Colour Grading a Horror Short Film
When I was approached to colour grade the short film “From Me to You”, I knew I was in for an exciting challenge. Directed by Simret Cheema-Innis, a filmmaker with a deep love for fantasy and classical sci-fi, the film is a unique blend of horror, sci-fi, and ethereal beauty. Simi’s passion for rich, cinematic visuals meant I had an opportunity to push my creative boundaries while honoring her vision.
Simi was clear from the start: the colour grade needed to be bold, vibrant, even within the darker tones of the horror and sci-fi genres. She provided an inspiring list of references:
Neon Demon and Enter the Void for their bold neon palettes.
Blade Runner and Drive for their striking use of contrast and atmospheric street scenes.
The rich cinematic feel of Indiana Jones, 10 Commandments, and Medusa, which brought a painterly quality to mind.
What stood out most in our discussions was her love for fairy tales, even in darker contexts. Simi envisioned the film as a “technicolor painting” where beauty, fantasy, and horror intersect seamlessly.
The film’s raw footage was visually stunning on its own, with a variety of interior and exterior locations that allowed for dynamic lighting and contrasts. My focus was to enhance the visual storytelling by tying the scenes together through a cohesive colour palette.
Building the Neon Aesthetic
I started by amplifying the neon elements in key scenes—think glows in deep magentas, cyan blues, and saturated oranges. These colors were carefully pumped into the backgrounds, drawing inspiration from the moody street scenes of Blade Runner. This gave the film a vivid sci-fi edge, setting the tone for its otherworldly narrative.
Crafting Richness and Depth
For moments of beauty and wonder, I leaned into the technicolor richness Simi adored. I layered warmer hues and subtle gradients, inspired by the painterly styles in 10 Commandments and Medusa. These choices enhanced the film’s fairy-tale vibe, creating pockets of visual relief amidst the tension.
Balancing Horror and Fantasy
Since the film blends horror and fantasy, I worked on creating stark contrasts. For the darker, scarier scenes, I used desaturated highlights and shadows with green undertones to evoke unease, while keeping the rest of the frame rich and colorful. This interplay of light and dark reflected the emotional journey of the characters, pulling viewers deeper into the story.
One of the best parts of this process was Simi’s collaborative approach. Her enthusiasm for visuals and storytelling made it easy to experiment and refine the grade. We reviewed test grades regularly, adjusting elements like the intensity of neon highlights or the warmth of certain scenes to ensure the aesthetic matched her vision.
“From Me to You” is a testament to the power of collaboration and creativity in filmmaking. The fusion of neon sci-fi tones, rich cinematic beauty, and fairy-tale influences resulted in a visual experience that feels unique and immersive.
As a colourist and film passionate myself, projects like this remind me why I love what I do. Bringing a filmmaker’s vision to life, frame by frame, is as much about storytelling as it is about technical precision. I’m incredibly proud to have contributed to “From Me to You” and can’t wait to share the list of awards we’ve won.
