Paul Hanrahan, CSI has been appointed as an Officer of the Colorist Society’s China Chapter. A senior colorist and educator with more than three decades of experience, Hanrahan brings a global perspective and a deep commitment to artistic and technical excellence to his new role. Fluent in both English and Mandarin Chinese, he will help guide Colorist Society’s efforts to expand membership in China, support professional development through education and networking, and raise awareness of the craft of color.

Based in Taiwan since 2009, Paul has credits spanning commercials, features, documentaries, music videos, and episodic television. He is Dolby Vision certified, a member of the International Colorist Academy (ICA), and an active instructor for ICA training programs, teaching both in-person and online in Mandarin and English.

Paul has long been passionate about building community among color professionals and recognizes the unique challenges facing freelancers and specialists in today’s segmented media landscape. “I’ve been part of many efforts to organize different sectors of the film industry, starting in South Africa and continuing in Taiwan,” he says. “Whether it’s formal groups like the Colorist Society or informal communities on Discord or WhatsApp, I’ve found that sharing ideas and offering support—technical, creative, or even emotional—has been invaluable. As more people go freelance, the sense of isolation grows. That’s why community-building is more important than ever. We need it to share knowledge, uphold standards and best practices, and to ensure our work as colorists, DITs, and color scientists is properly recognized.”

Paul recently attended Colorist Society’s first ever Mixer in China, held in conjunction with BIRTV 2025 in Beijing. “The Mixer was a lot of fun and showed that there is a large pool of young colorists in China with a passion for filmmaking,” he notes.

Before relocating to Taiwan, Paul lived and worked in South Africa, where he gained broad experience as an in-house facility colorist, post-production supervisor, and owner of a small production company. He holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand and considers himself an engineer by training but an artist at heart. In addition to his work in film and television, he creates visual art in a range of forms, including photography, sculpture, VR, and projection mapping. He has been interviewed by Nikon Taiwan and collaborates with technology brands such as ASUS.