Color grading for a horror short film.
Stills from the final grade, directly from the Davinci timeline
Overview of the visual and technical choices that shaped the final look
The look blends warm, slightly nostalgic tones for the daytime lake scenes with deeper, amber-driven interiors. Cooler cyan shadows appear selectively to support the film’s emotional shifts, creating a palette that feels summery yet quietly unsettling.
Skin tones stay warm and inviting in daytime scenes, shifting gently cooler in emotional or dramatic moments. Exposure is balanced to avoid harsh highlights on reflective water and interiors lit by practicals.
Day, dusk, and night scenes were matched through consistent midtone density and controlled contrast, ensuring smooth transitions despite very different lighting setups.
We did not have a professional colour house and there was a pretty narrow window for turnaround. We were also on quite a tight budget to accomplish this project. Giuseppe was able to deliver a unique colour grade and correction for our creative agency short film. This was my first short developed professionally and his colour work truly brought the project to life. Seeing the final product and hearing all the feedback from our internal review, I was very content and impressed. The final result turned out way better than expected. I think this work was exceptional. Even after the internal premiere, other creatives within the agency were interested to hear more about Giuseppe. I would absolutely recommend him, especially for creative agencies or productions looking for a professional, distinctive grade on a tight schedule or budget.
If you’d like a grade with this level of attention to look, consistency and visual storytelling, let’s talk.
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