EPISODE #3 // Colour Grading Documentary
“Make it look natural” is what we have traditionally heard during the creative brief for a documentary grade, but what does this actually mean and is there a better way? Senior colourist Angela Cerasi explores how images can have deeper meaning whilst still “looking natural” and explores new visual trends in this space.
TOPICS DISCUSSED IN THIS EPISODE:
- Current trends in the visual looks of documentary
- Discovering the overarching tone of the film
- Going further than colour correction
- When and why to go with a “video look”
- Subverting what is expected
- Cinematic documentary
- Career lessons regarding “stylised” grades
- The feature colour is…
EPISODE IMAGES:
Some stills from the Irish feature documentary, ‘His and Hers’ (2010) showing a soft, low contrast look. Interviews with 70 different women in 70 different houses flowed together through a seamless look – no colours, shadows or elements jarring and distracting, and no interview standing out more than another. This enhanced the intention of the film which was one united story of love.