I was watching the feature John Wick again today, and it suddenly struck me that there were major differences in color grading. From cold to warm, from yellowish to blue.
It was ok according to the content of te scenes, but it also created a feeling of a 'patchwork'.
I myself have only directed and produced shorts, and sometimes it was difficult for me to keep the color grading in the same style.
My question now is: is it actually an 'unwritten rule' to keep the entire film in the same style, or is regular variation also okay?
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There is no rule on color grading. By definition it's personal preference, usually of the director, or possibly the other creative team involved. Why would there be?
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Shadow Dragu-Mihai, Esq., Ipg Thanks. I often hear the rule of thumb in film: there are no rules, only basic principles.
But quite a few criticasters gave some feedback to one of my shorts (with a variety of color settings) and they thought that it should be more 'an unity'. That's why I was wondering.
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Hey Frank Van Der Meijden - I personally haven't seen John Wick (I know, I know) BUT you did spark my interest to check it out to catch the color grading differences. I would say there's no written or unwritten rule that the style has to be the same the entire film. I'm sure it makes it easier but I think if down correctly, it can enhance the overall storytelling and mood.
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The only rule is: be deliberate. Color is one of your tools to tell your story, and should serve your story. Even John Wick has consistency, and the colors are not chosen randomly. Also, follow the rules of physics. If you choose to make a film in technicolor, then each shot should give the illusion of being developed using that chemical process. Unless you deliberately choose not to.
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Frank Van Der Meijden Well there are mistakes to be made... like not correctly for light temperature so that skin tones are true. Or not getting a base consistency from scene to scene, as a starting point, so that you can then use a color treatment you like. But creative choices are creative choices and what you think looks good is your opinion.