youngest Hong Kong visual artists working for Marvel Studios in the United States.
The 24-year-old’s story is that of a young Chinese boy pursuing his dream while escaping his father’s high expectations.
Like most traditional Chinese parents, Ho’s father wanted his son to study business, but he had no interest in the subject. So he left his hometown and flew to the US to carve out his own career.
And now he is a well-known cinematographer, filmmaker and visual effects artist in Hollywood.
Among all the big productions that he has been part of, Ho says the 2021 superhero film based on Marvel Comics, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is his favourite.
“Apart from the Asian setting that reminds me of my origins, I found the film was similar to my life story. It is an honest portrayal of the father-son relationship,” he says.
“Sometimes it is really impossible to come to a consensus that can make everyone happy … that’s why the distance has actually left us more room to create the space, where anything can happen. Love is always there, and can even be stronger.”
Instead of fighting with his father about what he is going to do, Ho has been trying hard to prove himself through his work.
He has had an interest in drawing since he was five. Like a lot of Hong Kong boys, he loved Stephen Chow’s movies, and even dreamt of being an actor.
Ho left secondary school in Hong Kong and moved to the US in 2012 to continue his education. He graduated from Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, California in 2019.
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He realised he had a passion for storytelling, using film as a tool. Ho faced many challenges during his artistic journey, from language and cultural barriers to loss of motivation and pressure from parents. But his hard work and dedication finally paid off.
As a visual artist, Ho says his role is to bring the director’s vision to life.
“We basically map out how they are going to film a story,” he explains. “After they film the footage, we refigure how the actor is going to interact with the CGI elements and how all of those elements can be integrated.”
Working in the movie industry has allowed Ho to collaborate with top artists in the world. They have a “try-and-see” attitude. Usually when someone has a different opinion, they will try to make it happen and see how it goes, and this is when magic happens, he says.
“This attitude is not only for film creators, it is essential for everyone. It is by rolling up your sleeves and trying [that] you will know whether an idea, or a dream, could come true,” he adds.
Ho has worked on some well-known movies in recent years, such as Black Widow, Jungle Cruise and Eternals.