Color Correction Training/Classes?

[Ryan Richardson]

So I am in post of my low-budget doc, and I am finding that I LOVE the color correction/grading process. I'm using Apple color, and I'm getting pretty good results, but I'd like to take it to the next level.

Besides the self-taught way, which I am a big believer in, are there any classes , blogs, tutorials, books, etc., on it can take my skills up a notch (or four)?

Also, I guess you can give a shout out on how you learned to CC/G that get professional results. I love hearing how others get into the biz.

Thanks!

 

[Brandon J.F.]

There is a new color correction course this term with FXPHD.

GRD201 - The Craft of Color Grading
Building upon our successful Craft of Editing series, The Craft of Color Grading looks to explore the world of the colorist and the craft of grading from an application-agnostic approach as much as possible. The lead prof who has helped develop the course is Chicago-based Craig Leffel, who has over 20 years of experience grading the top commercials finished in the city. He'll be helped along the way with some of his friends who are some of the top colorists based in the United States.

The goal of GRD201 is to tap Leffel's and the other colorists years of experience from both a creative standpoint as well as a practical standpoint. So we'll not only be covering how to make beautiful imagery, but also things such as how to deal with the often-conflicting viewpoints of dealing with divergent views from clients. They'll also be sharing some of their favorite grades they've seen from movies and other projects and crtically breaking them down and speaking about why they feel it's top work.

Tentative course outline - subject to change

Class 1: Thinking like a Colorist: Before worrying about motion, taking a look at color by examining stills.
Class 2: Solid Foundations: Starting off on the right foot with moving imagery. How you approach a job to get things off on the right foot. You mentioned how you start jobs out with a base setup...and then build on from that.
Class 3: Old School Tech: So much of the references that clients talk about refer to various film looks. We dive into learning about film and film processing -- because even though digital takes up a majority
Class 4: Working with Problem Footage: It's great when beautiful, tech-perfect footage lands on the desk. But the real skill comes when you have technically challenging footage. This is where the real skill of colorist comes in and Craig works through tips and techniques to make it work.
Class 5: Grading for Commercials: Resolve on Mac certainly opens up grading to the masses, but there is still very much a role for the type of "high end" systems such as Baselight. Leffel explains why and talks about his techniques and approaches for grading commercials.
Class 6: Grading Buildings and Nature: This is very much about making nice imagery. We'll be talking through a sequence of shots, doing a grade -- and then resetting and doing another with a completely different feeling.
Class 7: Grading People
Class 8: Grading for Episodic Television (Guest Colorist)
Class 9: Grading for Theatrical Release (Guest Speaker)
Class 10: The Politics of Grading: The reality of being paid to do work is that someone else will also be involved in the creative decision making process. And one of the most difficult things for artists new to the process is managing the various personalities, desires, and motivations of the client. Editor Liz Tate and Craig Leffel sit down to give their insights gleaned over years of working in pressure situations.

http://www.fxphd.com/fxphd/courseInfo.php#GRD201

 

[Shane Kelly]

International colorist academy as well:
http://www.icolorist.com/

 

[Zeb B]

International colorist academy as well:
http://www.icolorist.com/

Has anyone attended a Kevin Shaw workshop? Worthwhile?

 

[Marc Wielage]

Has anyone attended a Kevin Shaw workshop? Worthwhile?

Kevin was terrific, back in the day he taught the original DaVinci 2K workshop about ten years ago. Shaw was particularly good at going into the theory behind the operation, which shed some light on why things were the way they were within the DaVinci controls, and gave all of us a better handle on the approach to begin color correcting difficult scenes, how to set up windows, and so on. One weekend with his class probably enabled me to work 25% faster. (It helped that I had 20 years experience to start.)

My understanding is that Kevin is specializing more in Digital Vision Film Master right now. I believe Warren Eagles handles DaVinci Resolve.

http://www.icolorist.com/

Hands down, I'd say attending a live personal class is the best possible way to go, because then and only then do you have the ability to ask, "hey, wait a minute! How come when I hit this button, this happens. How can I avoid this?" The alternative is just to hire an experienced colorist to sit with you for a week, which might actually be more affordable, depending on where you are.

 

[Zeb B]

Thank you Marc!