Company 3’s Colourist Dominic Phipps takes us through the grading process and his involvement on Felix Julian Koch’s latest film.
Forgiveness, a powerful new film directed by Felix Julian Koch at Abelone Films, is set to explore the emotional journey of a South African man grappling with a violent past. Shot by cinematographer Rory O’Grady and colour graded by Company 3 Colourist Dominic Phipps, the film delves into themes of disconnection in modern society and the transformative power of forgiveness.
Dominic worked closely with Felix, Rory and Søren Haxholm (producer), and he meticulously crafted a natural colour palette that emphasizes the connection between the audience and the characters on screen.
Forgiveness was one of those projects that just gets you excited from the beginning. The story, the passion, the creative approach – everything just aligned perfectly. We had some great sessions with tons of back and forth, constantly experimenting and pushing each other. It was a truly collaborative and rewarding experience.
Dominic Phipps, Colourist at Company 3
The team sent a mood board ahead of the grade, filled with frames from various sources. The images were filled with colour and vibrancy, however not in a forced or pushed way. The references were not overly saturated in any sense, just all corners of the images had subtle hues and tones throughout, creating a very full and rich looking image. With these references in mind Dominic was able to make a start ahead of the grade session, so he had something ready to present to Felix and Rory.
Alongside references, the brief for the film was to create something heartfelt with emotion that resonates with viewers. This was always at the forefront of the team’s minds when navigating the grade.
We took a natural approach to the colour palette, capitalising on South Africa’s changing weather to achieve a varied and visceral look across scenes. The film features stunning sunsets, brilliant blue skies, and the pure tones of clouds over the mountains.
Dominic Phipps, Colourist at Company 3
The film’s core objective was to bridge the gap between viewers and the characters on screen. While some scenes boast a more striking visual style, much of this impact stemmed from the in-camera work. This allowed Dominic to focus on subtle enhancements, ensuring the world they created felt believable and emotionally resonant, avoiding an overly artificial aesthetic.
Dominic’s approach was to effectively let the Super 8 format do exactly what it is there for – to ground the viewer in snippets of nostalgic home video.
We made sure not to push the Super 8 too much and were happy for it to sit slightly outside of the look we’d created for the 35mm.
Dominic Phipps, Colourist at Company 3
This distinction helped maintain a sense of raw authenticity for the Super 8 scenes.
The grading process had an energy that led to a beautifully executed film from top to bottom.
Dominic Phipps, Colourist at Company 3
More information on the film, including its release date, will be released soon. Watch the trailer for Forgiveness here.
