Exploring the Unique Grading Process and Techniques Behind the Series' Murky Yet Compelling Visuals
Unveiling the Aesthetic
Analyzing the Unique Grading Approach of 'The Handmaid's Tale
I've always been fascinated by the grading in Hulu’s "The Handmaid’s Tale." Initially, the grading might appear excessive – it's dark and heavy. Describing the look as "natural" would be quite the opposite. Yet, it doesn't quite mimic the authentic film look either. The creators have managed to craft a unique aesthetic that seamlessly enhances the narrative. I would characterize the look as both murky and icy, where a warm undertone is present but predominantly leans towards the cooler side of the color spectrum.
Exploring the Grading Process
Delving into the subject, I undertook some research and came across an article in which the colorist detailed the grading process of the series. To my surprise, he revealed that a significant aspect of the look was already inherent in the footage before the grading process commenced. The look's DNA is ingrained in the raw material. This revelation heightened my excitement. If this were indeed true, one might conclude that the grading process would be much simpler to dissect than initially thought. I opted to analyze the trailers of seasons 2 and 3 for a closer examination of the look, intentionally skipping season one due to my experience that looks tend to mature and become more defined as a series progresses beyond its first season.
Key Findings and Insights from Trailer Analysis
After closely watching the trailers multiple times and closely observing the color scopes, I made note of several key findings:
-
Heavy split-toning, characterized by icy blue shadows, reddish midtones, and highlights.
-
An ashy color palette.
-
Notable differentiation in the treatment of skin tones, possibly achieved by introducing warmth using the log mid tool.
-
Scenes can be heavily warm or icy cool. This indicates that these temperature changes are not baked into the look. The look should be able to achieve both scenarios. By analyzing the similarities in these different scenarios, look DNA can be discovered.
-
Texture-wise, a substantial amount of heavy grain was applied.
Deconstructing the Look
Tools and Techniques for Recreating the Series' Aesthetic
I decided to grade under the standard Arri LUT. When recreating a look, I always begin with broad strokes. I start by defining the contrast. In this case, shadows are slightly lifted, never reaching true black. After this step, I examine the color changes when transitioning from black to white. As previously mentioned, I observed the use of split-toning, which I'll attempt to replicate. Once I've addressed these aspects, I turn my attention to the way certain hues are manipulated. For instance, the blues and greens required some compression and shifting, achieved using a Tetra DCLT. This tool allows me to shift colors in a broad manner, preventing the footage from breaking apart. Following this adjustment, I proceed with final tweaking using the color warper. By recreating a look in this manner, I'll ultimately achieve a look that is foolproof and transparent.
